Nichola Mallon | |
|---|---|
 Mallon asLord Mayor of Belfast in 2014 | |
| Minister of Infrastructure | |
| In office 11 January 2020 – 5 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Hazzard |
| Succeeded by | John O'Dowd |
| Deputy leader of theSocial Democratic and Labour Party | |
| In office 12 September 2017 – 5 May 2022 | |
| Leader | Colum Eastwood |
| Preceded by | Fearghal McKinney |
| Succeeded by | Claire Hanna |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly forBelfast North | |
| In office 5 May 2016 – 28 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Alban Maginness |
| Succeeded by | Nuala McAllister |
| 71stLord Mayor of Belfast | |
| In office 2 June 2014 – 1 April 2015 | |
| Deputy | Máire Hendron |
| Preceded by | Máirtín Ó Muilleoir |
| Succeeded by | Arder Carson |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| In office 2010 – 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Alban Maginness |
| Succeeded by | Paul McCusker |
| Constituency | Oldpark |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1979-08-23)23 August 1979 (age 45) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Crumlin,Belfast |
| Alma mater | |
Nichola Mallon (born 23 August 1979) is a former politician fromNorthern Ireland who served as Deputy Leader of theSocial Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2017 to 2022. She served as aMember of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) forBelfast North from 2016 to 2022 and asLord Mayor of Belfast from 2014 to 2015. She was elected as Deputy Leader of the SDLP in 2017.[1] She was appointedMinister for Infrastructure on 11 January 2020, before being removed from office after losing her seat at the2022 Assembly election.
Nichola Mallon was born inBelfast in 1979. Her father was a printer and her mother was a dress-maker. She grew up in theArdoyne district of North Belfast. Her family were involved in thetrade union movement and she took part in May Day rallies as a girl.
She attended Mercy Primary School followed bySt Dominic's Grammar School for Girls, where she developed an interest in politics and was attracted to theSDLP. She read Economics and Politics atTrinity College Dublin and graduated with a BA (Hons), followed by an MA in Comparative Ethnic Conflict fromQueen's University Belfast.
When she left university, she joined the civil service before moving to theGeneral Medical Council and then to a job with the SDLP.[2]
In 2010 she was co-opted by the SDLP ontoBelfast City Council to replaceAlban Maginness in theOldpark (District Electoral Area). In 2014, she won the seat in her own right, polling just under 1,000 first preferences. In 2013, she was appointed a special adviser to the SDLP's Environment MinisterMark H. Durkan, but stood down from that position when elected Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2014.[2] She served as theLord Mayor of Belfast from 2014 to 2015,[3] the first femaleIrish nationalist politician to hold the position.[4]
She was elected aMember of theNorthern Ireland Assembly forBelfast North in2016 and re-elected in2017, increasing the SDLP vote to 5,431 first preferences.
On 12 September 2017, Mallon was elected Deputy Leader of the SDLP.[5] She was appointed Minister for Infrastructure on 11 January 2020.[6]
She failed to retain her seat at the2022 Assembly election.[7]
In December 2022, she started a job atLogistics UK, atrade association which represents the freight industry.[8]
Mallon is married to Brendan Scott and has three children, two daughters and a son.[9]
| Civic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lord Mayor of Belfast 2014–2015 | Succeeded by Arder Carson |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
| Preceded by | MLA forBelfast North 2016–present | Incumbent |