Simon Hamilton

Simon Hamilton (born 17 March 1977) is a Northern Irish politician who served as the Economy Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2016 until its collapse in January 2017.[2][3] He was first elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member for Strangford.[4]

Simon Hamilton
Economy Minister of Northern Ireland
In office 25 May 2016 – 26 January 2017
First Minister	Arlene Foster
Preceded by	Jonathan Bell
Succeeded by	Diane Dodds (2020)
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford
In office 7 March 2007 – 2 September 2019
Preceded by	George Ennis
Succeeded by	Harry Harvey[1]
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
In office 11 May 2015 – 6 May 2016
Preceded by	Jim Wells
Succeeded by	Michelle O'Neill
Minister of Finance and Personnel
In office 29 July 2013 – 11 May 2015
Preceded by	Sammy Wilson
Succeeded by	Arlene Foster
Personal details
Born	17 March 1977 Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Nationality	Northern Irish/ British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Spouse(s)	Nicki
Children	Lewis Kyle
Residence	Comber, Northern Ireland
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast
Website	Official website

Education

Hamilton was educated at Regent House School and Queen's University, Belfast holding degrees in history/politics and law.[4] He served as Chairman of the Queen's Unionist Association and as a member of Queen's University Senate.

Career

Hamilton began his career as an auditor with an accountancy firm in Belfast[4] and was employed as a DUP Policy Officer in their Party Headquarters from 2003 until his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007.[5] He was elected to Ards Borough Council in 2005 but did not stand at the 2011 Election. Hamilton is secretary of Strangford DUP Association and vice-chairman of Newtownards DUP Branch.

He was appointed minister of finance and personnel and replaced Sammy Wilson on 29 June 2013 in a reshuffle.[5][6]

He was later appointed as the Health Minister of Northern Ireland in a further DUP reshuffle on 11 May 2015.[7] He resigned from this post several times during September and October 2015 in the context of a political crisis at Stormont.[2][8]

In June 2019, Hamilton announced he was standing down from front line politics to become CEO of Belfast Chamber of Commerce. He also resigned from the DUP to take this role.[9]

Personal life

Hamilton lives in Comber with his wife Nicki and two sons Lewis and Kyle.

References

1. "New MLA - Strangford Constituency". The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
2. "Mr Simon Hamilton". Northern Ireland Assembly. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
3. "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
4. "Hamilton appointed as Northern Ireland's Minister for Finance". Irish Times. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
5. "Simon Hamilton appointed new finance minister". BBC News. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
6. "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
7. "DUP reshuffle: Foster, Bell and Hamilton in new jobs". BBC News. 11 May 2015.
8. "Simon Hamilton resigns four times in past three weeks". BBC News. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
9. "DUP's Simon Hamilton quits politics to become Belfast Chamber boss". 28 June 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.