About the Equity Release Council

Mike has been an avid supporter of the later life sector for many years. As sales and marketing director of Legal & General Bank, he developed an equity release product that became market-leading shortly after launch in 2001. All of his career Mike has been involved in the regulated financial services sector. He worked at a top 10 building society for ten years before it demutualised. He was CEO of the longest established IFA network with over 500 advisers which specialised in investment and pension planning. Mike was also involved with the launch one of the first banks to be approved by the newly-formed FCA.

Barry is an experienced portfolio independent non-executive director with overall board experience going back some thirty years. Over the last decade, he has been a regulator-approved independent non-executive director at: three challenger banks; two IFA wealth/mortgage networks and a directly authorised broker; two IT and mortgage outsourcing companies; a building society; and a peer-to-peer lender.

Donna is the Equity Release Council’s Chief Operating Officer and has been in this role since 2013. Her responsibilities include overseeing the governance and operational day to day delivery of the Equity Release Council, including the development of its membership propositions, and oversight of a key committee focused on conduct risk. Having started her financial services career with LV= Donna has a history with other professional bodies such as the Life Insurance Association (LIA) before joining the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) as Head of Marketing Operations and Strategic Projects where she was responsible for a number of the professional body’s major Business Improvement Programmes including the launch of The Personal Finance Society and The Society of Mortgage Professionals.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

Laura started working in financial services on an apprenticeship scheme with St James’s Place, since leaving the apprenticeship scheme she has been working with Equity Release Council as an Administration Assistant. Laura deals with the onboarding of the new members, helping the application process to go smoothly and liaising with members.

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 is a former journalist who has worked in media and communications for almost 20 years. He spent the first decade working in the newspaper industry before moving to consumer-focused trade bodies and professional bodies. He worked for the National Pharmacy Association and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute before joining the Council in 2019.

Donna is the Equity Release Council’s Chief Operating Officer and has been in this role since 2013. Her responsibilities include overseeing the governance and operational day to day delivery of the Equity Release Council, including the development of its membership propositions, and oversight of a key committee focused on conduct risk. Having started her financial services career with LV= Donna has a history with other professional bodies such as the Life Insurance Association (LIA) before joining the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) as Head of Marketing Operations and Strategic Projects where she was responsible for a number of the professional body’s major Business Improvement Programmes including the launch of The Personal Finance Society and The Society of Mortgage Professionals.

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.