Permanent Secretary

Alan Shannon was educated at Belfast Royal Academy and Queen's University Belfast, graduating with an Honours Degree in Modern History in 1971. He joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service as an Assistant Principal in the same year and was appointed to the Ministry of Agriculture where he worked successively on EC Accession Issues, Horse Racing, Livestock Improvement and Marketing, Forestry and Personnel.

In 1982 he moved to Luxembourg as First Attaché to the British Member at the European Court of Auditors. On return to Northern Ireland in 1985 he carried out an efficiency scrutiny in the Health Service, and joined the NIO in 1986 where he served in a number of jobs including Head of Compensation, Probation and Juveniles Division and Principal Establishment and Finance Officer. On devolution he became Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning.

Mr Shannon became Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development in December 2003.

He is married with 3 children and his hobbies include historical studies, travel and tennis.