ENGLAND & WALES
BOARD MEMBERS
JAMES ANDERSON – CHAIR PGB ENGLAND & WALES
James is a partner at leading licensing solicitors, Poppleston Allen with offices in Nottingham and London. He has been practising in Licensing Law for over 30 years and specialising only in that area for the last 25 years.
However, following two of his favourites past times, the majority of work is in the pub and restaurant sector, particularly pubs, and he has particular expertise and affiliation to the great British pub.
For a number of years James has sat on the PICAS panel, becoming its Chair four years ago and has recently been appointed the Chair of the umbrella organisation the Pub Governing Body.
NATALIE WICKHAM
PGB Administrator
Natalie is the Administrator for the PGB, including the PIRRS and PICA-Service.
Natalie is Head of Partnerships for the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), including heading up the both the Membership and Partnerships Teams. The BII is the leading professional body representing individuals working across the licensed hospitality industry.
She also assists Mike Clist with the BII Landlord and Pubco Relationship helpline.
MIKE CLIST
BII Non-Executive Director & Licensed Trade Charity Trustee
Mike Clist is a Non Executive Director of the BII having been the Chief Executive Officer for the British Institute of Innkeeping from April 2016 until April 2020. The BII is the leading professional body representing individuals working across the licensed hospitality industry. As well as supporting the Chief Executive of the BII Mike runs their Landlord and Pubco Relationship helpline.
Mike has over 45 years’ experience in the pub industry the majority of which has been spent in the Tenanted and Leased sectors. Before joining the BII he was the Operations Director for the Tenanted Division of Fuller, Smith & Turner, an independent, vertically integrated family brewer and pub retailer.
Mike is a Board Member of Best Bar None and a Trustee of the Licensed Trade Charity.
KATE NICHOLLS
UK Hospitality- Chief Executive
Kate Nicholls is Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, the leading trade body representing pubs, bars and casual dining businesses. She has worked with the Association since 1998, initially as an external consultant and subsequently with in-house responsibility for public affairs and communications since 2003. She was appointed Strategic Affairs Director in 2010, to the Board in 2013 and was appointed Chief Executive in September 2014.
After gaining a degree in English and a post-graduate diploma in competition law, Kate worked as a researcher in the House of Commons and European Parliament before joining Whitbread as Government Relations Manager within the Strategic Affairs Department, advising the Board on political matters and M&A activity. Kate was Associate Director at one of the largest independent public affairs companies – heading up the Competition & Consumer Affairs Unit – before establishing her own strategic communications consultancy in 2000.
EMMA MCCLARKIN
BBPA – Chief Executive
Emma McClarkin was appointed Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association in 2019. In her role she leads the organisation as it champions the issues that matter to the beer and pub industry. These range from promoting beer as the nation’s drink of choice, to campaigning against increases to beer duty and business rates that are so damaging to community pubs.
Prior to joining the BBPA, Emma served as a Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands for 10 years. A true beer lover, during this time she also served as Vice President of the European Parliament Beer Club as well.
A political communications expert, Emma has a wealth of experience influencing regulatory frameworks, setting strategy and communicating messages on a UK, EU and International level. In addition, she is a known Trade specialist and negotiator.
Outside of work, Emma is a big fan of music and sport, closely following the rugby, football and cricket – as well as watching them in her local pub!
ANDY TIGHE
BBPA- Policy Director
Andy joined the BBPA as an economist/statistician in 1998 and moved into a senior policy role in the Brewing Department in 2004 before further promotions to Director of Brewing in 2010. Following an organisational restructure he was promoted, becoming the BBPA’s first Policy Director in December 2012.
Key Responsibilities include, overall lead on beer and pub policy matters, tax campaign development and support, Industry statistics and economic research and Oversight of Expert groups, industry guidance and best practice.
JAYSON PERFECT
Liberation Group- Group Managing director
Jayson Perfect joined the Liberation Group, including Butcombe Brewery, pubs and Inns, in 2017 as Managing Director. He was appointed to Group Managing Director in 2020 and is responsible for the estate of 126 tenanted and managed pubs across the UK, Jersey and Guernsey. Jayson was previously tenanted trade director at Palmers brewery for five years and prior to this spent 14 years at Fuller, Smith and Turner in the managed house division. Originally from South Africa, Jayson has over 23 years of hospitality experience in restaurants, pubs and breweries from single site management to directorship. Jayson is a huge rugby fan and enjoys many outdoor activities.
GEORGE BARNS
Shepherd Neame LTD- Property & Service Director
George Barnes has worked for Shepherd Neame since 1978 and has been involved in Tenanted operations throughout this period.
He is currently Property & Services Director.
George is also a Fellow of the BII. He is a qualified Chartered Surveyor.
BILL SHARP
Guild of Master Victuallers
Bill is one of the founder members of the Guild of Master Victuallers and was the Parliamentary Representative of that body for many years and also a Fellow of the BII.
Bill has a long established history as a working licensee since 1970 and ran a leasehold pub in Central London.
MARTIN CAFFREY
Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association
Martin came into the industry straight from school at the age of 18 working for a wine and spirit company achieving a diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education trust and then progressed through to area management with John Smiths Brewery in the South Yorkshire area.
He progressed through the ranks continuing to do multi-site management, until he joined the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations in 2009 as Operations Director providing guidance to members on Employment law, rent reviews, L&T issues, Liaising with Government on all aspects of the licensed trade.
