Meet our Board of Directors

With a broad range of experience and knowledge between them, our Board is responsible for making key business decisions and representing you, the member. They all share a passion for the Society and a genuine belief that our members and staff should always come first.

You can find out more about each of our Directors below.

Nemone Wynn-Evans

Board Chair
Portait of Ann-Marie O'Dea

Ann-Marie O’Dea

Chief Executive Officer

Simon Pashby

Non-Executive Director
Portrait of Cameron Mills

Cameron Mills

Non-Executive Director
Portrait of Mike Myers

Mark Myers

Non-Executive Director

Alison McKinna

Non-Executive Director

Neil Tinegate

Non-Executive Director

Sam Chivers

Executive Director
Portrait of Christopher Critchlow

Christopher Critchlow

Executive Director

Other committees we operate

Alongside our Board of Directors, Shepherds Friendly also operates several other committees.

Each committee shares the same purpose: to ensure that our members remain at the forefront by providing guidance, advice and recommendations to the Board.

It is a regulatory requirement that each committee provides a ‘Terms of Reference’ report. These documents outline what the committee covers and its responsibilities. You can take a look at these by clicking the relevant link.

Board and Committees structure

Board

Board

The Board Chair of the Society is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Board in accordance with the Society’s rules, regulatory and legal requirements in order to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance. They provide ethical leadership and direction to the Board and ensure that the work of the Board is focused on meeting the Society’s mission, vision and strategic direction.

The Senior Independent Director’s role is to ensure the Society places the Members at the heart of everything it does. The Senior Independent Director also acts as a channel of communication for any Member who believes they have a problem which cannot be resolved through the usual channels. They are also responsible for assessing the Chair’s performance.

Terms of reference 

Audit and Compliance Committee

Audit and Compliance Committee

The Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of internal and external audit. The Committee is responsible for ensuring the independence of the audit functions and monitors the auditors’ performance. The Chair has oversight of the effectiveness of the whistleblowing policies and procedures, including those for the protection of staff raising concerns.

The Society’s Chief Actuary attends the Audit Committee to present recommendations on appropriate methodologies and assumptions to use in the valuation of the Society’s long-term business provision in its Annual Report and Accounts as well as the Solvency II regulatory valuation.

Terms of reference

Nominations and Governance Committee

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for nominations matters. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that all key function holders are fit, proper and competent on a continuous basis.

The Committee also has also taken on responsibility for overseeing the impact of climate change on the Society.

Terms of reference

Fair Members Benefits Committee

Fair Members Benefits Committee

The Chair of the FMBC is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for supporting the Board in discharging its corporate governance obligations in relation to compliance with the Principles and Practices of Financial Management (PPFM).

The scope of the FMBC covers activities that are normally part of a With-Profits Committee. It also includes the consideration of the fair treatment of non-profit policyholders to ensure that the needs of all the Society’s policyholders are considered.

The FMBC monitors the performance of the Society’s investment managers to ensure with-profits policyholders are securing the returns in line with their reasonable expectations.

With-Profits Actuary The FMBC is supported by the With-Profits Actuary whose responsibility it is to advise the Society on key aspects of the discretion to be exercised affecting with-profits policyholders.

Terms of reference

 

Remuneration Committee

Remuneration Committee

The Chair of the Remuneration Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the design and implementation of the Society’s remuneration policy. They are responsible for ensuring that the Society’s remuneration policy and practices are aligned to business strategy and objectives, its risk appetite, values and culture, and relevant regulations.

Terms of reference

Board Risk Committee

Board Risk Committee

The Chair of the Board Risk Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the risk management system. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that the Society has an appropriate ORSA Policy and that the requirements of the policy are implemented by the Board. Their responsibilities include having oversight that the Society is fully and effectively using its Risk management systems.

The Board Risk Committee also monitors the risks attaching to the Society’s investments which are currently managed by Royal London Asset Management (“RLAM”) and Legal and General (“L&G”).

