About
Established in 2014, the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) continues to enable effective co-operation between regulators on important issues. With an established culture of collaboration and learning, UKRN encourages greater efficiency and improved outcomes for consumers, businesses, and the economy, exploring cross-cutting issues and building better ways of working.
UKRN 10 Year Anniversary
To celebrate the UKRN’s 10th anniversary we would like to provide a snapshot of some of the important work we have done over the last decade.
How we work
As a member-led organization, UKRN strives to deliver excellence through collaboration, we:
- Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Champion effective regulation.
- Deliver efficiencies and shared objectives.
UKRN achieves this in a series of ways including facilitation of network activity, as well as hosting and facilitating stakeholder events for our members.
Increasingly UKRN has convened cross-regulator initiatives for our members, often aligned with Government’s priorities. Examples of this work include our work on Regulators’ Accountability, Open Banking, Cost of Capital and Cost of Living.
Governance
The UKRN operates a three-tier governance structure that is designed to support the delivery of our strategy, principles and processes, ensuring effective decision-making and accountability. Each group meets at least quarterly and provides the following functions:
- CEOs Network: this network’s priority is to provide UKRN with strategic leadership and direction.
- Senior Representatives Group (SRG): the main decision-making network, this group provides senior input and guidance.
- Principals’ Network: providing an information flow function, this network previews upcoming topics, prior to SRG and CEO, to ensure appropriate subject matter experts and stakeholder engagement has taken place.
Alongside the above governance structure, the UKRN also seeks guidance and critical challenge from three advisory networks as set out below:
- Expert Panel: comprised of four independent advisors who hold expertise across a broad spectrum. This group provide feedback and challenge on UKRN activity and outcomes. They are also advisors to the CEO’s group when required. To learn more about our Expert Panel, click HERE .
- The Chairs Network: this senior leadership network provides high level strategic advice, acting in the capacity as a critical friend.
- Network Chairs Group: a collective of our network chairpersons, their collaboration ensures cross-network activity is identified and acted on.
The UKRN team
The UKRN has a small team of staff, who all have a strong regulatory careers. Our current team members are all secondees, or have previously worked for our members:
Managing Director, Chris Hemsley, joined the PSR in November 2018 as Head of Policy and Strategy. In April 2019, he became co-Managing Director, before being appointed as Managing Director in September 2019.
Chris has extensive experience working for UK regulators. He joined the PSR following his role as Deputy Director of Railway Markets and Economics and Chief Economist at the Office of Rail and Road.
Previously, Chris led the implementation of the UK government’s new support scheme for large-scale renewable electricity generation and before that, led the Civil Aviation Authority’s work on competition and consumer protection.
Lewis joined the UKRN in October 2022 on secondment from the ICO, Lewis has significant experience in data protection complaints and regulatory supervision.
In addition to handling sensitive data protection cases Lewis has also recently led on the Regulatory Supervision Project, which created new processes for various departments in the ICO.
Lewis is excited to be supporting the UKRN in its work on Vulnerability, the Cost of Living and Data Strategy.
Attricia has worked in regulation for 29 years, with 25 of those years being with the financial regulator. She worked in various aspects of supervision at the FCA and has considerable experience in the financial sector together with various financial qualifications.
During her last 6 years at the FCA she worked in strategic policy focusing on consumer vulnerability.
On moving to the UKRN Attricia initially undertook the role of Director of Consumer Vulnerability for one year, before taking on the role of UKRN Director.
Attricia says “this role has given me a cross sector insight to regulation and strategy in our member regulators, as well as focusing heavily on high level strategic government stakeholders”.
Barbara joins the UKRN in April 2024 having worked in regulation for over 13 years, mainly at the Civil Aviation Authority, where she led projects focused on sustainability, climate change adaptation, environmental information provision and noise policy. She is an experienced strategist and in 2022 led the development of the CAA’s first environmental sustainability strategy.
Skilled in policy development, stakeholder engagement and communications, for the past two years Barbara chaired the UKRN Climate Change Network, working with members to encourage a collaborative and coordinated approach across the sectors on decarbonisation.
