The Regulatory Board
Ian Grant - Vice-Chairman Of The Regulatory Board
Ian qualified as a Barrister in 1993 after gaining his degree in Law in 1992.
He has ten years experience of teaching a wide range of vocational, academic and professional legal courses within the legal sector.
Ian has also authored many training texts including Civil Litigation, Intellectual Property Law, Immigration Law and Wills and Probate Practice. He has trained and advised many practitioners on a variety of legal areas.
Ian currently works in private practice and specialises in Wills and Estate matters.
Ian joins the Fellowship as Vice Chairman to the Regulatory Board and will be active in preparing documents for application to the Legal Services Board for the Fellowship to become an approved regulator.
Ian brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge of the industry, as well as the ability to operate as a member of a board that governs the supervision of Fellowship members to ensure that they are compliant with laws and the regulations and rules as established by the Fellowship.
As part of Ian’s training to become a Barrister, Ian has also developed a keen interest in mediation.
Judith Harris
Judith is retired after a life in business. For the previous 21 years Judith has worked for IBM initially as a secretary then as a group leader in the Publishing deptartment and finally as a trainer in Desk Top Publishing. Judith was presented with a special contribution Award and a Quality Circle Award by IBM for improving the quality of typing standards in her Dept. This culminated in a presentation to the Institute of Directors in London.
Judith has also been the secretary of the Parochial Church Council for 10 years and also secretary of ‘Churches Together’ in Bromyard for 5 years and secretary of a Trustees and Advisory Committee.
Judith is currently Chairman of British Dressage North West Region and is a high listed dressage judge. Judith commented, 'Judging requires fairness, concentration, integrity, wisdom and knowledge and I hope to bring these qualities to the regulatory board’.
Mike Heelan, TEP Dip PFS
Mike retired from the Army eleven years ago having served twenty five years. He stepped seamlessly into a new career in Financial Services and has now been a St. James’s Place Partner for seven years. Alongside, he has built up a bespoke Will Writing and Estate Planning Partnership, he provides training for numerous Will writing organisations and is a broadcaster on Will, Trust and Tax matters. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and completed their Diploma qualification in 2009. Mike was Fellow of the Society of Will Writers and Estate Planning Practitioners for whose members he provided training from introductory level up to full Estate Practitioner until he left the organisation in November 2009. Mike also belongs to the TAS Network, a prestigious group of fellow Will Writers who have won contracts to provide Will and Trust services with Vantis, DHL, B&Q and others. The TAS network was created to provide the stringent regulation and compliance that was missing from the industry and its member organisations.
Mike is a firm believer in the need for regulation, his day to day interaction with Will Writers all over the country and his in depth knowledge of the main member organisations have only reinforced his views. Consumers and the vulnerable are being let down by those who should be providing protection and Mike firmly believes that the knowledge of taxation of those purporting to be Estate Planners is limited at best and non-existent at worst. Mike is of the belief that this is as important, if not more so, than the regulation of Probate.
The Revd. Graham T.G. Sykes ACIB, BTh (Hons)
Graham Sykes was Ordained in the Church of England in 1992 having forged a career in the Banking Industry where he worked for Williams & Glynn’s Bank Ltd, Kleinwort Benson PLC and C.L. Bank Nederland N.V. He has had various roles in the Church, including being a Diocesan Officer. He presently serves as a Parish Priest. He is a Panel Member for the Tribunal set up under the Clergy Disciplinary Measure and was nominated for the this role by his Diocese. He has been deeply involved in training throughout both his banking career and as a minister. A large part of his work is with people who are bereaved and vulnerable in all sorts of ways.
He serves on the Fellowship’s Regulatory Board as a Lay Person who firmly believes that for professional people to have credibility they need to be trained to high and accredited standards and work within a regulatory framework which protects the consumer and the integrity of the profession.
Joan Corless - MBA, PgDip, BA(Hons), Cert Ed, MCIM, Chartered Marketer, Dip MR, RS(Hom), Dip Ac, PgDip Ac, MBAcC
Joan grew up in a very disadvantaged area. Her main objective was to build a better future for herself and to help others in similar circumstances to do the same. She realised that gaining qualifications on a part-time basis were the answer to achieve her aims.
Sadly, Joan’s first husband died introducing her into the procedures of ‘Letters of Administration’ and the difficulties and distress encountered when no wills have been written.
Joan gained her lecturing/teaching qualification and began her career in education working and continuing to work over the years in disadvantaged areas. All qualifications achieved by Joan have encompassed the study of the law of England and the European Union. Joan has been seconded to many local and national boards and committees over the years.
Joan believes that her experience outlined above in education and boards/committee work will contribute to the objectives and work of the board. She is very happy to join the board and says ‘it is most important that all members of the general public complete wills and also have competent/well trained will writers to advise them appropriately governed by a regulatory body. This being one of the main objectives of the board’.
Joan alternates her time running a busy Complementary Medicine practice and her role as a freelance Educational Consultant.