Patricia Byron has been appointed as the new director general of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). Byron, who is currently chief executive of the Injuries Board, will take up the new role in March.

The SCSI is the largest representative body for property, construction and land professionals in Ireland with more than 5,000 members. Byron has been in her current position at the Injuries Board since 2004, she is a former chairwoman of the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland and was the first female president of the Insurance Institute of Dublin. She is currently a member of the Central Bank Commission.

Welcoming her appointment, the president of the SCSI Pauline Daly said: "The expertise and experience which Patricia has built up – in both the public and private sectors – will enable her to provide the society with the high calibre of leadership that will be necessary as it expands and develops over the coming years".

Byron replaces Ciara Murphy who was director general of the SCSI from 2007. Murphy has taken up a new role as director of the Bar Council of Ireland since November.