The Conveyancing Association (CA) has announced the appointment of a new non-executive chair and has launched a new policy & strategy board, which replaces the existing management Ccommittee.

Paul Smee, former director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), has been appointed as the CA’s new non-executive chair.

Smee (pictured) will be an independent influence at senior management level and the CA believes his depth of experience and skill-set will ensure the association is fully represented with all interested parties at a time when the conveyancing process is under significant review. He formally joined the CA on 1 July 2018.

The existing management committee has now been reconstituted as a new policy & strategy board (PSB), which the CA believes will give greater focus to the CA’s work and will support its ongoing dialogue with the government and other stakeholders.

The PSB will be responsible for consulting the membership and formulating the Association’s future policy and strategy. It will see a reduced committee with a maximum of 15 representatives of the membership –charged with developing the Association’s thinking in key areas. It will be chaired by Smee and involve the existing CA executive committee, including Eddie Goldsmith in a new role of senior adviser.

The PSB will be broadly responsible for: setting policy and strategy; dealing with consultation papers; the admittance of new members across the various categories; producing plans for its future, and providing a clearly defined remit for the executive. The executive will remain responsible for the day-to-day management of the CA.

The board asked members to put themselves forward for membership of the PSB committee, which will meet approximately six times a year. At last week’s final management committee meeting 13 individuals were appointed.

Eddie Goldsmith, outgoing chair of the Conveyancing Association, said: “Given the growth of the Association – in both membership numbers and influence – plus the pivotal role we now play in many key areas, most notably the reshaping of the conveyancing process, we feel it is important that the CA changes to reflect the increasing demands placed upon us. We have repeatedly stated that this is a crucial time for our industry and we want to ensure the CA is best placed to deliver for its members, and to shape the future.

“It’s our belief that much of the CA’s work in the immediate and short-term future will be about facilitation and working with government and influential stakeholders.  Quite simply, it is not about ‘what’ should be done but ‘how’ to make sure that changes are sensible, measured, practical and supported by our industry.

“To that end, it’s important that we have the resource available to do this, the expertise within the Association, and a strategic vision to follow. We are therefore delighted to welcome Paul Smee as our first non-executive chairman – Paul brings with him a wealth of experience and insight, and he will play a pivotal role in representing the CA to various stakeholders, as well as ensuring the Association is on the right track in terms of our strategy, policy, membership and future pathway.

“In order to help deliver on this, we have launched our policy & strategy board which, as the name suggests, will provide guidance and outline the CA’s vision across numerous areas. It will be the job of the PSB to provide clarity to all and will play a crucial role in terms of the CA’s future development.

“We believe these changes put the CA in a very strong position to be able to work with all stakeholders, to ensure our members’ views are fully represented, and to be at the heart of the changes taking place in our industry.”

Smee added:“I am delighted – and honoured – to be asked to lead the CA at such an important time in the sector’s evolution.”