Secretariat

I am very pleased to be Chairing the Secretariat Committee for the APPG on Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services because it is profoundly important that all members of the public can trust and have confidence in our financial services sector. This APPG is determined to do all it can to help ensure that retail banks, other financial institutions and the regulatory framework create a financial ecosystem that serves society fairly and transparently. I am very grateful to all the members of the Transparency Task Force who have kindly volunteered alongside me to provide the APPG with the operational, administrative and secretariat services that are required.

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because it is important that we the financial services sector fight the fraudsters and scammers from defrauding millions of people who have saved for their pensions which is  their only fund their livelihood in retirement”

"I’m supporting the APPG out of concern for the impact of financial crime and what is sometimes too blithely dismissed as ‘sharp practise’, on people I’ve interviewed. A lot of financial institutions have been failing consumers and the next generation, recidivists who are out of step with building a sustainable world. Covering these issues brought me into Andy Agathangelou’s Transparency Task Force and, in turn, their drive to support this APPG."

"I am privileged and honoured to be part of this Secretariat and to contribute to its important and purposeful work. I aim to bring insights from the Australian experience of sustained and widespread misconduct in our financial industry, the subornation and capture of our regulators, and the findings of Australia’s Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. In particular there are important commonalities between Australia and the UK that relate to the Twin Peaks financial regulatory regime, first implemented in Australia, and subsequently copied in the UK."

"Anthony was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner on 16^th November 2012 and stepped down earlier this year.

He was born in Newbury and West Berks has been his home all his life. He is currently a member of West Berks Council, and was a member of the Thames Valley Police Authority for several years before taking over as Chairman of the Performance Committee in 2011. 

He has had a career in both the military and in industry. He enlisted in the Army at 17 and joined the Royal Green Jackets where he saw active service in Borneo and Northern Ireland. He learnt to fly helicopters at Middle Wallop and commanded various Army Air Corps Squadrons, including the Army helicopters in the Falkland Islands in the latter half of 1982.

He spent 2 years as Chief of Staff Intelligence in the Far East. On leaving the Army he was Marketing Director, and then, for 6 years, Managing Director of the aircraft company Pilatus Britten Norman, which had aircraft in over 100 countries. At the same time he commanded the Army reserve helicopters as a TA officer. 

While in the Army he spent 4 months carrying out the reconnaissance for the crossing of the Darien Gap in Panama and Columbia, and led the first stage of Operation Raleigh, taking young people through the jungles of Honduras and Belize. He was, for 8 years, a trustee of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. 

He has an M.Sc and studied international terrorism and global security in depth at university."

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because as a Corporate Pension Trustee and Administrator for Member Directed Pensions providers such as ourselves and our competitor firms are on the front line of the battle against frauds and scams. Millions of Pounds has been scammed from innocent people using SSAS and SIPP as the conduit, and sadly a number of providers in our marketplace have toxic so called 'investments' which are now called scams and frauds on their books. Whilst we have none I will say "thanks to the grace of God" as I can easily see how others have fallen for the fraudster's patter.  

My firm is approached daily by ever so plausible sounding outfits offering all sorts of 'guaranteed' returns with ever so nice brochures and web sites to back them up.  My clients send me a plethora of offers they have received 'guaranteeing' amazingly attractive returns that they want to know IF they can invest in. I am here to give the APPG up to the day information on the latest tricks the fraudsters are employing in the hope of saving any investor from the horror and destitution of losing their entire pension to a scam. 

I also hope that any early warning I can provide reduces the scams effect by alerting other Professional firms to it and helps catch the perpetrators by making the UK Govt and Regulators aware of it."

"I've volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I hope that with over 20 years experience as a Trustee for both personal and occupational pension schemes I can make a small contribution in protecting innocent pension scheme members from unscrupulous criminals who prey on the vulnerable."

I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because scams can devastate an individual's life and they undermine trust in an industry that is fundamental to society’s financial wellbeing. 

Criminal’s appetite for other people's hard earned money is without bounds and we need to work together as they constantly look for the weakest link in the chain.

As scammers become more and more sophisticated, increasing their use of technology to denude people of a lifetime of savings, there is greater need to bring this matter front and centre and work together to help people stay safe from these criminals.

The APPG represents a new and powerful organisation that will bring a greater focus to this egregious challenge and possessing the means to make a difference. 

Taking away a person’s financial security is a cruel and callous act and it is great to be involved with like minded people, organisations, and politicians to take the fight to the criminals.

"I've volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because my legal expertise and experience in banking cases will be useful to the Committee."

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I believe that victims are not being heard or treated fairly. I know from my career in the financial services sector, that pension scams and the horrendous loss and damage done by them, have needed the spotlight turned hard upon them for many years.

I’m hopeful that this new APPG on Pension Scams will be the vehicle that redresses the balance for those people who have suffered - or are suffering - from this devastating financial piracy."

"I have volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for The APPG because I will never forget the look in the eyes of a loved one after reading the letter that said he had lost his military pension to a scam and in all probability would not be recovered.

This is what spurs me on to help others who find it difficult to be open about what they have lost." 

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I believe it is really important to make sure that the politicians are fully aware that there is such a huge problem and what can be done to mitigate the evil outcomes for their constituents."

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I believe we all have a moral duty to fight against this major public concern. We have an obligation to take care of people who do not understand, are vulnerable, and/or simply fail to believe how proficient and cunning these scammers are.  Too many dreams, relationships, and even lives have been lost because a system has been inadvertently created to allow pension scammers to win!  

This should be unacceptable in a nation that prides itself on taking care of its citizens, uniting against evil, and fighting against harmful dangers.  We need to work together to protect the financial well-being of our citizens’ hard-earned pensions -- to do our part to encourage better awareness of these harmers of society, close the loopholes and policies allowing them to operate, and provide systems and policies that protect the public from these pension scammers. 

The members of the APPG are committed to making change for the better!  I’m hopeful this forum can and will be able to fix what needs to be fixed to better protect the public."

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I believe that elderly and vulnerable victims of pension scams are being let down by the current system – people who have worked hard all their lives can be swindled out of thousands of pounds which they never see again. This lack of redress can destroy people’s livelihoods, yet victims often feel unable to speak out about what has happened.

The APPG is taking a proactive approach to changing the system – not only implementing robust safeguards that prevent people from being scammed, but also providing vital emotional support for scam victims after their traumatic experiences.”

"Lauren is a Senior Policy Researcher at the Pensions Policy Institute, having joined as a Policy Researcher in September 2016. During her time at the PPI, Lauren has produced research on a range of topics, including ESG, pension freedoms, Defined Benefit and Collective Defined Contribution. Alongside producing and presenting research, Lauren also delivers training as part of PPI’s Knowledge Sharing Seminars, providing an introduction to the pensions landscape for new members of the industry. Prior to joining the PPI, Lauren studied Politics and Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, followed by a Masters in Public Administration and Public Policy at the University of York."

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I believe the different initiatives attempting to prevent scams, need to be brought together for the benefit of all. What is needed can’t be purely an industry solution, it will require input from many different facets and potentially changes to legislation.  We need people with industry knowledge and profile but more importantly drive and energy to make things happen.

Having been in the pensions industry for over 28 years, I have acquired extensive knowledge, expertise and an industry profile,  not only through my work as President of the Pensions Management Institute but also as a Director of KGC associates. I have demonstrated the ability to get things done from introducing new qualifications such as the Certificate in Auto-enrolment for the PMI, to working with the Financial Conduct Authority on the changing purpose of the financial industry; and leading the PMI through a period of evolution and change, particularly in the Covid era. With my day job, I work closely with both pension scheme providers and pension scheme trustees, thereby gaining access to insight into providers’ strategies and trends in trustees requirements. 

With a marketing qualification alongside my pension expertise I feel I can bring something different to the Group.”

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG on Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services because I have spent eight and a half years and counting trying to resolve a complex financial services fraud, the underlying cause of which was, I believe, a mix of poor regulations and unsatisfactory performance and transparency and accountability of the regulator. During that time I have also examined many other cases of misconduct and poor customer treatment and helped the victims where I've been able to do so, in return gaining insights from them. It seems to me that there's a huge task to be performed to fix the regulatory environment, which is why I favour a process of working with supportive parliamentarians to help them understand the nature and extent of the problem and develop solutions, where necessary through legislative change. A former journalist and the holder of an MBA from a triple-accredited business school, I believe that I bring a mix of communication and analytical skills that could be useful to the group."

"I have volunteered to be part of the Secretariat because I believe there are some serious failings in the Financial Regulatory systems in the UK and I hope that I can assist in bringing about change that will be to the benefit of all .

Bringing awareness and understanding  to the lawmakers is a key element in bringing about changes which could do much to protect people from financial abuse by immoral introducers and white collar criminals who prey on innocent and naive victims."

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG for two main reasons. Firstly,  I would like to improve consumer confidence and trust within the pensions industry. I believe there may be some misconceptions regarding pension scammers.  They are often sophisticated, well organised and incredibly convincing. It is up to everyone involved to join forces, learn lessons from the past but also look to the future. Collectively, we should aim to be one step ahead of pension scammers. We must ensure we have the relevant and resistant processes and procedures in place to better-protect the pension savers of today and tomorrow. It is time we were proactive, not reactive.

 Lastly, I wish to be part of a combined effort to ensure that pension scam victims receive the correct level of support required. It is surely against anyone’s moral code to leave these victims unsure of where to go, what to do and feeling alone. The emotional and mental impact can be just as great, if not greater, than the financial loss itself. I believe there is a huge opportunity for improvement in victim ‘after care’ and I hope we can do better in this particular area . ”

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because as a liquidator I have dealt with companies where scams have taken place and have seen the aftermath of miss selling.  I want to ensure that directors of these companies are held to account”

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because its objectives are aligned with my campaigning for action and changes to the legal and regulatory framework to address the current epidemic of scams and frauds targeting consumers pensions savings whether held in a formal pension or other forms such as ISAs. Through extensive research, investigations and engagement with key stakeholders I have developed in depth knowledge and evidence of the issues around the current financial promotions regime, its enforcement and online advertising which are the route cause of much of the problem."

Dr Nicholas Morris is an Adjunct Professor at La Trobe Law School, Melbourne; and a Visiting Professor at the China Executive Leadership Academy, Pudong, China and the Hindu University of Indonesia. Previous academic posts include Adjunct Professor, UNSW Law and Justice, Sydney; Visiting Fellow – Balliol College and The Martin School, Oxford; Fellow - University of Melbourne; and Visiting Professor - City University Business School, London.

Nicholas has over 40 years’ experience advising companies, governments and international agencies, in UK, Australia, Europe, China, SE Asia and the Middle East, on financial regulation, health and social support systems, and the financing of essential infrastructure. In recent years he has focused on regulatory and other reforms needed for sustainable development, in both developed and developing countries.

Nicholas also led a team at Oxford to examine how the trustworthiness of the financial system could be improved, after the Global Financial Crisis, which led to the book “Capital Failure: Rebuilding Trust in Financial Services” (Oxford University Press, 2014, 2016). More recently he has published “Management and Regulation of Pension Schemes: Australia: A Cautionary Tale” (Routledge, 2018).

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“Throughout an almost thirty year career in financial markets working for many of the world’s largest banks, I’ve acquired the ‘coal face’ experience that makes me a member of a club that is significantly more exclusive than I understood it to be. Namely, those that knew what the reality is and was, as opposed to the illusion so successfully created and presented by so many. And perhaps more exclusively, those that were prepared to speak up and expose this reality. All too often I have seen the illusion triumph over the reality, and almost inevitably because the wrong questions were asked, or the wrong allegations or pleadings put forward, and for no other reason than it was not known or understood, nor could it be. I hope to be able to use this ‘coal face’ experience to help the APPG get to the heart of the reality, expose the issues and, more importantly, help establish the solutions."

"I am delighted to assist the Secretariat in its important work. One of the worst aspects we have uncovered is that no one in the UK authorities really wants to know about financial crime due to defective regulation. I aim to bring insights from my experience as chair of the Premier FX Claimants Committee who had £12.3 m stolen by an authorised payments institution regulated in the UK. The firm was unlawfully speculating with client money, money laundering and running a Ponzi scam for 12 years. Premier FX created havoc and misery for 245 victims many of whom were Brits living and working overseas and stole their pension funds and life savings.

Their misfeasance was reported to the bank and regulator multiple times but was not taken seriously until the claimants engaged their MPs in their campaign for repayment of their stolen funds. After presenting evidence to the FCA of regulatory and banking failures to engage in due diligence, skill and care in monitoring and supervising an authorised firm our money was repaid by Barclays Bank 4 years later. We are grateful to the FCA for investigating and fining Barclays, however, no employees in the firm or bank were prosecuted, banned or fined and continue to work in the FS industry.

I  encountered in our campaign many slippery shoulders and “its not our remit to listen or investigate” and concluded there are too many organisations not doing their statutory duty of protecting consumers, who are systematically not enforcing the regulations.

“Failure to act” has to be made a criminal offence for both individuals and organisations who fail to act to protect the public from unlawful and harmful behaviour.  The FCA’s comprehensive exemptions from civil and criminal liability are preventing it from being an effective and real regulator and this protection of the regulator needs to be re-examined."

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because its heart breaking to have worked with people over decades to help them build up a pot of money intended to give them some quality of life in retirement, only to see it snatched away from them.”

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because after I was a victim of a major investment scam recommended by my bank manager, I made it my mission in life to understand how such scams work, how the perpetrators almost always get away with them and how to help others get compensation. That gave me an intimate “criminals” view of how to operate and maximise such fraud, avoid being caught and do it again. For the past 9 years I have helped over a thousand victims and uniquely know the ways of stopping such personal and financial damage to hundreds of thousands of people that need to be brought to the attention of politicians.”

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"I would like to see a fairer, more equitable financial system for all; in particular the saving and investing public. I believe it is crucial to have a competent and accountable FCA, subject to the same high standards of conduct and integrity it demands from those it regulates."

