LONDON, March 24 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Ministers have today announced the appointment of nine Board Members as the inauguralFair Work AgencyAdvisory Board.

The Advisory Boardhas an equal number of memberswith independent, employer and trade union backgroundsto ensure that thework of theFair Work Agencyis rooted in the experience of businesses,workersand victims of serious labour exploitation.The board membersare recognisedleaders andexperts inemployment rights.

The announcement comes ahead of the launch of the Fair Work Agencyon 7 April. Thebodywill bring together existing enforcement bodies,theGangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority, the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, and HMRC's National Minimum Wage Unit.to create a single agency which ends the current fragmented system of employment rights enforcement.

The Advisory Board will work withChairMatthew Taylor and CEO Lisa Pinney toprovide advice to ministers and help set the direction and strategy of the Fair Work Agency.

The Board appointments, split by background, are:

Independent Members

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Patricia Findlay

*

Gavin Kelly

*

Dora-Olivia Vicol

Employer Members

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Neil Carberry

*

Mustafa Faruqi

*

Joanne Young

Trade Union Members

*

Mike Clancy

*

Diana Holland

*

Dave Ward

Welcoming the new appointees, Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said:

Every member of the board brings a wealth of experience from across the world of work, reflecting exactly the kind of broad expertise the Fair Work Agency needs to make a difference to the lives of workers across this country.

I'mlooking forward toworking with them on how we cansupport businesses,strengthen enforcement and ensure that the rights of working people are upheld consistently and fairly across the country.

Biographies:

Patricia Findlay

*

Patricia Findlay is Distinguished Professor of Work and Employment Relations and Director of the Scottish Centre for Employment Research at the University of Strathclyde. A leading expert in job quality, fairworkand workplace innovation, she brings extensive strategic and advisory experience and a strongtrack recordshaping policy and workplace practice.

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Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Patricia declaredno activity.

Gavin Kelly

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Gavin Kelly is Chief Executive of the Nuffield Foundation and a former head of the Resolution Foundation. With a background in senior government roles, he also chaired the Living Wage Commission for a decade and brings deep expertise in labour markets, governance, and social policy. 

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Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Gavin declared:no activity.

Dora-Olivia Vicol

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Dora-Olivia Vicol is Chief Executive of the Work Rights Centre, which she founded to support migrant and vulnerable workers. She brings frontline experience in legal advice,researchand advocacy, alongside a strong academic background focused on labour markets and worker protection.

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Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Dora-Olivia declaredno activity.

Neil Carberry OBE

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Neil Carberry OBE is the Chief Executive of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and a prominent voice on employment issues. He has led major organisational transformation and previously held senior leadership roles at the CBI, with extensive experience in labour market reform and employer representation.Developed throughpreviouswork with the Low Pay Commission andAcas, Neil has a particular interest in fair competition and effective enforcement.

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Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Neil declaredno activity

Mustafa Faruqi

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Mustafa Faruqi is Employee Relations Director at BT Group, leading employee relations strategy for around 60,000 staff. He has held major roles at British Airways, Tesco, Network Rail, and Heathrow; with longstanding experience in pay negotiations, industrialrelationsand workforce strategy across large, complexorganisations. He is also an employer member of the Central Arbitration Committee.

*

Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Mustafa declaredno activity.

Joanne Young

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Joanne Young is an experienced recruitment and workforce policy specialist with a strongtrack recordof improving employment standards and advancing responsible recruitment. She has led major UK and international initiatives, bringingexpertisein employment regulation, labour market enforcement and workforce strategy, alongside practical insight into the challenges facing employers.

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Underappointmentsrules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Joanne declaredno activity.

Mike Clancy

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Mike Clancy is General Secretary and Chief Executive of Prospect, representing over 160,000 specialist workers. He brings significant leadership experience across industrial relations, digitaltransformationand public appointments, and has served on key bodies includingAcas, EmploymentTribunalsand the TUC Executive.Mike is a Non-Executive Board member of the DBT Board.

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Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Mike declaredhe isa member of the Labour Party.Hehasnot been employed by them and hasnot undertaken any activity foritin the last five years.

Diana Holland OBE

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Diana Holland is a senior trade union leader with more than 35 years' experience advocating for equality and workers' rights. A former Assistant General Secretary of Unite, she has held leading roles in national bargaining, international policydevelopmentand the advancement of fair and safe working conditions.

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Underappointmentsrules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Diana declareduntil 2022,shewas the elected Treasurer of the Labour Party. Until 2023,shewas a member of the Labour National Policy Forum on behalf of Unite.Sheisstill a member of the Labour Party locally.

Dave Ward - Dave Ward is General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union, one of the UK's largest unions. With decades of leadership in collective bargaining, industrialstrategyand worker representation, he has played a major national role through the TUC Executive andnumeroussector wide negotiations.

* Under appointments rules, candidatesare required todeclare significant recent political activity. Dave declaredhe isa member of the Labour Partyand hasdone some campaigning and policy development.

Notes to editors:

* These appointments follow a fair and open public appointments competition.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.