In this edition of Focus On, we introduce some of the newly appointed chairs and vice-chairs of our Forums. Learn more about their backgrounds, their objectives within the forums, and their perspectives on the key challenges and opportunities shaping the sector.
James Sudworth, Independent Equity Release Advisor, Right Homes Equity Release, Chair, Adviser Forum.
Many of you within the industry will know me well, be it through my work with the Equity Release Council or propping up the bar at an industry event. After graduating with a 1st class law degree I worked at Equilaw, a leading equity release specialist solicitor before moving into financial advice around 8 years ago.
I’ve always been driven to do the best at anything I set my mind to. While I may not ever be the best at something, I always give 100%. This is what led me to the Equity Release Council oh so many moons ago, actively reaching out to offer my support to other advisers who were new to the industry, who couldn’t gain sufficient experience to be taken on by the bigger networks. I then contributed toward what is now an industry standard Competency Framework Document that new advisers can use to benchmark their advice standards against.
Being a member of many adviser Facebook groups, I am humbled by the number of new participants to the market who actively reach out for help and support to expand their knowledge, and even more humbled by the support offered by other advisers in what is usually a very competitive industry.
My call to action to all industry participants is to continue this supportive framework so that we can better the industry as a whole, leading to more mainstream adoption and acceptance of later life lending products, that can offer such a lifeline to those who need it the most.
Claire Byrd, Legal & General, Chair of the Policy and Communications Forum 
I am Claire Byrd, Senior PR Manager in Legal & General’s Campaigns and Retail PR team, with a particular focus on our annuities, home finance, and protection businesses.
I have been a member of the forum for almost five years and served as Vice Chair during 2024. I am passionate about encouraging more active participation from all Policy and Comms forum members and working collaboratively to ensure later life lending products are viewed as mainstream options. As customers seek more holistic solutions to fund their retirement goals, I believe we have a key role in shaping the conversation and driving greater awareness of these opportunities.
Patrick Oldham, Proposition Director, LV=, Chair, Provider Forum
I work for LV= as Equity Release Proposition Director and I am the chair of the Equity Release Provider Forum 2025, previously vice chair in 2024. I am a qualified Management Accountant by trade and have been working in Financial Services for over 25 years. During this time, I have seen the breadth of later life lending options grow through product innovation, whilst evolving customer protections and safeguards.
The drivers for an expanding healthy market where we can meet a growing list of customer needs in retirement are ever present. However, to face the opportunities and challenges the current economic environment presents, we will need to work together as an industry.
As chair of the Provider forum in 2025 I am keen to promote industry collaboration to increase the number of customers benefitting from later life lending in retirement, whilst focusing on improving customer understanding and outcomes. To achieve this, my call to action is to request member engagement with Council initiatives which will help to realise our industry growth aspirations. A key area to highlight is that in the UK we have a growing pension gap, so it is essential we collectively improve access to and understanding of our products in this increasingly important market.
Carol Nuttal, Solicitor / Director, Adlington Law, Chair Legal Forum 
My name is Carol Nuttall and I am a Solicitor and the Director of Adlington Law, a specialist law firm dealing with equity release and related private client issues.
This year, I am the Chair of the Legal Forum, representing my colleagues in the industry and putting forward our voice on topics that we believe are fundamental to secure the longevity of the industry.
The focus of the Legal Forum is to try to ensure that all solicitors who represent clients in the later life industry, are adhering to the current standards which are set, whilst evolving and strengthening the market by identifying those standards and issues which may benefit from refreshing. We come together as a legal community to see how we can tackle those issues and make positive change.
Over the next year, I hope to see increased collaboration between the Legal Forum and other forums, allowing us to collectively address key issues and drive meaningful change. I also envision the Legal Forum supporting other forums in implementing any necessary changes they identify. This integrated approach will foster cooperation among different professions, ultimately enhancing the consumer experience, strengthening the industry, and promoting market growth.
The views of contributors are not necessarily those of the Council.
