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New Acas Council Members appointed

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/080) issued by The Government News Network on 15 April 2008

Business Secretary, John Hutton, has appointed two new members to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Council.

The new members are Nicola Templeman and Jennifer Eady, Q.C.

Nicola Templeman has significant operational management experience within a key corporate retail financial services organisation (Nationwide Building Society). She runs her own business as a SEED life coach - supporting women in transition through all areas of their life.

Jennifer Eady fills the vacancy as an independent member with legal practice expertise of employment law and is one of the leading Employment law silks. She took silk in 2006, having practiced at the bar since 1990, and has appeared in many of the leading Employment cases in recent years. She undertakes advocacy and advisory work for employers, employees, trade unions, employers' associations, central and local government, statutory commissions and NGO's.

The appointment term is for a period of 3 years.

Notes to Editors

1. Acas aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. They provide up-to-date information, independent advice, high-quality training and work with employers and employees to solve workplace problems and improve performance. More information can be found at http://www.acas.org.uk. It is an independent statutory body governed by a Council of twelve consisting of the Acas Chair, employer, trade union and independent members.

2. The new appointments were made by the Secretary of State, following an open selection process conducted in accordance with the guidance issued by the Office of Commissioner for Public Appointments, and in conformity with section 248 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3. The appointments are for three years, ending on 31 March 2011. They will each receive an annual payment of £1617 and, in addition, £164 for each day they work on Council business.

4. Nicola Templeman has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Diploma in Management Services (DMS) and is a fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT).

Her career in brief:

Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics (SEED)
Coach 2008

Nationwide Building Society
      Head of Retail Strategy             2003 - 2008
      Head of Group Audit,                1998 - 2003
      Head of Intermediary Markets        1996 - 1997
      Head of Special Investigations      1993 - 1996
      Assistant Group Secretary           1992 - 1993 

5. Jennifer Eady is a trustee of the Free Representation Unit and a Vice President and former Chair of the Industrial law Society.

Her career in brief:

Silk                                     2006
      County Court Recorder                    2003
      Part Time Judge of Employment Tribunals  2001
      Appointed to the Tresury 'A' panel       2000
      Bar of Northern Ireland                  1994
      Bar of England and Wales                 1989 

6. Political Activities:

Nicola Templeman and Jennifer Eady have undertaken no political activities and hold no other ministerial appointments.

The existing members of the Acas Council are:

* Ed Sweeney, Chair;
* Sarah Anderson CBE;
* John McMullen, Partner, Watson Burton LLP;
* Dave Prentis, General Secretary of Unison;
* Sarah Veale, Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC
* Jonathan Michie, Professor of Management at the University of Birmingham;
* Debbie Coulter OBE, Deputy General Secretary of the GMB Trade Union;
* Derek Simpson, TUC Executive Committee member and the TUC General Council member;
* Peter Bennett Human Resources Director at Network Rail;
* Susan Anderson- Director, Human Resources Policy, CBI;

7. The outgoing members are Simon Auerbach and Susan Jenkins who have both served the maximum terms allowed under OCPA rules.

8. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets. It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies