Newly-formed Heathrow Consumer Challenge Board appoints first members

Jeff Halliwell was confirmed as Chair of the Consumer Challenge Board (CCB) in January this year and has been leading work to appoint the group’s first board members, with an emphasis on identifying people with skills and expertise in areas such as: consumer research and insight as well as consumer policy and regulation.

Four applicants have now been confirmed as members of the CCB and will work with the chair to deliver the group’s work programme, which will involve scrutinising Heathrow‘s consumer engagement and the way in which that is reflected in its plans for the next review of the charges airlines pay for using the airport (the H7 review). Details of the new board members are provided below:

Dr David Holden

David has twenty years’ experience of advising at the highest level on the insight and implementation of market research data to solve business problems, having been involved in over 500 such research studies across a wide variety of business areas.  He holds a PhD in Transport Economics, specialising in understanding consumer behaviour, priorities and sensitivities to changes in provision of services. 

Claire Whyley

Claire has extensive consumer advocacy and engagement experience. She is currently a member of a number of bodies including: the Ofgem Stakeholder Engagement and Consumer Vulnerability Panel; the Finance and Leasing Association Disciplinary Panel; the Advertising Advisory Committee; and the Money Advice Trust Board. She has recently been appointed to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) Consumer Panel and is also a member of the CAA’s Consumer Panel – bringing specific aviation knowledge and experience to the role.

Trisha McAuley OBE

Trisha is also a member of the CAA Consumer Panel and has outstanding consumer advocacy and engagement experience. She is currently a Non-Executive Director of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which is Scotland’s largest Health Authority and through this she is Chair of the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership Board. Trisha is a Non-Executive Director of Northern Ireland Water and has also been recently appointed as a member of the ORR Consumer Panel. Based in Scotland, Trisha brings an important perspective from outside of the South East of the UK.

Jayne Scott

Jayne brings excellent experience of a variety of regulated sectors. She is currently a panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority, a Non-Executive Director of the Marine Management Association, Chair of the Audit Committee of the Registers of Scotland and also of the Private Healthcare Information Network.  She is a former Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Ofgem and a former member of the Audit Committee for the Department of Energy and Climate Change.  Based in Perth, Scotland, Jayne also brings a perspective from outside the South East.

Jeff Halliwell, Chair of the CCB, said:

“I am delighted to welcome David, Claire, Trisha and Jayne to the CCB. We had over 200 applicants for the roles, but all four demonstrated outstanding qualities and experience that will ensure they can each make a significant contribution to our work.

“We are developing a challenging work programme for the CCB and I look forward to working closely with all of the new board members to deliver this important work and make sure Heathrow has the interests of consumers at heart of its future plans.”