“I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I feel passionately that through industry and government working together we can reduce the number of pension and investment scams by bringing in effective legislation and practice, and educating consumers to be aware. I have spent the last 30 years helping customers make the best retirement decisions, and I want to do all I can to prevent them having their retirement dreams stolen from them.”

“Roger Mullin is a former MP, a former chair of an APPG and is currently involved with two other APPGs.”

"I have volunteered to support the work of the APPG on Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services because I firmly believe that the APPG is the best forum to encourage service providers to resolve historic shortcomings and deliver excellent banking services to personal customers in the future; specifically addressing the challenges of Authorised Push Payment Fraud (APPF)."

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because having worked offshore for 25 years I have seen the steady decline of accessible help and qualified advice with often basic communication not being available to UK citizens who just happen to be working overseas, often on short term contracts but also permanently.

UK IFA’s in the main cannot help a none resident UK citizen even when they have a UK pension. At the same time an overseas based IFA is not allowed to give help or guidance to a none UK resident citizen on a UK pension.  UK life companies blankly refuse to even allow an overseas IFA information on pension contracts, though of course this is very easily circumvented.

This whole situation has played into the hands of the more unscrupulous ‘’IFA’’ very often not qualified in any jurisdiction but able to exploit this huge void. In addition to this self-created problem it is difficult for the average person to understand just who is and who isn’t qualified to give advice.

It is very clear to me there are UK IFA firms in collusion with overseas ‘’advisors’’ and are then able to transfer huge sums into inappropriate contracts with huge fees and commissions generated.

My firm was established in Hong Kong in 1998. We established a UK AR firm in 2018, we had hoped this would enable us to offer joined up advice and enable us to help clients with a more meaningful approach to quality advice, particularly on pensions because this is a significant area of abuse, though sadly not only pensions. The reality is we cannot, we are faced with much of the same in terms of not being able to offer the level of service we feel is warranted. UK compliance restricts what we are able to offer in terms of advice, both initial and ongoing.

In summary the lack of cohesion and possibly mistrust (more often than not justified) of overseas advisors has created a situation that has been easily exploited for personal gain and at the expense of average UK citizens living and working abroad. This is NOT something I see changing anytime soon."

"Sebastian A. Leslie Is committed to environmental protection and the improvement of the quality of life for the next generations. He first arrived in Hungary in 1990 as a representative of the Westminster Foundation of Democracy and has had business interests in Hungary and elsewhere in the region since that date. 

As the speaker of the Brexit Party in Scotland for the last general election in 2019 he has shown onsistent support for upholding the rights of the nation state both in the UK and in Europe. 

He is a serving Councillor on Aberdeenshire Council and has maintained his links with the present generation of Visegrad 4 politicians."

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because as a recent graduate achieving a 2:1 in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth I feel my experience, skills, and passion to build a career supporting the policing and crime industry match what is desired to volunteer for the Secretariat Committee. I have learned through my degree about the issues around regulation on pension scams, the sophistication of those that are carried out, how underreported they are, and furthermore, the apparent stigma around victims of pension scams who decide not to report these crimes for fear of embarrassment. Changes need to be made and I feel privileged to be able to support the committee in helping make that reform." 

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because I have become a key figure in helping to prevent people falling victim to pension fraudsters, having become a victim myself. I lost my entire pension fund; along with over 500 other victims of the Ark Pension Scandal. I then went on to help set up a campaign group. I am also involved in supporting numerous other pension scam victims and pension scam support groups.

I believe I have unique insight and experience in the pensions scam prevention and support space and my relentless campaigning has led to interaction with the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Financial Conduct Authority”

"I have volunteered to support the work of the APPG on Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services because parliamentarians can make a difference. Many financial services firms have treated consumers unfairly for too long. Parliamentarians can generate debate and encourage the industry, government and regulator to make much needed changes to the financial landscape"

“I am honoured to be joining the Secretariat for the APPG on Personal Banking and Fairer Financial Services. I have watched closely over recent years as the retail investor has become more and more marginalised. We are now at the point whereby the asymmetries between the Financial Services sector and the individual are unfair and unsustainable. The financial outcomes of those least able to stand up for themselves are being eroded as a result. There appear to be some serious failings in the UK’s Financial Services sector which require urgent action to put it back onto a long-term footing.

Sunil has over 37 years’ experience in asset management, in both traditional and alternative investments, and has been a TTF member from inception. Sunil is currently a Project Director for Punter Southall Analytics Ltd, is a TTF Ambassador, member of the UK Shareholders Association and was until recently a member of the Association of Professional Fund Investors (APFI) Advisory Board”.

"I’ve volunteered to be part of the Secretariat Committee for the APPG because, Pension Scams are a scourge on civilised society and they could potentially affect almost all of us"