Officers
Richard Smith (Road Haulage Association), Chair
Richard is the Managing Director of the Road Haulage Association, one of the larger members of TAF representing more than 200 staff and 8,500 members, ranging from owner operators to those with fleets of over 1000 vehicles. Richard has been elected as the new Chair for TAF 2023/24.
Julia Garvey (British Education Suppliers Association), Vice Chair
Julia is the Deputy Director General at British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), the trade association covering the entirety of the UK educational suppliers sector with more than 300 members. Julie has been elected in the Band A (0-9 staff) category of members and will serve a term until 2026.
Tim Doggett (Chemical Business Association), Treasurer
Tim Doggett is the Chief Executive Officer of the Chemical Business Association (CBA) which represents the UK chemical supply chain. Many CBA members are SMEs and include manufacturers, distributors, traders, warehouse operators, logistics and transport companies, as well as service providers and suppliers who collectively are the main chemical industry interface providing products and services to virtually every sector. CBA members contribute more than £4 billion annually to the UK economy and employ over 10,000 people nationwide, handling in excess of 27 million tonnes and making over 2.25 million deliveries of chemicals each year.
Board members
Ben Massey (National Association of Jewellers)
Ben is the CEO at The National Association of Jewellers and is an experienced marketing professional with experience working at a number of associations.
Gaynor Pates (Railway Industry Association)
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.
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.
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.
Phil Bennett (Department for Business and Trade)
Phil has worked for DBT 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.
Richard Ellithorne (Builders Merchants Federation)
Richard is the Membership Services Director at Builders Merchants Federation, having previous worked at a number of other TAF members and having been involved in TAF in various forms in the past. Richard has a particular interest in trade association benchmarking and will be supporting on TAF’s benchamrking outputs during his term in office. Richard has been elected in the Band B (10-19 staff) category of members and will serve a term until 2026.
Suneeta Johal (Construction Equipment Association)
Suneeta is Chief Executive of the Construction Equipment Association, the trade association that represents the UK construction equipment sector with more than 140 members. Suneeta has been co-opted onto the Board in the Band A (0-9 staff) category of membership.
Jon Vanstone (CERTASS)
Jon is the chair of CERTASS, a Government authorised Certification body which was established in 2006. CERTASS specialises in installer certification for the building fabrics industry. Jon is rich in industry knowledge and has held multiple positions within trade bodies and associations.
Ellen Daniels (British Compressed Gases Association)
Ellen is the CEO of the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA), the leading UK trade association representing the interests of 100+ member companies. Ellen has a wealth of public affairs and industry knowledge.