USS announces board changes including new Chair

Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited – the trustee of the UK’s largest private pension scheme by way of assets – today announces a number of board changes including the official start date of new Chair, Dame Kate Barker. She succeeds Sir David Eastwood, who is retiring after more than a decade on the board including five years as Chair.

At the same time, USS is also pleased to announce two new non-executive board appointments who also join the board today: Professor Sir Paul Curran, President of City University in London (appointed by Universities UK) and Ms Helen Shay, University of York’s first In-house Counsel (appointed by Universities College Union).

Professor Sir Paul Curran has served in senior roles at some of the country’s top universities, including as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southampton, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth and more recently a decade spent as President of City University of London. As well as his experience in the sector, he will also bring direct pensions experience gained through his other roles, most notably as Chair, Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and as Chair, Review Body on Doctors’ & Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).

Ms Helen Shay started her career in law firms. She joined the Financial Ombudsman Service, focussing on resolving certain complex cases including pension-related, before ultimately moving to the University of York in 2008. Here, she set up the internal legal function within the Registrar and Secretary’s Department. Helen has also served as a school governor, a board member of the Association of University Legal Practitioners and with the Law Society on a number of policy initiatives, whilst also being trustee of a homeless charity.

Dame Kate’s career includes time spent as Chief Economic Adviser to the CBI and membership of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee from 2001 until May 2010. She has built an extensive portfolio of non-executive directorships and brings with her direct Chair experience through her work with the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme. Her engagements with the higher education sector include as Chair of Governors of Anglia Ruskin University and serving on the Council of Oxford University.

Bill Galvin, USS Group CEO, said:

“We are grateful for the time, energy and leadership that Sir David contributed over more than a decade on the board. As we now look forward, I am delighted to see so many talented individuals joining the board and in particular, our new Chair, Dame Kate Barker. All of them will bring considerable new experience and insight and I look forward to working closely with them to deliver the highly valued pension promises to our members and their families.”