Who we are
The Equity Release Council represents the equity release sector and exists to promote high standards of conduct and practice in the provision of and advice on equity release which have consumer safeguards at its heart.
These standards and safeguards have allowed the sector to grow, giving financial advisers and their customers confidence in the products, dispelling myths about equity release, and educating the public about the potential to access the wealth in their home for a variety of uses.
The reputation and standing of the brand and the trust developed has seen its membership grow, bringing the sector together and helping it strengthen its voice: providers of equity release plans, solicitors, intermediaries, financial advisers, consultants, surveyors and other industry professionals – all committed to the Principles of membership. The Council builds on this unified voice of its members, while remaining independent from the specific views of individual member firms or particular segments of the equity release market.
Our vision and mission
To continue to be the recognised voice of authority and the trusted consumer guardian on behalf of our members. We aim to achieve this through universal and transparent representation, progressive and dynamic stewardship and wholehearted commitment to safeguarding.
The Council works to ensure that the role housing equity can play in later life is widely understood – whether for funding care, supporting family members, enriching lifestyle or achieving peace of mind. The equity release sector has provided politicians and policy makers with many pragmatic solutions to a range of socio-economic issues that are increasingly pressing.
As the later life financial planning market continues to attract more interest, there is also more scope to innovate, helping to provide more choice for customers and more opportunity for professionals like you to help people unlock the value tied up in their homes.
Our values
The Council is guided by four brand values which guide everything it does. They are:
Authoritative : To be at the vanguard of substantiated, credible, evidence-led market insights, knowledge and data.
Progressive: To be the advocate of market change, innovation, betterment and reform.
Incisive : To have clarity of thought, commitment of decision making and the rigour to deliver the right solution.
Trustworthy: To inspire confidence, reliability and transparency across all stakeholders.
Board of directors
We are supported by a framework of contributors to our work primarily drawn from the membership who have in-depth knowledge and experience of this sector and of the wider socio-economic environment.
Subject to a set of Articles of Association, the directors appointed to the board of the Equity Release Council are responsible for the management of the Council’s business.
In 2023, the Council adopted a new governance structure which represents best practice for non-profit organisations. This has led to the appointment of three wholly independent directors (including the chair) and representatives from the Council’s executive team.
Board members
Michelle Highman
Standards committee chair and chief executive, of The Money Charity
Michelle Highman was appointed as the independent chair to the standards committee in April 2023 and an independent non-executive director in December 2023.
She is the chief executive of The Money Charity, the UK’s financial capability charity. The Money Charity’s vision is for everyone to be on top of their money as part of everyday life. And so, it empowers people across the UK to build the skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, to make the most of their money throughout their lives. It provides education, information and advice on money matters to young people and adults across the UK
Previously she was a trustee of GambleAware for 6 years, a member of Pay.uk’s end user advisory council, the Financial Inclusion Commission’s advisory panel, the London Institute of Banking & Finance’s validation panel for their post graduate certificate in financial capability and of the Institute of Inertia.
Michelle was instrumental in setting up the consumer financial education body, the Money Advice Service where she was manager of the chief executive and chair’s office. Prior to that Michelle worked for 13 years at the Financial Services Authority and the Personal Investment Authority, undertaking roles in pensions, regulation, communications and financial capability.
Jim Boyd
Chief Executive of the Equity Release Council
Jim Boyd, Chief Executive Office, the Equity Release Council Jim was appointed CEO of the Equity Release Council in June 2018. He joined from Reform think tank, where he was Deputy Director and Head of Research. Prior to this he was an Expert Adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions, initially supporting Lord Freud, then Welfare Reform Minister. Jim has extensive experience of retirement and social care funding having led the Corporate Affairs functions at specialist life assurers Britannic Retirement Solutions, Just Retirement and Partnership Assurance. He is an adviser to the Intergenerational Longevity Commission-UK, a leading longevity, ageing and population change policy unit. Jim is a former tax and trusts lawyer.
