Three new faces have been nominated for the Legislative Council selection, which is due to take place in March.

Haafizah Hoosen, Peter Greenhill and Dr Michelle Haywood have all been nominated and join sitting MLC Bill Henderson as nominees for the four seats which become available from February 29.

To be nominated, Manx residents have to seek a proposer who is a sitting MHK. The proposer does not have to be their constituency MHK and any current Keys member can nominate candidates, except for Speaker Juan Watterson. However, he does have a vote in the selection process.

Ms Hoosen has been nominated by Clare Barber (Douglas East), seconded by Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) and assented by Lawrie Hooper (Lib Vannin, Ramsey) and Kate Costain (LibVan, Douglas South).

Her background is in medical and scientific research. She has worked as a research and development manager for the Department of Health and Social Care. Before then she worked as a trainee biomedical scientist and a laboratory assistant at Noble’s Hospital and as a part-time lecturer at De Montfort University in Leicester.

She is also an ambassador for Sense about Science, which encourages people to look at evidence behind policies.

Ms Hoosen said: ’The Isle of Man nurtured me into a confident and rational individual by providing opportunities and experiences that would not have been possible anywhere else. It would be a rewarding opportunity to use these to build upon and strengthen its progression.

’Entering a new decade, it is my view that the Isle of Man has much to offer, such as career prospects, an excellent quality of life and its embrace of different communities.

’Moving from South Africa to the Isle of Man in 2001, I have spent most of my life here and am truly proud to be part of a nation that is willing to move forward while holding onto the ideals that make it so special.’

Dr Haywood has been nominated by Minister for Enterprise Laurence Skelly, seconded by Daphne Caine (Garff) and assented by Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer and Dr Allinson.

She is currently the chairman of Port St Mary Commissioners, having been elected to the local authority in 2015. An accomplished scientist, Dr Haywood is a professional diver and volunteers as an underwater search and rescuer and is part of the government’s marine biosecurity committee.

Dr Haywood is also director of the Irish Sea Diving and Marine Services as well as Discover Diving. And she works as a private tutor for A-Level science students.

Mr Greenhill has been nominated by DHSC Minister David Ashford, seconded by Chief Minister Howard Quayle and assented by Lawrie Hooper and Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East).

Having worked with several e-gaming groups, he was the chief executive of e-business and e-gaming development at the Department for Enterprise.

He currently works for Pagasus where his CV said he has advised gaming companies to set up in the island and ’acted as a nonexecutive director for a multi-billionaire on a British Virgin Islands based trust/investment company’.

Mr Greenhill includes in a list of key achievements while at DfE that he ’grew contribution of the gaming sector to the Isle of Man GDP from 10% to 13.5%’ and ’grew licence holders, jobs and government revenue by 10% per annum by working directly with the boards of PokerStars, Microgaming and Playtech’.