The power of a connected profession: reflections from R3 President

09 December 2025

As we approach the end of the year, I’ve found myself looking back on what has been a richly rewarding eight months as R3 President. After more than twenty years in the profession, I thought I had a fair sense of its breadth and depth, but this year in meeting so many of you at events throughout the UK and Europe I have been reminded of the commitment, expertise and energy that underpin our community.  

That said, 2025 has not been an easy year for many of our members or for the businesses and individuals who rely on your support. Trading conditions remain difficult, personal debt levels are rising, and demand for your skills continues to grow. Against this backdrop, one of my priorities as President has been to champion and support the people who make this profession so resilient.

A key ambition for my tenure has been to grow and diversify our membership. With that in mind, joining the New Professionals Forum in July was a particular pleasure. The enthusiasm of those at the beginning of their careers - keen to learn, keen to network, and keen to contribute - was infectious. R3’s mentoring and bursary schemes are helping to widen access to the profession, and I am proud of the difference they are making in creating opportunities for those who may otherwise struggle to find their way in insolvency, restructuring and turnaround as a career. I would encourage anyone looking to develop their personal and professional skills to explore our expanding training offer, including our new leadership skills course.

Over the past eight months I have also sought to represent the profession widely and openly. From the Annual Conference in May, to Insol Europe’s events in the summer and autumn, to regional forums and events across the Midlands, Eastern, North, Scotland, and the South West, these gatherings have provided valuable opportunities to hear directly from members. They have also allowed me to speak about the important work going on behind the scenes at R3, whether that’s our technical team’s engagement with Companies House, HMRC, and the Insolvency Service; our advocacy on issues such as CVL fee proposals and firm regulation; or our progress on the new R3 strategy, website, and Value of the Profession report.

The Government may not have delivered the legislative changes many of us hoped for this year, but our Policy Team has not been idle. We’ve taken advantage of the delays to strengthen our case for meaningful reform, including improvements to the personal insolvency framework and updates to the insolvency rules. We’ve also been engaging with MPs on fraud by raising the profile of what our members do to return funds to victims of fraud and to the public purse. I have also sought to improve public understanding of our role with industry insights in the media on the process of football and energy administration.  

Internally, we’re working hard to improve the member experience through technological advancements. Our new website, launching in 2026 as we mark 40 years since the introduction of the insolvency act, will streamline access to resources and support. Our learning management system is already enhancing the Training Academy’s delivery. 

None of these achievements would be possible without the extraordinary contribution of our Council and committee members, whose time, insight, and commitment remain invaluable.

Looking ahead to attending events in London and Belfast, I feel enormously grateful for the privilege of serving as your President.

As we approach a milestone year for our organisation I encourage every member to get involved - attend an event, join a committee, mentor a new professional, or simply share your insights with us via our ongoing surveys. Your voice strengthens our collective impact, and together we can continue shaping the future of our profession.

Season’s greetings to you and your teams, and my very best wishes for a successful 2026!