Membership
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-10)

Details of the council's management and members.

Our management

Noel Hunter OBE (Chairman)

Noel Hunter was appointed Chairman of the British Hallmarking Council on 6 April 2017. Noel is a Fellow of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Institute of Consumer Affairs. He is also Vice President of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and member of its board. He is Chairman of the Consumer Code for Home Builders and Chairman of the Myton Hospices and is an Independent member of the Disciplinary Tribunal for National Association of Estate Agents. He is a former warden of the Birmingham Assay Office.

Louise Chambers MBA (Secretary)

Secretary of the British Hallmarking Council since April 2024, Louise is a highly experienced professional holding an MBA and Prince2 Practitioner certification. Her expertise lies in governance, complex operational delivery, and strategic stakeholder management. She is skilled at providing expert counsel to boards and senior leadership within both public and academic environments, effectively navigating complex organizational structures and ensuring compliance.

Council members

Kate Canty

Kate Canty is Clerk (CEO) at West Midlands Lieutenancy. She is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Forward Education Trust. She is a Board Trustee at Millenium Point Birmingham. She is a Trustee of Youth Organisations in Uniform West Midlands CIO.

Kate is appointed by the Birmingham Assay Office.

Ken Daly

Ken Daly is the Trading Standards National Co-ordinator for Scotland, employed by SCOTSS, a charitable organisation of Scottish Chief Officers. He is a former Head of Trading Standards in the City of Dundee, and a Fellow of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Ken is also a non-executive director of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme operated by CTSI.

Ken is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Tom Franks

Tom Franks is Chair of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Management Board. Tom is a qualified chartered accountant. He is Chair of the Board of Directors at the Ethical Tea Partnership.

Tom is appointed by the London Assay Office.

Kerry Gregory

Kerry Gregory has been in the UK jewellery and pawnbroking industry for over 25 years. She holds qualifications in diamonds and gemstones from Gem-a, GIA, AIGS, and FEEG. As well as a certificate in Valuation Practice from NAJ. Kerry also holds a level 6 diploma in Education and Training, specialising in teaching adults.

A past long term tutor and head of ATC for Gem-A, she served on the board of Gem-A, and ran one of the UK Branches. Currently on the Board of Trustees for the Silversmiths and Jewellers Charity (UK), and a key contributor to the National Association of Jewellers Professional Trade Standards Committee, particularly focussing on Gemstones, Diamonds and Hallmarking practices.

Kerry is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Sarah Langley

Sarah Langley is a Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner with over 25 years of consumer protection experience. Sarah is currently Managing Director of Consumer Code for New Homes.

Sarah previously worked for a variety of local authority regulatory service departments, responsible for a range of consumer protection functions, and roles in Corporate Services. After a successful public sector career, both as an operational officer and later as a senior manager, Sarah set up her own consultancy business providing consultancy services to private and public sector clients for over 10 years, including National Trading Standards.

Sarah was previously Service Director at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute responsible for the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme and Business Companion regulatory advice service.

Sarah is is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Sally Leonard

Sally Leonard is a jeweller and consultant with over two decades of experience supporting the jewellery industry. As the founder of Leonard of London, Sally combines her passion for design with a steadfast commitment to ethical sourcing and craftsmanship. Through her consultancy, she has guided hundreds of businesses, offering practical advice on strategy, market positioning, and sustainability.

Sally is honoured to be a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company and the City of London.

Sally is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Joanne Lim

Joanne Lim is Deacon of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths in Edinburgh. She is Group Indirect Tax Director at Diageo.

Joanne is appointed by the Edinburgh Assay Office.

Fakir Osman

Fakir Osman is the Head of Trading Standards for the Heart of the South West.

He has worked in Trading Standards for over 20 years, undertaking various roles both for a County Council and a Unitary Authority.

Fakir is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Gay Penfold

Gay Penfold was the Centre Manager of the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre, School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University. She is also a Freeman of the Goldsmiths Company and the City of London, a Trustee of the Benevolent Society, and a Panel Member of the South Yorkshire Community Fund.

Gay is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Isobel Pollock-Hulf

Isobel is Chair of Programme Expert Group (PEG) for Digital covering Data, Quantum, Electromagnetics and Time at the National Physical Laboratory, and also a board member at the NPL Science and Technology Advisory Council. She is a Visiting Professor in Engineering Design at the University of Leeds. She was previously Chair of the National Measurement and Regulation Office Steering Board. She is Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, and Past President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Isobel is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Vanessa Sharp

Vanessa Sharp is a non-executive board member at Companies House. She is former General Counsel at KPMG. She is an independent non-executive director of ICE Futures Europe Ltd, chair of its Authorisation, Rules and Conduct Committee and a member of its Risk and Audit Committee. Vanessa is an independent non-executive director of Newable, chair of its Risk Committee and a member of its Audit Review Committee. She is an independent non-executive director of Hill Robinson Group Ltd. Vanessa is also a trustee of the charity Create Arts and a practicing jeweller and silversmith.

Vanessa is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Matthew Sibley

Matthew is the Law Clerk of the Sheffield Office.

Matthew is co-opted onto Council by the Sheffield Assay Office.

John Stirling

John is Law Clerk to Edinburgh Assay Office and a solicitor in Edinburgh.

John is co-opted onto Council by the Edinburgh Assay Office.

