Heaton-Harris, Chris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - ACOBA Advice
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-06)

Advice to The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the Northern Ireland Office, on business appointments after leaving Crown service.

The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris left his role at the Northern Ireland Office in July 2024

Senior Advisor to the Chairman and CEO, Rivada Space Networks Gmbh

Mr Heaton-Harris sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a role with Rivada Space. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68de9e78ef1c2f72bc1e4d6f/Advice_Letter_-_Chris_Heaton-Harris__Senior_Advisor_to_the_Chairman_and_CEO__Rivada_Space_Networks_Gmbh.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in September 2025; and the appointment was taken up later that month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/heaton-harris-chris-secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland-acoba-advice/advice-letter-chris-heaton-harris-senior-advisor-to-the-chairman-and-ceo-rivada-space-networks-gmbh?preview=8876557)

Non-Executive Director, XRail Group

Mr Heaton-Harris sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a role with XRail Group. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b8230811b4ded2da19fd7b/Advice_Letter_-__Chris_Heaton-Harris__Non-Executive_Director__XRail_Group.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in August 2025; and the appointment was taken up later that month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/heaton-harris-chris-secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland-acoba-advice/advice-letter-chris-heaton-harris-non-executive-director-xrail-group?preview=8829916)

Independent Consultancy and commissions

Mr Heaton-Harris sought the Committee’s advice about joining HH Advisory Services (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e565f487cebda7c4ca4cb7/Advice_Letter__Chris_Heaton-Harris__HH__Independent_Consultancy.pdf). An accessible version of the letter can be found here (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/heaton-harris-chris-secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland-acoba-advice/advice-letter-chris-heaton-harris-independent-consultancy?preview=8541715) and taking on a commission with:
- M2 Recovery. (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e56e9f6078e12e2c8c9bdf/Advice_Letter__Chris_Heaton-Harris__Business_Consultant__M2_Recovery.pdf) (An accessible version of the letter is available here.) (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/heaton-harris-chris-secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland-acoba-advice/advice-letter-chris-heaton-harris-business-consultant-m2-recovery?preview=8541803)
Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Reach for Health Centre

Mr Heaton-Harris sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a role with The Reach for Health Centre. The letter (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68adc2bb3a052c9c504c8e33/ACOBA_Advice_-_Chris_Heaton-Harris__The_Reach_for_Health_Centre.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in January 2025; and the appointment was taken up later that month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/heaton-harris-chris-secretary-of-state-for-northern-ireland-acoba-advice/advice-letter-chris-heaton-harris-chair-of-the-board-of-trustees-the-reach-for-health-centre?preview=8815574)