Following the 2024 PCF Annual General Meeting (AGM), we are pleased to congratulate Keith Fraser on his appointment as permanent Chair of the management committee. Additionally, we are delighted to welcome three new committee members: Ruth Glazzard, Chair, Welsh Revenue Authority; Les Philpott, Chair, Government Actuary’s Department; and Sarah Smart, Chair, The Pensions Regulator.
At the AGM the Secretariat welcomed the Management Committee and PCF members, as well as Colin Batsford, the PCF accountant. Mr Batsford reviewed and confirmed the organisation’s annual budget and finances. The finances were approved, and the Chair and new members of the management committee were elected.
Keith Fraser, Chair, Youth Justice Board
In December 2024 Keith Fraser was elected permanent Chair of the Public Chairs’ Forum (PCF) after serving as interim Chair from July 2024. An established member of the PCF community and member of the Management Committee, Keith is also the host of the quarterly PCF Chairs’ Challenges.
In January 2018, Keith was appointed as a member of the Youth Justice Board and is now its Chair. He additionally Chairs Local Partnerships and is also a Non-Executive Director/Trustee at The Work Force Development Trust Limited, Advisor for the National Police Chiefs Council Digital Engagement Project for Young People, and Patron of Employability UK. Keith was made a Commissioner for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities on 16 July 2020. Prior to this, Keith was a Superintendent and Chief Inspector in the West Midlands Police, having joined as a Constable, during which time he produced the 2016-19 Preventing Gang Involvement and Youth Violence strategy.
Keith also produced the business plan for City of Wolverhampton council where he was the Chair of the authority’s statutory Youth Offending Management Board. He led an innovative preventative project, targeting over 7,000 children and young adults, working with Sport England and was the Strategic Police Lead for the Prince’s Trust across the West Midlands. Keith also holds number of not for profit NED roles, and is passionate and committed to delivering in the public sector.
Ruth Glazzard, Chair, Welsh Revenue Authority
Ruth is the Chair of the Welsh Revenue Authority and holds a portfolio of non-executive roles, including as Vice Chair of Digital Health and Care Wales. Ruth has also recently been appointed to the Parole Board and will take up this new role later in 2025. With a background in financial services, regulation and governance, Ruth also has significant board experience as an independent member and chairperson of local government audit and standards boards.
Originally from South Wales, Ruth worked for banks and building societies across the UK before joining the financial services regulator in 2006, working in operational and regulatory roles through the financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent changes in the regulatory regime. Following an international role as a head of governance for Standard Chartered Bank, Ruth returned to Wales, from where she is focusing on a non-executive career whilst raising her young family.
Les Philpott, Chair, Government Actuary’s Department
Les Philpott was appointed Chair of the Board of the Government Actuary’s Department in 2021 and re-appointed for a further term until 2027. He is also Lead Non-Executive Board Member at the Northern Ireland Office and a Non-Executive Director (NED) of Benenden Healthcare Society Ltd, where he is also Chair of the Group Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Previous non-executive experience include NED and Chair roles in the NHS and in education. Les formerly held the position of CEO at the Office for Nuclear Regulation and previously held senior leadership roles at the Health and Safety Executive.
Sarah Smart, Chair, The Pensions Regulator
Sarah Smart was appointed Chair of The Pensions Regulator in June 2021 and is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Independent Trustee. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has held a portfolio of non-executive and advisory positions. She was a member of the Board, Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee of TPR from 2016 to 2021.
Sarah has spent over 20 years in the pensions industry in a variety of different roles. She was Chair of TPT Retirement Solutions from 2010 to 2018, has worked with both London Pensions Fund Authority and Lothian Pension Fund, was an independent member of the Investment and Funding Committee for Unilever UK Pension Fund and chaired the Financial Times Pensions Governance Committee. Outside of pensions Sarah has been closely involved in social investment, sitting on the boards of both Social Investment Scotland and Big Society Capital, where she was also Chair of the Audit Committee. Additionally, she previously chaired the Audit Committee of UK Athletics.
Prior to moving to a portfolio career, Sarah worked in the investment management industry. She spent nine years with Standard Life Investments and was latterly responsible for developing and managing liability-driven and absolute return investment solutions for institutional investors. Sarah is highly respected within the pensions industry and has won many accolades for her innovative approach to pensions.
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We also wish to express deep gratitude to retiring members of the committee: Caroline Corby, Chris Nicholson and Helen Pitcher OBE for their invaluable time, support, and passion given to the Public Chairs’ Forum and leading its development over this significant period of change and innovation.
Learn about the PCF Management Committee and governance here.