Communications Consumer Panel welcomes new members

14 March 2013

Panel Chair, Jo Connell this month gave an update to stakeholders on the Panel’s formation. She explained that the Panel now has eight Members with experience in a range of different fields. There are four Members of the Panel who represent the interests of consumers, citizens and small businesses in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales respectively. They liaise with the key stakeholders in the Nations to understand the perspectives of consumers in all parts of the UK and input these perspectives to the Panel’s consideration of issues. These Members also attend the Ofcom Advisory Committee for each nation to ensure a two-way communication of ideas.

To take advantage of the synergy between the Panel and Ofcom’s Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People (ACOD) and to avoid potential duplication, cross-membership of the two bodies was established in Summer 2012. The remits of the bodies remain unchanged. This means that Members, in their ACOD capacity, also provide advice to Ofcom on issues relating to older and disabled people including television, radio and other content on services regulated by Ofcom as well as about issues concerning the postal sector.

Jo highlighted that the Panel will continue to engage with stakeholders to inform the advice that it gives to Ofcom and to help keep the interests of consumers, citizens and small businesses on the agenda across the sector. And Members will maintain their engagement with a range of other organisations working on behalf of these constituencies - including those representing older and disabled people.

The Panel Members are:

Jo Connell OBE DL (Chair)
Kim Brook, Member for Wales
Jaya Chakrabarti
Chris Holland, Member for England
Libby Kinney, Member for Northern Ireland
Mairi MacLeod, Member for Scotland
Craig Tillotson
Bob Twitchin

Further information on our Panel Members can be found on our website; http://www.communicationsconsumerpanel.org.uk/panel-members

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