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7.
June
2021.
The SIA welcomes Heather Baily QPM as new Chair


For the attention of:

News Desks

No of pages: 

02

Date:  

07 June 2021

Ref:

NR26-21

 

The SIA welcomes Heather Baily QPM as new Chair

Today, 07 June 2021, Heather Baily QPM, starts her new role at the Chair of the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Appointed by the Home Office, her term as Chair will run for three years. 

As Chair of the Authority Heather Baily will contribute to the overall strategic direction and corporate oversight of the SIA, ensuring with other Authority Members, that the SIA's Executive Team is held to account for discharging its duties effectively and to the highest possible standards. 

Michelle Russell, Acting Chief Executive of the SIA, welcomed Heather Baily and said: 

"On behalf of the Authority Members and colleagues at the SIA, we welcome Heather Baily as our new Chair. She brings with her a wealth of experience in both non executive and executive roles in public service. We all look forward to working closely with Heather in the future." 

Heather Baily takes over from the Acting Chair, David Horncastle, who was appointed on an interim basis in January 2021 following the retirement of Elizabeth France.

Michelle Russell added: 

"We would also like to thank David Horncastle who has been interim Chair of the SIA since the start of the year and before that Deputy Chair.His insight and guidance have been invaluable over the years, and we will miss his sound advice and the support he has provided us." 

Heather said about her appointment: 

"I am delighted to be appointed as Chair of the SIA. This is an important time for the organisation, as the SIA continues with its plans, having in the past year to respond quickly to the impact of the pandemic. I look forward to working with the dedicated staff there and with our partners as we shape the organisation to ensure that the SIA is as effective, productive and consistently reliable and operates to the principles of the Regulators‘ code."                                       -ends-

 Further information:

  • The Home Office announcement regarding Heather's appointment can be found here.
  • Heather has worked as Deputy Chief Constable for Hertfordshire Constabulary and was Deputy Chief Inspector for Garda Inspectorate, Dublin. She was awarded the Queens Police Medal for services to policing in 2011. 

 
  • In addition to her policing experience, Heather has served as a Non-Executive Board Member for the Department of Justice, Northern Ireland and currently serves as a Non-Executive Board Member for Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust where she is also Deputy Chair.

  • Heather has spent the majority of her professional career in policing, initially with the Metropolitan Police Service and later with Hertfordshire Constabulary where she served as an Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for major crime, counter terrorism and safeguarding. She was the East of England lead for serious and organised crime and led the Constabulary's response to collaboration with Bedfordshire and later Cambridgeshire police services. As Deputy Chief Constable, she continued to lead on wider collaboration in addition to corporate and legal services and HR. On leaving policing, she took up a role with the Garda Inspectorate in Ireland, inspecting policing services. Since then, she has held posts as a Board member with the NCA and Police Remuneration Review Body and as a Non-Executive Director with the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland. She is currently a Non-Executive Director with Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust and Deputy Chair of the Trust.

 Notes to editors:

The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA's main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.

For further information about the Security Industry Authority or to sign up for email updates visit: www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also onFacebook (Security Industry Authority), Linked Inand Twitter (@SIAuk).

  

Media enquiriesonlyplease contact:

Security Industry Authority

0300 123 9869

media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

 

 

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