NEST Corporation today announced the appointment of the first Chairs of its Employer and Member Panels:

• Paul Jagger MBE has been appointed Chair of the NEST Employer Panel
• Museji Takolia CBE has been appointed Chair of the NEST Member Panel.

The Chairs will now be involved in the selection process for their first Panel Members.

There will be up to six Members on each Panel when the first Panels are established. This will allow room for scheme members and employers using NEST to be appointed to the Panels once NEST is up and running. The maximum number for both Panels, including the Chairs, is 15. 

• The Employer Panel will provide an essential communication channel between the business world and employers who will use NEST, and the NEST Trustee.
• The Member Panel will play an essential role in representing the views of NEST scheme members and future scheme members to the Trustee.

Lawrence Churchill, NEST Corporation Chair, said:

"We are very pleased to have appointed people of such high calibre to these roles. NEST will be unique as a multi-employer occupational pension, and with potentially millions of members using the scheme.

"The Panels will play a critical role in ensuring NEST works for its members and their employers, and in helping us to make sure both employer and member voices are heard.

I am looking forward to working with Paul and Museji, and their Panels, in the development and operation of NEST."

Paul Jagger MBE, Chair of the NEST Employer Panel, said:

"I hope my experience in business, with trade unions and with representative organisations will mean I am well equipped to understand employers' needs. My role is to ensure that employers understand what NEST offers to them and their staff. I will also help ensure that NEST understands what’s important to employers.

"Listening to employers, representing them and feeding back NEST's response is an essential part of making sure the scheme continues to meet employers' needs."

Museji Takolia CBE, Chair of the NEST Member Panel said:

"My experience of representing diverse groups and individuals to promote social inclusion and justice has been an important part of my life and these values will drive my determination to help shape the work of NEST’s Member Panel.

"I believe NEST will play an important role in helping combat poverty in older age, but we have to ensure that the scheme works for its members and understands the issues that are important to them. Developing trust and confidence in NEST and the scheme will be a key challenge for the Panel and for NEST Corporation. This is where I hope the Panel will make its biggest difference."

Key facts about both appointees

Paul Jagger MBE is currently Chair, Barnsley LIFT Company; a Non-executive Member of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce (previously President), Pro Chancellor and Chair of Council Bradford University,  Deputy Chair, Committee of University Chairs, Member, University Council for Educational Administration and the joint negotiating Committee. 

Paul started his career as a plumber, and then became a production controller. His involvement in trade unions grew until he became a full time negotiator representing 5,000 – 10,000 public sector workers.

He developed an education service for members and in 1987 became the Regional Director for TUC, developing TUC policy at a national level which included widening engagement with employers.

He developed partnerships with business organisations including the CBI and the Chamber of Commerce and contributed to the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Development Agency.

He was one of the founding directors for Yorkshire Forward; became Chair of the Learning and Skills Council South Yorkshire; and has also been involved in government committees on further and higher education.

Museji Takolia CBE is currently Executive Chairman, Intellicomm Solutions and a Non-executive Director at OFSTED.

He started his career in social policy in local government, and has worked as a management consultant and strategic adviser on equality and diversity issues internationally.

A former Senior Adviser at the Cabinet Office, he has been an active Non-executive Director with an interest in consumer and regulatory issues.

He has previously served as Group Chairman of Metropolitan Housing Partnership, and on the boards of a health regulator and the Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust.