Squire Patton Boggs’ Pensions partner Helen Miles has been appointed as the chair of the NHS Pensions Board by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for a three year term from today, 1 April 2019.
As chair of the Board, Ms. Miles will be responsible for ensuring that the NHS Pension Scheme, which has over 3 million members, is compliant with scheme regulations, legislation and The Pensions Regulator’s Code of Practice. She will work with the Board to provide ongoing evaluation of the governance, delivery and monitoring mechanisms of the NHS Pension Scheme.
“I’m delighted to have been appointed to chair the NHS Pensions Board,” commented Ms. Miles. “In over 25 years as a legal adviser to pension schemes, I have worked alongside many Trustee boards in managing governance, compliance and member engagement.
“As part of the firm’s Pensions team, I already deal with many of the largest and most complex private sector schemes in the UK. The experience I have drawn from my client work has given me many of the key skills which I will need in this role, and this was recognised in my selection and appointment. I look forward to bringing that experience to bear in ensuring the NHS Pension Scheme continues operating to the very highest standards.”
Clifford Sims, head of the firm’s Pensions Practice Group, commented: “Helen’s appointment is very well-deserved and testament to her considerable experience, strategic nous and outstanding communication skills. We are very proud of Helen and believe that she will be a real asset to the NHS Pensions Board.”
As well as her expertise in advising on all aspects of the operation of trust-based occupational pension schemes, Ms. Miles is a member of Squire Patton Boggs’ market-leading specialist Healthcare sector group.
Ms. Miles engages regularly in the development of the law relating to pensions. In July 2018, she was invited by the Work and Pensions Select Committee as a member of an expert panel giving evidence on the reform proposals contained in the government white paper, Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes. The white paper’s proposals for that legislation included the introduction of increased powers for the UK Pensions Regulator and criminal sanctions to punish irresponsible corporate activities that damage pension schemes, and that has recently led to the Government proposing major extensions to the Regulator’s powers.