New chair for FSCL

Commercial barrister and chief commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Jane Meares has been appointed chair of independent disputes resolution service Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL).

She replaces former and inaugural board chair Kenneth Johnston QC who was appointed as an associate High Court judge at the end of January.

Chief executive Susan Taylor said Johnston had ably led the board since FSCL was established in 2010.

“We congratulate Kenneth on his new role and thank him for his enormous contribution and outstanding support for FSCL over the past eight years.”

Taylor said Meares’ extensive knowledge and practice of commercial and public law combined with broad governance experience would provide valuable new leadership to the board and organisation.

“We look forward to Jane bringing her expertise, wisdom and perspective to the work we’re doing to improve consumer confidence in the financial services sector.”

Meares is a barrister at Clifton Chambers where she is involved in a broad range of public sector and commercial advisory work, working with in-house legal teams, firms of solicitors and overseas clients.

Prior to joining Clifton Chambers, she was the chief legal adviser at the New Zealand Treasury. She has undertaken a undertaken a number of independent enquiries and reviews for government departments, provides advice on commercial matters, and assists entities in the development and interpretation of legislation.

In addition to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, Meares holds a number of governance roles as chair of the Risk and Audit Committee of the Parliamentary Counsel Office, a director of ECNZ, a member of the Governance and Investor Oversight board of Trustees Executors Limited, an independent member of two commercial advisory boards for the Department of Corrections, chair of the Ballet Foundation of New Zealand Trust and a trustee of the UNICEF Children’s Foundation.

Meares said she was delighted to have been appointed.

“Over the last ten or so years – since the introduction of KiwiSaver – there has been renewed focus on savings and investments in New Zealand. This focus is not diminishing with current law reform regarding financial advisers and the Minister of Consumer Affairs’ plans to review insurance contract law and the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. It is therefore crucial that disputes between providers and the public can be fairly and efficiently resolved.

“I look forward to contributing to the work of FSCL in promoting consumer confidence and transparency in this sector.”