Vilma Patterson MBE spent over 30 years in the construction industry as a Director and Shareholder of John G Duff (Annadale) Ltd. She has an interest in skills development for the industry and is a past member of the Training Committee for the Construction Industry Training Board for Northern Ireland.
In 2002 she was the founding Chair of the Women in Business Network and is a former Board Member of the Women on the Move Network which works to support and encourage female entrepreneurship.
Ms Patterson is a past Chairman of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. She has also served as a non-executive member of the Audit Committee of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and as a Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland.
Previously Vilma was a Member and Chair of the Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Maghaberry 1996 to 2008 and Chairman of the Association of Members of Independent Monitoring Boards for Northern Ireland. She was a member of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland from 2006-2010. From 2011 to 2013 she was a member of the Prison Service Pay Review Body and a Member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body from 2015-2020. She is currently a member of the Parole Commission for Northern Ireland.
She was reappointed to the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State in May 2024.