Barbara says “I am delighted to be joining the UKRN to lead the Net Zero programme, and look forward to contributing to the broader UKRN portfolio of work and gain a deeper understanding of cross-sector matters of national strategic importance”.
Careyann has worked in the aviation industry for over 15 years with operational roles at both Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport, and more recently at the Civil Aviation Authority.
She has a broad perspective of aviation through her aerodrome experience in airfield, terminal and security operations and at the CAA enabling the delivery, embedding and continuous development of SARG’s (Safety and Airspace Regulation Group) transformation to risk and performance-based regulation, across all aviation capabilities.
Joining the UKRN in January 2021 on secondment until 2025, Careyann drives the Cost of Capital agenda and facilitates the Cyber Security Network as they identify emerging issues. More recently she has adopted the lead for our communications, research, media and public affairs networks.
Charley originally joined UKRN from the Pensions Regulator on secondment but has now taken on a permanent role as the UKRN Strategy & Governance Manager.
Over her 10+ years working in regulation Charley has worked across a number of regulatory and stakeholder management roles including in Case Management, Enforcement & Supervision, as well as providing advice and support from within Exec, CEO and Chair’s offices.
Charley is looking forward to continuing working with a range of valuable stakeholders to share best practice and experience across our regulatory community, particularly through the lens of UKRNs strategic objectives and governance functions.
Kate joined UKRN in January 2021 after working at The Pensions Regulator for just under 8 years.
Kate enjoyed varied roles at TPR starting as an Intelligence Analyst, then moving to Service Delivery supporting the role out of Automatic Enrolment.
More recently Kate lead a workstream in the implementation of an internal transformation programme and her latest role was working with external partners and stakeholders in the early stages of the delivery of the Pensions Dashboard. Prior to working at TPR, Kate worked at Sussex Police as an Intelligence Analyst.
Kate now leads the D&I work at UKRN as well as facilitating a variety of networks for example Lawyers, and Research.
Having worked in the financial services sector since 1985 and with13 years at the FSA and FCA under his belt, Kev joined the UKRN in October 2022, following a previous secondment at the UKRN between 2019-2021.
Kev has also worked in the insurance industry and the banking sector for two decades.
In his time at the FCA, Kev was the FCA relationship manager within the Data Division with the Bank of England and PRA, and also worked in the consumer partnerships team, supporting consumers across the UK. His last role was in the policy area working on the Diversity and Inclusion agenda.
Kev supports a number of UKRN networks and projects, stakeholder engagement and new membership activity within UKRN.
Makedah joined the UKRN in January 2024 on secondment from the Civil Aviation Authority where she was working within the Consumer and Markets Group.
She has broad experience having worked across policy, project and commercial roles within the fields of Economic Regulation, Consumer Protection (in Energy and Health) and Accessibility.
Makedah is excited to work with UKRN’s stakeholders and to continue the great work that is already being conducted across the regulatory community.
Nicole joined UKRN in January 2020, supporting the team to move forward with the current work plan and key project areas, arranging network meetings and associated papers. Nicole also supports the HR Directors and associated working groups, including future ways of working and pay and reward.
With a background in learning and development, Nicole will also support the shared training network, responsible for developing bespoke learning initiatives across our members.
The UKRN Expert Panel
The UKRN Expert Panel consists of four independent advisors who hold expertise in different fields. The Expert Panel advises the CEOs groups and also provides feedback and challenge to the project teams. The current Expert Panel members are Cloda Jenkins, Mick McAteer, Helen Undy and Suzanne Rab. Read more about our Expert Panel here.
Our membership model
We operate a three-tier membership structure:
Tier 1 & Tier 2
Members have full access to all UKRN’s collaboration, governance, operational and thought-leadership activities.
Their logo would be included on all branding/marketing materials, including our website.
Tier 1a membership is reserved for members with overarching powers. Members would have access to the same provisions as T1 & T2.
Tier 3
Members have access to fully participate on up to 4 of UKRN’s collaboration networks, plus full access to our operational support (for example; our Jobs Board, next Gen NEDs, collaborative events with external stakeholders).
They may be able to join further networks through additional contributions.
They will not be included in our governance meetings, or in our branding/marketing materials, except for our website membership banner.