New members appointed to the Financial Services Consumer Panel

First published: Last updated: 20/01/2014

2 January 2014

Liz Barclay, Caroline Barr and Doug Taylor have been appointed as new members of the independent Financial Services Consumer Panel. The Panel advises and challenges the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) from the consumer perspective. The appointments take effect from 1 January 2014 and will be for a three-year term.

Liz Barclay has been a broadcast journalist and producer for more than 20 years specialising in personal finance, consumer affairs and issues affecting small businesses for the BBC and the independent sector. She is on the board of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and the Equity Release Council Standards Board, and is Chair of Camden Citizens Advice Bureau.

Caroline Barr has worked in the financial services industry in both the retail and corporate sectors. At the Treasury she was a member of the team that implemented the Stakeholder Products range recommended by the Sandler Review and worked with the Financial Services Authority on the development of the basic advice regime.

Doug Taylor works on a consultancy basis and is Leader of the Council at the London Borough of Enfield. He is a Governor at Capel Manor College, a member of the London Community Sports Board and the London Council Leaders Group. He is also a member of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, occupational pensions stakeholder group, a Governor of the Pensions Policy Institute and the NEST members panel. For many years he was Chief Advocate Financial Services at Which?

The three new panel members have been appointed following the departure of Dan Plant and Frances Harrison at the end of December 2013, who came to the end of their three-year term on the panel.

Sue Lewis, Chair of the Consumer Panel member said:

“I am delighted to welcome Liz, Caroline and Doug to the Panel. They each bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience of the financial services industry and a passion for consumer advocacy. I look forward to working with them.

“I am very grateful to the departing members, Frances Harrison and Dan Plant, for their invaluable contribution to the success of the Panel. As they come to the end of their three-year terms, they leave with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”

Notes to editors

  1. The Consumer Panel is a statutory body under the Financial Services Act 2012. It was initially established by the Financial Services Authority in December 1998. The Panel advises the FCA on the interests and concerns of consumers.
  2. The Panel’s membership is drawn from a broad range of backgrounds with expertise including market research, law, financial services industry, financial inclusion, European Regulation, financial regulation, consumer advice, campaigning, communications, compliance and later-life issues.
  3. The emphasis of the Panel's work is on activities that are regulated by the FCA, although it may also look at the impact on consumers of activities outside but related to the FCA's remit. More information about the Panel's work is available here.
  4. Panel members are appointed to serve a maximum of two terms of three years.