ACCESS elects Susan Barker as new Chairman
Councillor Susan Barker of the Essex Pension Fund has been appointed as the new Chairman of ACCESS.
In what was a unanimous decision, she will be joined by Councillor Gerard Fox of the East Sussex Pension Fund – who was elected as the new Vice-Chairman of the pool.
Councillor Barker said: “I am honoured to have been elected to the position of Chairman of the ACCESS Joint Committee and am extremely grateful for the trust which my fellow Members have placed in me.
“I would like to pay particular thanks to our previous chairman Councillor Mark Kemp-Gee of the Hampshire Pension Fund.
“In more than five years in the role, he led the Committee through the expansion of our pool’s listed and non-listed asset offerings, the implications of the COVID pandemic and more recently the Government consultation on LGPS: Fit for the future.
“We are all also grateful that Councillor Kemp-Gee will continue to represent Hampshire on the Committee and know that we will benefit from his experience and insight in the coming months.
“The challenges faced by the eleven ACCESS Authorities at this time in respect of asset pooling are well documented. However, I am confident that we shall continue to collaborate effectively using an evidence-based approach to chart the way forward in the best interests of our respective stakeholders.”
Councillor Fox added: “It is a privilege to have been elected to this position and I would like to thank the Committee for the confidence they have placed in me. I look forward to supporting Councillor Barker and all Committee Members during a key time for our pool and its stakeholders.”