Terms of reference

Board and Committees structure

Board

Board

The Board Chair of the Society is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Board in accordance with the Society’s rules, regulatory and legal requirements in order to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance. They provide ethical leadership and direction to the Board and ensure that the work of the Board is focused on meeting the Society’s mission, vision and strategic direction.

The Senior Independent Director’s role is to ensure the Society places the Members at the heart of everything it does. The Senior Independent Director also acts as a channel of communication for any Member who believes they have a problem which cannot be resolved through the usual channels. They are also responsible for assessing the Chair’s performance.

Terms of reference 

Audit and Compliance Committee

Audit and Compliance Committee

The Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of internal and external audit. The Committee is responsible for ensuring the independence of the audit functions and monitors the auditors’ performance. The Chair has oversight of the effectiveness of the whistleblowing policies and procedures, including those for the protection of staff raising concerns.

The Society’s Chief Actuary attends the Audit Committee to present recommendations on appropriate methodologies and assumptions to use in the valuation of the Society’s long-term business provision in its Annual Report and Accounts as well as the Solvency II regulatory valuation.

Terms of reference

Nominations and Governance Committee

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for nominations matters. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that all key function holders are fit, proper and competent on a continuous basis.

The Committee also has also taken on responsibility for overseeing the impact of climate change on the Society.

Terms of reference

Fair Members Benefits Committee

Fair Members Benefits Committee

The Chair of the FMBC is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for supporting the Board in discharging its corporate governance obligations in relation to compliance with the Principles and Practices of Financial Management (PPFM).

The scope of the FMBC covers activities that are normally part of a With-Profits Committee. It also includes the consideration of the fair treatment of non-profit policyholders to ensure that the needs of all the Society’s policyholders are considered.

The FMBC monitors the performance of the Society’s investment managers to ensure with-profits policyholders are securing the returns in line with their reasonable expectations.

With-Profits Actuary The FMBC is supported by the With-Profits Actuary whose responsibility it is to advise the Society on key aspects of the discretion to be exercised affecting with-profits policyholders.

Terms of reference

 

Remuneration Committee

Remuneration Committee

The Chair of the Remuneration Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the design and implementation of the Society’s remuneration policy. They are responsible for ensuring that the Society’s remuneration policy and practices are aligned to business strategy and objectives, its risk appetite, values and culture, and relevant regulations.

Terms of reference

Board Risk Committee

Board Risk Committee

The Chair of the Board Risk Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the risk management system. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that the Society has an appropriate ORSA Policy and that the requirements of the policy are implemented by the Board. Their responsibilities include having oversight that the Society is fully and effectively using its Risk management systems.

The Board Risk Committee also monitors the risks attaching to the Society’s investments which are currently managed by Royal London Asset Management (“RLAM”) and Legal and General (“L&G”).

Terms of reference

A message from our Senior Independent Director

As Senior Independent Director, it is my pleasure to represent the voice of our members. In my role, I am here to listen to any feedback or concerns you may have about the way we do things here at Shepherds Friendly. It is also my duty to ensure that the Board continues to always act in your best interests.

In particular, I am responsible for appraising our Board Chair’s performance by way of hearing the views of other Directors, our people and members and providing honest, constructive feedback. I am also the Whistleblowing champion for the Society, empowering our staff to challenge anything they believe is wrong or that may go against our members’ best interests.

Having been on the Board since 2016, I am proud of the commitment and enthusiasm shown by our staff to provide the very best experience for all our members. In order for us to do this and to remain true to our promises, we always need to listen to the feedback and opinions of those at the heart of our business: you, our members.

Overall, I am here to be your voice; Shepherds Friendly is a mutual, which means that it is owned by and run for our members, so your views are important to me. I can also act as an additional point of contact if you feel our normal channels haven’t worked for you. If you would like to get in touch with me to share your thoughts, please send an email to [email protected]. Together, we can ensure that Shepherds Friendly continues to put its members front and centre of everything we do.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Pashby 

Senior Independent Director

 

Board Diversity Policy

The Society recognises and values the benefits of having a diverse Board. For more details click the link below.

View PDF »

 

Our Member Services Team are always happy to help. You can call them on 0800 526 249 or email us at [email protected]

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