- About us
- Our structure
- Representative committees
- Community and Public Dental Service Committee
- Northern Ireland Community Dentists Committee
Northern Ireland Community Dentists Committee
Northern Ireland Community Dentists Committee (NICDC) is the official representative body for dentists working in the Community Dental Service (CDS) in Northern Ireland.
The Committee is recognised by the Government as having the status and authority to negotiate on behalf of the dental profession on matters of terms and conditions of service and remuneration. NICDC provide the link between the BDA's membership and the policy decisions taken on their behalf.
Our priorities
- Sharing and representing the views of community dentists
- Acting as a channel of communication between the BDA and community dentists
- Lobbying stakeholders on behalf of community dentists
- Negotiating on behalf of the CDS regarding terms and conditions and workforce issues
- Working to improve oral health in core CDS patient groups and wider society.
Our team
Ann McAreavey
Ann is elected on behalf of Community Dentists in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. Ann qualified as a Dentist from Dundee University in 1999, working in Carnoustie before coming home to Northern Ireland to work in General Practice in Co. Armagh for 10 years. She began working within the SHSCT Community Dental Service in 2011 as a Dental Officer before progressing to the post of Senior Dental Officer in 2021. She is currently on secondment covering the Clinical Director role in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. She is looking forward to engaging with staff employed in Community Dentistry to ensure their voice is heard as part of discussions on the future delivery of services.

Kelly Kerr
Kelly is elected on behalf of community dentists in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. Kelly qualified from Queens University Belfast in 2015. She spent a year completing her Vocational Training in Belfast before completing 3 Dental Core Training years across OMFS/Oral Medicine/Oral Surgery and Orthodontics. During these years Kelly completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education through Queens University, Belfast. Kelly joined the CDS full-time as a dental officer in September 2019 and has been enjoying this varied field of dentistry. She is looking forward to representing the views of my colleagues during the next triennium on the BDA NICDC committee. Kelly also sits on the NIDPC as cross rep for NICDC.

Members
Voting members
Meabh McKeown - Belfast HSCT Representative
Sarah McNally - Northern HSCT Representative
Ann McAreavey (Chair) - Southern HSCT Representative
Kelly Kerr (Deputy Chair) - South-Eastern HSCT Representative
Vacant - Western HSCT Representative
John Finnerty - Pan-NI Clinical Director Representative
Non-voting members
Eddie Crouch - PEC Chair
Peter Crooks - PEC Deputy Chair
Member of the PEC elected by the NI Branch
Paul Brennan - NI Council Chair
Helen Leonard - Chair of the Northern Ireland ARs
Edel Hughes - Cross Representative from NI DPC
Rachel Maguire - Co-opted member
Jennifer McKay - Co-opted member
Get involved and get in touch
The members of NICDC are elected representatives and hold their positions for a three-year period. They represent the views of community and salaried dental practitioners. The current NICDC will sit from 2022-2024, as agreed by the BDA PEC. The NICDC ensures that the views of community dentists are represented when it comes to health policy being developed by government. There are currently several voting and non-voting positions vacant, for more information the NICDC can be contacted via email: [email protected].
Developing your skills
Have a look at our range of advice videos, including experiences from different careers and fields of dentistry, and tips for furthering your career.