Oftel News: Oftel appoints consumer consultants

Oftel appoints consumer consultants

Oftel has appointed seven consumer consultants to strengthen its work on consumer issues.

The consultants will provide expert advice on policy work relevant to consumers and will work with project and programme managers on key areas of Oftel's work. They will act as a sounding board from the consumer perspective throughout the lifecycle of a project, from its initial planning and research to issuing a final statement and implementing policy.

Those appointed have a wide range of experience in consumer issues and represent a valuable resource to Oftel. Their role willcomplementthat of the Advisory Committees on Telecommunications (ACTs), which provide formal advice to the Director General at his request and bring relevant issues to his attention.

David Edmonds said: "This is an exciting development that will reinforce Oftel's commitment to ensuring that consumers' best interests are represented.

"The consumer consultants will strengthen the level of consumer representation that I believe is central to Oftel's work, and will complement the excellent representation that I already receive from the Advisory Committees on Telecommunications and other consumer bodies."

Consumer consultant	Background	Projects/programmes assigned to
Ann Foster	former Chairman of the Scottish Consumer Association and current Deputy Chair of Financial Standards Authority (FSA) Consumer Panel	- price control review - codes of practice
Maurice Healy	CBE former Director, NCC; current Chair, Council of Insurance Ombudsmen	- Telecoms Ombudsman - raising consumer awareness
Claire Milne	Vice-Chair, Public Utilities Access Forum; Director, ICSTIS	- numbering
Pauline Ashley	former Chair, Electricity Consumers Committee	- Universal Service Obligation - Stakeholder relationships
Colin Adamson	consultant in consumer affairs, customer service and complaint handling; formerly OFT Consumer Affairs Division	- Telecoms Ombudsman - research programme
Prof Jonathan Michie	Sainsbury Professor of Management, Birkbeck College	- price control review
Catherine Whitehead	Member FSA External Mortgage Advisory Group; lay member, Supervisory Committee for Solicitors	- payphones - metering and billing - consumer representation

For further information contact Chris Rowsell (tel: 020 7634 8890/e-mail: chris.rowsell@oftel.gov.uk).