Equal Pay: Law and Best Practice NEW

Paul Secher, Managing Director, JSB Training and Development

Paul Secher is Managing Director of JSB Training and Development and Head of JSB's Employment Law Faculty. Paul manages a number of In-company clients, covering a range of management, communication, employment law and employee relations subjects. He is Programme Director and Internal Moderator on JSB's Advanced Certificate in Employment Law (ACEL), the leading CIPD accredited qualification in employment law for personnel professionals. Paul is a Member of the Employment Tribunal, a Member of the Industrial Law Society and Executive Editor of JSB's Employment Lawletter.

Michael Bradshaw, Partner, Charles Russell

Michael Bradshaw is a partner in the Employment and Pensions Service Group of City firm, Charles Russell LLP. He regularly provides client training on the matter and speaks on the subject. Michael otherwise provides advice to businesses on the full range of employment matters, including managing dismissals, Employment Tribunal claims, reorganisations and redundancies and TUPE transfers. His expertise in this area was also recognised by the Legal 500 (2006 Edition) and he is a regular contributor to the HR and personnel press.

Michael Powner Partner, Charles Russell

Michael Powner is a corporate employment lawyer for Charles Russell. Michael has extensive expertise in providing commercial advice to organisations to reduce exposure and avoid litigation. Michael is recognised as a leading individual in Employment in the Chambers Directory 2008/2009.

Baroness Margaret Prosser, Vice Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission

Margaret Prosser is the Vice Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Margaret was previously Deputy Secretary General of the Transport & General Workers Union, Margaret was President of the TUC, an Equal Opportunities Commissioner and active International Trade Unionist, chairing the World Women's Committee of the International Chemical & Energy Workers' Union. After retiring from the TGWU Margaret was appointed chair of the Women's National Commission, a post she held for 4 years before resigning to take up her position with the EHRC. In 2004 Margaret was asked by the PM to chair the Women and Work Commission, looking at the continuing reasons for the gender pay and opportunities gap. The WWC reported in 2006 and Margaret continues to work with TU's, the business lobby and NGO's to promote its recommendations. Margaret became a member of the House of Lords in July 2004, and in November of that year she was appointed as a non-executive director of the Royal Mail.

Sheila Wild Head of Earnings and Age Inequalities, Equality and Human Rights Commission

Sheila Wild leads policy development in the areas of earnings inequalities and the age mandate at the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Prior to joining the EHRC Sheila led the EOC’s work on equal pay for many years, heading up initiatives such as the Equal Pay Task Force and the development of the Code of Practice on Equal Pay. In 2003 the Wainwright Trust recognised her contribution by awarding her its Breakthrough Award for behind the scenes contributions to equality. Sheila is a Council Member of the General Optical Council and a Lay Member of the General Assembly of the University of Manchester.

Daniella McGuigan Senior Solicitor, Beachcroft LLP

Daniella McGuigan joined Beachcroft LLP as a Senior Solicitor in February 2006. Daniella heads up Beachcroft’s national equal pay team and is a member of the firm’s discrimination unit. Her team is currently representing approximately 50 distinct NHS Trusts in relation to the national NHS equal pay litigation. Daniella is handling complex equal pay test cases, including at the EAT and Court of Appeal stages, which may have far reaching consequences for both the public and private sectors. She has also advised a number of household name commercial clients in relation to pay structures and job evaluation schemes. Specialist expertise in relation to equal pay is rare but Daniella is now an accomplished writer in legal journals and she also delivers seminars to both private and public sector clients on this topic on a regular basis.

Tim Strong, Assistant Director Human Resources, London Borough of Enfield

Tim Strong is the Assistant Director of Human Resources at the London Borough of Enfield and has 35 years experience of Local Government Human Resources work gained in five different London Boroughs. Through his roles in Westminster CC (1980s) and LB Hackney (1990s), Tim has experience of developing and delivering HR services across both the political and managerial spectrum. In his most recent role of Assistant Director Human Resources, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, he is responsible for the development and delivery of HR policies and practices to 11,000 staff. Tim has an MSc in Human Resources Management and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. Tim has recently led a project team to successfully complete the implementation of equal pay in the London Borough of Enfield.