David Burrowes
Chair of the Equity Release Council
David has been a practising solicitor for 25 years. During this time, he was first a Councillor in Enfield and then Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate between 2005 and 2017. David championed social justice and consumer protection and led campaigns on issues affecting elderly people. David served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to three Cabinet Ministers and sat on the influential Home Affairs and Public Accounts Select Committees and was also Shadow Justice Minister from 2007-2010. David lives in Southgate with his wife Janet and their six children.
Michelle Highman
Standards committee chair and chief executive, of The Money Charity
Michelle Highman was appointed as the independent chair to the standards committee in April 2023 and an independent non-executive director in December 2023.
She is the chief executive of The Money Charity, the UK’s financial capability charity. The Money Charity’s vision is for everyone to be on top of their money as part of everyday life. And so, it empowers people across the UK to build the skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, to make the most of their money throughout their lives. It provides education, information and advice on money matters to young people and adults across the UK
Previously she was a trustee of GambleAware for 6 years, a member of Pay.uk’s end user advisory council, the Financial Inclusion Commission’s advisory panel, the London Institute of Banking & Finance’s validation panel for their post graduate certificate in financial capability and of the Institute of Inertia.
Michelle was instrumental in setting up the consumer financial education body, the Money Advice Service where she was manager of the chief executive and chair’s office. Prior to that Michelle worked for 13 years at the Financial Services Authority and the Personal Investment Authority, undertaking roles in pensions, regulation, communications and financial capability.
Jim Boyd
Chief Executive of the Equity Release Council
Jim Boyd, Chief Executive Office, the Equity Release Council Jim was appointed CEO of the Equity Release Council in June 2018. He joined from Reform think tank, where he was Deputy Director and Head of Research. Prior to this he was an Expert Adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions, initially supporting Lord Freud, then Welfare Reform Minister. Jim has extensive experience of retirement and social care funding having led the Corporate Affairs functions at specialist life assurers Britannic Retirement Solutions, Just Retirement and Partnership Assurance. He is an adviser to the Intergenerational Longevity Commission-UK, a leading longevity, ageing and population change policy unit. Jim is a former tax and trusts lawyer.
David Burrowes
Chair of the Equity Release Council
David has been a practising solicitor for 25 years. During this time, he was first a Councillor in Enfield and then Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate between 2005 and 2017. David championed social justice and consumer protection and led campaigns on issues affecting elderly people. David served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to three Cabinet Ministers and sat on the influential Home Affairs and Public Accounts Select Committees and was also Shadow Justice Minister from 2007-2010. David lives in Southgate with his wife Janet and their six children.
Our team
MEMBER NAME
Thomas Brett
Business and Project Manager
With over 13 years of experience in the later equity release market, Thomas has worked in a variety of roles including as a front-line adviser, business development and project management for brokerages and technology providers. With a particular focus on customer acquisition and partnerships, Thomas puts the customer at the heart of everything, and continues to work on improving the later life lending industry for everyone.
Kate O’Dowd
Risk, Policy, and Compliance assistant
Kate joined the Equity Release Council in February 2024 as Risk, Policy, and Compliance assistant. Kate has over eight years experience in the equity release sector starting as a customer service agent at The Right Equity Release. Before joining the Council, Kate held the position of Business Support Manager at The Equity Release Experts who were part of Key Group. This role involved building relationships with stakeholders and providers, assisting advisers with queries, and providing management with sales reports and conversions. Kate also has experience working in the retail sector.
Lee Blackwell
Director of Communications and Marketing
With 25-years’ worth of experience in communications, Lee has worked for a wide variety of different organizations from large lenders, funders and advice firms to membership bodies and PR agencies. Managing change, building stakeholder relationships, and helping brands develop robust communication functions which focus on delivering excellent results while mitigating risk are at the core of her skill set.
