Professional Standards Steering Group
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Established in February 2024 under authority from the Standards and Regulation Board (SRB), the Professional Standards Steering Group (PSSG) is an interim group consisting of six members: an RICS member as Chair, an accountant, a consumer advocate, an individual with significant professional regulatory experience, and an economist and solicitor (see PSSG members bios below).
The PSSG’s overarching aim is to deliver recommendations to SRB on the governance structure and the processes for the approval of standards – keeping the public interest at the heart of their advice and recommendations.
To that aim, and in line with the PSSG’s Terms of Reference, the Group has been engaging in activities relating to providing feedback on standards currently under development and considering the present suitcase of standards. This will, in turn, inform strategy, governance and operational policies associated with the approval of professional standards in the coming months.
Chair
Richard Waterhouse FRICS
Richard is a Chartered Surveyor by career, chairing the RICS Professional Standards Steering Group of the Standards and Regulation Board from January 2024. Previously he was a member of the RICS Standards and Regulation Board, where he led on thought leadership for sustainability, diversity and placemaking. He is passionate about the public interest role of the RICS and driving professionalism within the built environment. Working previously with the Cabinet Office to establish the Government Property Profession of around 6000 professionals, he focused on diversity, capability growth and building networks across the UK. He is a strong advocate for widening meritocracy accessibility to the profession by developing multiple career entry routes and emphasising continued learning and development. Richard has extensive public sector experience within the land & property markets, developing and driving policy across residential, commercial and infrastructure. He has served across several departments including, Communities & Local Government, Cabinet Office, HMRC and Treasury and in areas including litigation, policy development, assurance, and introduction of new legislation. He also maintains a keen interest in the historic property and environmental conservation. More widely, he holds judicial office as a Judge in London, in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), determining residential disputes, and teaches at the University College of Estate Management.
Members of the Professional Standards Steering Group
Suzanne McCarthy
Suzanne has a long involvement with regulation and particularly the development, implementation, and maintenance of standards. She is currently engaged in producing standards as the Independent Chair of the Fire Standards Board and as Chair of the Fundraising Regulator’s Standards Committee. She also applies standards as the Greater London Authority’s Independent Person reviewing possible breaches of the GLA’s Code of Conduct by elected Assembly Members and the Mayor. Suzanne has a legal background, and her executive career included time at both the Home Office where she served as Private Secretary to two Home Secretaries and at HM Treasury. In the wider public sector she served as Chief Executive of both the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme as well as the UK’s Immigration Services Commissioner. Her Non-Executive appointments have included Board membership of the General Medical Council, the University of London and the Advertising Standards Authority. Currently, she is Chair of the National Guardian Office’s Accountability and Liaison Board and a member of the Board of the College of Policing. During her career she has been involved with several membership organisations including as a Board Member of both the Royal Institute of British Architects and of the RICS’s UK and Ireland Regulatory Board. Appointed in December 2023, Suzanne joins the PSSG as an independent member with relevant professional regulatory experience.
Anne Davis
Anne Davis is a Chartered Accountant, with over 25 years’ experience in professional regulation, ethics, anti-money laundering supervision and disciplinary standards in the accountancy profession. She has a portfolio career with a blend of voluntary and non-executive roles. In her senior roles in the accountancy professional bodies, Anne led, developed and contributed to transforming regulatory, ethics, disciplinary and anti-money laundering supervisory frameworks, leveraging her financial expertise and an in-depth understanding of UK and international regulatory landscape. She has also been a member and contributor to high-profile government and regulatory committees/working groups, tasked with topical financial and accounting issues. Anne is an experienced NED of charity and not-for-profit organisations with expertise in governance, strategy, risk and organisational performance, including brand awareness and reputation. Anne is currently on the board of Coeliac UK and CABA (Chartered Accountants Benevolent Association). In her most recent Executive role, Anne was Associate Director for RSM UK, where she had responsibility for anti-money and sanctions compliance to mitigate legal and regulatory risks. She has also worked at the IFA, ICAEW, General Motors (UK and NY) and Whitbread. Appointed in December 2023, Anne joins the PSSG as an independent member and Accountant.
Francis McGee
Francis is an independent consumer advocate and consultant helping businesses, public bodies and charities with issues around policy and practice. He has specialised in financial services and issues relating to diversity, inclusion and vulnerability. He is a member of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, Executive Chair of GAIN, a non-profit advocating for neurodiverse people working in financial services, a member of the Board at the Money Advice Liaison Group a debt advice sector body, an independent member of the governance board of Lenders Compared, a comparison website for cash loans set up by the Competition Commission. He has done work with the Money and Pensions Service and in the financial technology sector around Open Banking. Earlier in his career, Francis was Director of External Affairs at StepChange, the UK’s largest specialist debt advice provider, Head of Corporate Affairs at AEGON UK and Head of Regulation and Strategy at the Association of British Insurers. Before that he held a number of positions in HM Treasury, the Bank of England and in financial services regulation. Appointed in December 2023, Francis joins the PSSG as an independent member and Consumer Advocate.
George McLellan
George McLellan is recognised in legal directories for his expertise in the area of public and administrative law. In his professional practice, he supports claimants and public authorities with judicial review challenges, supports participants in public inquiries, and regularly advises businesses and public authorities on lawful public decision making. George has extensive experience across various regulated professions and economic sectors, including transport, health, sport, media, defence, financial services, advertising services, food, consumer goods, construction products, and energy. This diverse background enables him to provide valuable insights into lawful decision-making processes within the RICS Professional Standards Steering Group, contributing to the development and maintenance of high professional standards. Appointed in June 2024, George joins the PSSG as an independent member and Solicitor.
Stephen Gifford
Stephen is an economist with 30 years of professional experience across the public and private sector. He is currently the Chief Economist of the Faraday Institution, Member of the Regulatory Policy Committee, Member of the Office for the Internal Market Panel, Non-Executive Director of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Member of the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre. He was previously the Chief Economist at Grant Thornton, the Director of Economics at the CBI and has held various senior economist roles at KPMG, Oxford Economics, Civil Aviation Authority and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. Appointed in June 2024, Stephen joins the PSSG as an independent member and Economist.
