The UK government has not renewed the position of a special envoy to the United States on Northern Ireland.
Former Ireland rugby player Trevor Ringland's term as the first person to occupy the role lapsed at the end of October.
The Northern Ireland Office declined to issue any public statement about the future of the role.
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Mr Ringland was appointed as the UK's first special envoy to the US on Northern Ireland in June last year in a bid to strengthen ties between the nations.
At the time the government said the creation of the role reflected its "enduring commitment to the peace, prosperity and stability of Northern Ireland".
The appointment was extended until October 31 but the role has since been allowed to expire.
The Northern Ireland Office refused to say whether Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has any plans to refill the post.
Mr Ringland, a solicitor who stood in the 2010 Westminster election on a joint UUP-Conservative ticket, said his ability to carry out the envoy role was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He told Belfast Live: "I'm probably a wee bit frustrated that I could have done more but I was a bit hampered by Covid."
Mr Ringland said he travelled to the US three times as part of the unsalaried role, visiting Washington, Boston and New York.
"I didn't get probably to travel as much as I would have wanted to, but the embassy out there were very supportive and anywhere I was meeting people I was very well received," he said.
Mr Ringland said the idea for the role initially came from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office and "would probably be seen as a pilot project".
He said he still believes the envoy role is a "good idea" but he would like to see it expanded to have more people acting as ambassadors for Northern Ireland in the US, Europe and other locations.
"Am I left feeling I could have done more? I wish I could have. I have planted some acorns which I hope might grow in the future," he said.
"I have made connections out in the US so I can still make a contribution in other ways and still keep connected, and I have got a few ideas here."
He added: "It would have been an honour to continue but at the same time I have to ask an awful lot of my family over the years too.
"So I think I can still make a contribution from not being in the role and I will try and continue to make that contribution were I possibly can."
Earlier this week former Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy III, who hails from the Kennedy political dynasty, was appointed as US special envoy to Northern Ireland by President Joe Biden.
Mr Kennedy is the grandson of former US senator Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, and the grandnephew of former US president John F Kennedy.
The 42-year-old fills the role that has been vacant since January 2021, after the envoy under Donald Trump, Mick Mulvaney, stepped down from the post.
Mr Kennedy will be special envoy as Northern Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
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