Simon Hamilton

Simon Hamilton MLA
Minister of Finance and Personnel
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 July 2013
Preceded by	Sammy Wilson
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Strangford
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 March 2007
Preceded by	George Ennis
Personal details
Born	(1977-03-17) 17 March 1977 Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Spouse(s)	Nicki
Children	Lewis Kyle
Residence	Comber, Northern Ireland
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast
Religion	Protestant
Website	Official website

Simon Hamilton MLA (born 17 March 1977) is a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland and the current minister of finance in the Northern Ireland Executive. He was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member for Strangford.^[1]

Education

Hamilton was educated at Regent House School and Queen's University, Belfast holding degrees in history/politics and law.^[1] 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^[1] and was employed as the DUP's Press Officer from 2003 until his election to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007.^[2] 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 is also deputy master of Price’s True Blues LOL 550 and the Rising Sons of Saintfield RBP 73.

He was appointed minister of finance and personnel and replaced Sammy Wilson on 29 June 2013 in a reshuffle.^[2]

Personal life

He lives in Comber with his wife Nicki and two sons Lewis and Kyle. ^[3]

Colleagues

Mr. Hamilton currently serves with two other MLA's from his party, the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party). The two MLA's he serves with are Jonathan Bell and Michelle Mc'Ilveen.

References