Simon Posner
Public Affairs Consultant
Jennifer Logue
Executive Personal Assistant and Admin Support
Jennifer joined the Equity Release Council in 2022 as an executive PA and admin support. She has over 15 years’ experience in administrative roles in local government and healthcare, in both public and private sector settings. Jennifer has a degree from the University of Surrey and now lives in Essex with her family.
Laura Gibson
Membership Business Development Manager
Laura has spent more than 12 years working within the non-profit/membership sector. She has a strong background in project management, product and service development, communications and business operations.
With a passion for people and all things membership, Laura is an enthusiastic collaborator who thrives at building professional relationships, cultivating meaningful partnerships, and takes pride in developing and implementing initiatives that increase relevance, diversity and value to membership communities.
Allyson McAlister
Communications Consultant
Kelly Melville-Kelly
Director of Risk, Policy and Compliance
Kelly brings over 20 years of financial services expertise, working with both lenders and networks in later-life lending, helping to drive improvements and create best practice. Kelly has previously held regulated positions at Alliance & Leicester and Legal & General.
Sue Read
Risk, Policy and Compliance Manager
Sue has a wide range of experience as a business development manager, underwriter, operations manager, trainer, compliance officer and, most importantly, adviser, across a several firms and networks. This breadth, covering over 30 years, provides a unique insight into both consumer and adviser perspectives.
Sarah Hall
Administration and Service Consultant
Sarah has been work with the Equity Release Council for over 10 years. Having previously worked for an equity release financial adviser and Sun Life of Canada for over 20 years. Sarah is the Administration and Service Manager for Equity Release Council and deals with all aspects of the membership process, onboarding new members and dealing with the renewals and any membership queries.
Chris Pond
Consumer Council
Former Labour MP, Minister with Department for Work and Pensions and Parliamentary Private Secretary with HM Treasury under Gordon Brown. A former lecturer in Economics, Chris was also a director at the Financial Services Authority – the precursor to the FCA.
Jim Boyd
Chief Executive of the Equity Release Council
Jim Boyd, Chief Executive Office, the Equity Release Council Jim was appointed CEO of the Equity Release Council in June 2018. He joined from Reform think tank, where he was Deputy Director and Head of Research. Prior to this he was an Expert Adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions, initially supporting Lord Freud, then Welfare Reform Minister. Jim has extensive experience of retirement and social care funding having led the Corporate Affairs functions at specialist life assurers Britannic Retirement Solutions, Just Retirement and Partnership Assurance. He is an adviser to the Intergenerational Longevity Commission-UK, a leading longevity, ageing and population change policy unit. Jim is a former tax and trusts lawyer.
Thomas Brett
Business and Project Manager
With over 13 years of experience in the later equity release market, Thomas has worked in a variety of roles including as a front-line adviser, business development and project management for brokerages and technology providers. With a particular focus on customer acquisition and partnerships, Thomas puts the customer at the heart of everything, and continues to work on improving the later life lending industry for everyone.
Kate O’Dowd
Risk, Policy, and Compliance assistant
Kate joined the Equity Release Council in February 2024 as Risk, Policy, and Compliance assistant. Kate has over eight years experience in the equity release sector starting as a customer service agent at The Right Equity Release. Before joining the Council, Kate held the position of Business Support Manager at The Equity Release Experts who were part of Key Group. This role involved building relationships with stakeholders and providers, assisting advisers with queries, and providing management with sales reports and conversions. Kate also has experience working in the retail sector.
Lee Blackwell
Director of Communications and Marketing
With 25-years’ worth of experience in communications, Lee has worked for a wide variety of different organizations from large lenders, funders and advice firms to membership bodies and PR agencies. Managing change, building stakeholder relationships, and helping brands develop robust communication functions which focus on delivering excellent results while mitigating risk are at the core of her skill set.
Simon Posner
Public Affairs Consultant
Work for us
The equity release industry is growing fast and as its dedicated trade association, so are we! Follow the link below to view our latest roles:
Check for Roles