Gaynor Pates (Railway Industry Association), TAF Chair
Gaynor is the Membership & Business Admin Director at the award-winning Railway Industry Association (RIA) and has been a member of the TAF Board since December 2019. Before joining RIA in 2014, she worked in a large private company’s global sales team, developing strategic partnerships and managing sales operations. Her career started with a degree in Health & Safety at the MOD’s research agency, before joining the Rail Safety & Standards Board, to manage the cross-industry programme to improve operational safety following the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, leading a culture change for safety critical staff. Gaynor later supported development of the industry’s technology and innovation strategy, designing and delivering research. Taking a break from rail in 2012, she conceived and then delivered an innovative concept - a ‘coworking and crèche’ social enterprise model - receiving social funding, and media attention.
Jon Vanstone (Certass), TAF Vice Chair
Jon Vanstone is a Construction Industry Competence and Building Regulation Compliance consultant working with Trade Associations for the last 20 years of his career. Jon is currently the Chair of the Interim Industry Competence Committee under the Building Safety Regulator and leads the strategy work for the incoming Industry Competence Committee. Jon is a member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and Chairs the sub-committee for Certification Bodies that are authorised by Government as Competent Person Schemes. Jon is Chair of Certass Trade Association and Non-Exec Director of the National Home Improvement Council and is a strong advocate for change throughout construction, publicly promoting the need for a dramatic shift in culture. Jon is also an Ambassador for mental health charity, Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity. A former Chair of TAF, Jon has been a long-term supporter of TAF and its membership often speaking at events about the value of associations.
Richard Lambert (National Hair & Beauty Federation), TAF Treasurer
Richard Lambert is Chief Executive of the National Hair and Beauty Federation. He was previously Chief Executive of the National Landlords Association, and before that, of the British Woodworking Federation. He began his career as a parliamentary civil servant in the House of Commons, where over 10 years he worked on Select Committees, various aspects of the legislative process and interparliamentary affairs. Following a brief spell in commercial lobbying, he moved into trade associations, spending five years as the Policy Director covering residential issues at the British Property Federation. In 2019, Richard received the Trade Association Forum’s Best Practice Award for Outstanding Contribution and the Association Excellence Silver Award for Best Leadership. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Association Leadership and of the Royal Society of Arts, a Freeman of the Company of Communicators and a former Chairman of the National Training Organisation, Housing Potential.
Keith Aldis (Brick Development Association)
I am a professional company secretary and deliverer of commercialised business, charities and not for profits. An experienced people manager, supporter of vocational training, skills testing, qualifications, education and industrial relations/employee relations work in both global and national bodies. I am an NGO specialist.
Lisa Collins (International Trade Association for Broadcast & Media Technology)
Lisa has a 20 year track record working at a senior level within membership organisations in marketing, events and new acquisition functions. During her career to date Lisa has been involved in various re-brand projects, new product/service launches, implementing CRM systems and delivering and organising some fantastic events involving various celebrities, members of the UK Government and Royal Family. Lisa is currently Head of Marketing and Membership Engagement at IABM, the International Association of Broadcast and Media Technology. Lisa is always exploring creative concepts and innovative, lateral ideas to ensure commercial success.
Mike Andrews (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
Mike, has over 30 years’ experience in the building services and engineering sectors, with early career involvement in electrical and mechanical engineering, before moving into the fields of industrial process control, data communications and project management as a qualified Prince2 Practitioner. He spent many years providing consultancy services to major manufacturers and was one of the founding directors of NAPIT in 1992 with the intention of improving the standards within the electrical industry by recognising the competence of individuals. Mike has been involved in many industry committees and working groups over the years, including the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) sub-committee Competent Person Forum, Each Home Counts Workstreams, the TrustMark Forum, the Electrical Safety Roundtable, the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS)Management Group, the Scotland: Electricians Working Group and Building for The Future ReEnergy & ReGreen European Working Groups. He joined NAPIT full-time in 2004 and became Group Chief Executive in 2013, Mike is committed to high standards, individual competence, transparency and integrity. Mike studied at Sheffield Hallam University (LLB Hons) and at Derby University (LLM Commercial Law). He lives in Derbyshire with his wife and two children.
Tom Bowtell (British Coatings Federation)
Tom joined the British Coatings Federation as their Chief Executive Officer in June 2012. Previously he was the General Manager and Director of Proskills UK, a Sector Skills Council. Tom has extensive experience of the Paint Industry, having worked for AkzoNobel for 19 years in the Vehicle Refinish and Decorative Coatings Sectors in the UK, The Netherlands, Eastern Europe and the USA in senior sales and marketing roles. Tom has a BA business degree from Bournemouth University. He is married with three children and is passionate about orienteering, running, cycling and football. Whilst at BCF, Tom has transformed the BCF in to a growing, modern and proactive trade association, winning the Trade Association Forum Leadership Award in 2014, followed by Trade Association of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.
Phil Bennett (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Phil has worked for BEIS and its predecessors throughout his entire 35-year civil service career. He has undertaken a variety of roles during this time, working mostly on government policy relating to industrial sectors. His career has brought him into close contact with trade associations of all sizes, working in partnership with them on policies and initiatives to promote international competitiveness and growth. He currently leads a dedicated team in BEIS which provides parliamentary, briefing and other support for ministers on a range of industrial sectors and other issues, such as the Post Office. He has also led the department’s relationship with TAF since 2013.