The Conveyancing Association (CA) has announced the appointment of a new non-executive chair.
Nicky Heathcote, who has over 30 years’ experience in the public sector, takes over as non-executive chair from Paul Smee with immediate effect.
Heathcote (pictured) will be an independent influence at senior management and board level, help drive the CA’s various workstreams around the improvement of the home buying and selling process, and ensure the Association is fully represented with all stakeholders and interested parties.
She will lead theeExecutive, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the CA and chair the Association’s Policy & Strategy Board (PSB), which is responsible for: setting policy and strategy; dealing with consultation papers; the admittance of new members across the various categories; producing plans for its future; and providing a clearly defined remit for the eecutive.
Heathcote has a portfolio of non-executive positions including chair of Propertymark, chair of the PCCB Compliance Committee within the Code of Property Search Organisations (COPSO) and Ambassador for NedonBoard.
Her previous roles have included chief of staff at HM Land Registry (HMLR) and executive director of regulatory policy and governance at the Gambling Commission. She has led several complex strategic reviews, working on cross-government agendas including housing, data transparency, counter fraud, anti-corruption, devolution, asset sales, international development and safer gambling.
She has also held positions in various domestic and international boards and committees, including chairing HMLR’s Advisory Council, board member of the European Land Information Service and was the UK government’s representative on the UNECE Bureau and the Committee for Housing and Land Management.
Beth Rudolf, director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association, said: “We are very pleased to announce Nicky as our new non-executive chair, taking over from Paul Smee who has steered the CA ship fantastically over the past three years and undoubtedly leaves the Association in a far better place. I’m sure everyone on the Executive, the PSB and all our member firms would like to put on record how grateful we are to Paul for all his work and the wise counsel he has provided.
“The CA has scored some notable successes in the last three years and we are welcoming Nicky on board to take us onto the next level, particularly with regard to the solutions we are proposing to improve the home buying and selling process. There is still some way to go but Nicky has the expertise and the experience not just to ensure the CA is fit-for-purpose and providing real value to our members, but to ensure we get the best process possible for all stakeholders. This is an exciting – yet busy – time for the CA and our profession, and we believe we have an excellent advocate and addition to the team in Nicky.”
Heathcote added: “I am very pleased to be joining the CA at what is obviously a challenging time for the conveyancing profession, after the most unprecedented year. It is clear the Association has continued to lead the way throughout the pandemic in terms of protecting members’ interests and, in particular, in working towards improving the home buying and selling process.
“Paul has steered the ship remarkably well during his tenure and I know his hard work has been appreciated by the Executive and members alike. It’s my aim to carry on in the same manner, to help the CA support its members, to reassert our goals and ambitions, and to work with all stakeholders to help create the very best environment for the profession to excel.”
