George Dawson (politician)
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George Dawson MLA is a Northern Irish politician for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He is an MLA for East Antrim.
George Dawson has been the Assembly Member for East Antrim since November 2003, and has been an active member of the Democratic Unionist Party since 1979. Mr Dawson has held a number of positions within the structure of the Party, of which his father was a founding member. Most recently George acted as Sammy Wilson MP’s campaign manager in the 2005 General Election win in East Antrim.
Born in Lurgan, County Armagh in 1961 and educated at Banbridge Academy, George went on to study English and Modern History at Queen's University of Belfast.
After graduating from Queens University Belfast in 1983, George entered the world of business, becoming a managing director with an international company in which he had responsibilities in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and North Africa. Mr Dawson has also become very involved in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility within the business community in Northern Ireland.
George Dawson was one of three DUP candidates who were elected from East Antrim in the Northern Ireland Assembly election of November 2003 and is Party spokesperson on Energy and the Economy. Mr Dawson also represents the DUP on the Economic Development Forum and Advisory Council for Infrastructure Investment.
In 2005 Mr Dawson was Sammy Wilson MP’s campaign manager in the hugely successful General Election win in the East Antrim constituency and continues to work very closely with the Member of Parliament. George also provides specialist advice and research to Jim Allister QC, MEP on Economic and Environmental issues
With extensive experience of strategic development, business process re-engineering, human resource and international quality initiatives, George Dawson MLA brings a professional business mind to local politics. Mr Dawson’s special interests include economic development, the environment, and social development. He has also been instrumental in establishing a number of Credit Unions in recent years.
Away from politics, Mr Dawson is the current Grand Master of the Independent Orange Institution, chairman of the Riada Credit Union and of the Caleb Foundation, a Director of the Evangelical Protestant Society and a trustee in Tidy Northern Ireland. George is married to his wife Vi and has two daughters
