An Advisory Panel has been set up, following our Independent Culture Review, to help us create a safe and professional workplace culture for all our staff. It will provide support, challenge and assurance for the work we do to create that working environment.
The panel acts as an independent ‘critical friend’ of the Brigade. That means it provides challenge and feedback on our proposals and thinking.
It works alongside the London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe and Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith, as well as our culture change programme team, but it’s not a decision-making body.
The panel offers expertise across a wide range of fields, advises on our new strategies, lets us know if we’re measuring the right things, and offers advice on our plans to address risks. It plays a crucial role in providing quality assurance. And in doing all of these things, the panel supports our mission to ensure that the Brigade is trusted to serve and protect London.
The panel meets quarterly.
It’s important to us that the membership of the panel captures a wide range of expertise and experience. That’s why it has representatives from London’s communities, staff bodies, government and the fire and rescue sector, including:
Martin Forde KC will serve as the independent Chair of the panel for two years.
He became a barrister in 1984 and specialises in Health Law. In 2012, he was appointed as a Judicial Appointments Commissioner with responsibility for appointing full and part time judges and tribunal legal Chairs. He was an independent advisor to the Windrush Compensation Scheme between 2018 and 2021, and in 2022, was appointed Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court of Bermuda, the equivalent of a High Court judge in the United Kingdom.
Martin’s appointment as Chair followed an extensive selection process. Members of the Brigade’s representative bodies and equality support groups formed a stakeholder panel and reviewed the candidates’ applications, and provided feedback to the final interview panel, which included the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience Baroness Fiona Twycross and Marta Phillips, the independent chair of the Brigade’s audit committee.
Martin’s experience will provide the support we need to continue making the changes needed to make sure that everyone at the Brigade is valued and respected, as we work together to serve and protect London.