Geraldine Swanton

Geraldine Swanton was a lawyer in a large commercial firm for almost 30 years, until she retired in April 2024. Her expertise related to the further and higher education sectors, which she advised on a wide range of legal matters, such as human rights, equality, students as consumers, governance, information law and public law. She was Secretary to the British Hallmarking Council from 2012 to 2017 and thereafter became its legal adviser until her retirement. She has lived and worked in Ireland, Canada and the US. She is a member of the London Assay Office Management Board.

Geraldine is appointed by the London Assay Office.

Simon Topman

Simon is Managing Director of Acme Whistles, based in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. Simon is an influential leader with a distinguished career in business advocacy, policy reform, and community development. He’s held significant roles, including President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, National Vice President of the British Chambers of Commerce, and a Board Member of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Better Regulation Board. His expertise extends to chairing high-impact boards, such as the Birmingham City Council Housing and Infrastructure Board where he focused on delivering a £1.2bn infrastructure development.

Simon is appointed by the Birmingham Assay Office.

Frederick Toye

Frederick is chairman and a director of the celebrated British manufacturing firm Toye, Kenning & Spencer. Frederick has collaborated with a wide variety of contemporary and well-known designers and brands creating precious metal jewellery, accessories and other items. Frederick has is one of the leading figures in the creation of State Insignia and Regalia in the United Kingdom, and holds a Royal Warrant from HM The King Charles III for ‘the supply of gold and silver laces, insignia and embroidery’. Frederick is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

Frederick is appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Charles Turner

Charles Turner is Chairman of the Guardians of the Sheffield Assay Office. He is Managing Director of Durham-Duplex, a machine knife, hand knife and industrial blade manufacturer. He also Chairs ‘Made in Sheffield’, which promotes the use of the ‘Made in Sheffield Mark’ by Sheffield’s manufacturing industries.

Charles is appointed by the Sheffield Assay Office.

Committees

There are 5 committees:

Applications Committee

The remit of the Applications Committee is to:
- consider applications from assay offices to set up sub-offices or engage in on-site hallmarking
- authorise temporary sub-offices and on-site hallmarking
- recommend protocols for applications
- monitor the conduct of all approved operations
Applications Committee standing orders (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-hallmarking-council-applications-committee-standing-orders).

Education and Enforcement Committee

The Education and Enforcement Committee works with Trading Standards, the assay offices and the industry to:
- increase awareness and enforcement activity
- increase consumer understanding
- deliver the Touchstone award and develop it for the future
The committee is made up of DBT-appointed and assay office council members and one assay office representative to assist with press statements and publicity.

Education and Enforcement Committee standing orders (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-hallmarking-council-education-and-enforcement-committee-standing-orders).

Joint Assay Offices Committee

The remit of the Joint Assay Offices Committee is to make recommendations to the council regarding the discharge of its statutory powers and duties under the Hallmarking Act, in particular with regard to:
- enforcement
- advising the Secretary of State
- amendments to the Hallmarking Act
- strategic matters referred to it by the council
Joint Assay Offices Committee standing orders (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-hallmarking-council-joint-assay-offices-committee-standing-orders).

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee recommends to the council and monitors the remuneration of the BHC Chair, Secretary and any other role it is designated to consider, and fees paid to professional advisers and others.

Remuneration Committee standing orders (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-hallmarking-council-remuneration-committee-standing-orders)

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee considers and makes recommendations to the council on a number of areas, including:
- technical aspects of hallmarking
- technical matters referred to the council
- refusals to hallmark any articles by an assay office following an appeal
Technical Committee standing orders (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-hallmarking-council-technical-committee-standing-orders).

Meeting minutes

The British Hallmarking Council meets twice a year, usually in April and October. Papers are available once the minutes have been agreed, which is usually after the following full meeting of the council.
- Meeting minutes, 14 October 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686e2a8a10d550c668de3cb0/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-14-october-2024.pdf) (PDF, 307 KB, 8 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 25 April 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67b85d4b4ad141d9083533af/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-25-april-2024.pdf) (PDF, 155 KB, 9 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 19 October 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67b85d2cb3a80ad63e782c06/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-19-october-2023.pdf) (PDF, 1.26 MB, 8 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 20 April 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6582d64eed3c3400133bfc67/council-minutes-20-4-23__1_.pdf) (PDF, 172 KB, 8 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 28 October 2022 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64525a1ffaf4aa0012e13234/bhc-council-meeting-minute-28-10-22.pdf) (PDF, 170 KB, 7 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 28 April 2022 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6363c8458fa8f505777175e2/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-20220428.pdf) (PDF, 179 KB, 8 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 14 October 2021 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/629087de8fa8f5038ef7c9c8/bhc-meeting-minutes-14-10-2021.pdf) (PDF, 147 KB, 6 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 15 April 2021 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61bc5d0ed3bf7f054f43e30f/bhc-minutes-15-april-2021.pdf) (PDF, 142 KB, 7 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 8 October 2020 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60a7c03b8fa8f520bde56cd9/bhc-minutes-october-2020.pdf) (PDF, 78.5 KB, 6 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 2 April 2020 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fac06ad8fa8f56d9f7e99b0/meeting-minutes-april-2020.pdf) (PDF, 194 KB, 11 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 3 October 2019 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eda56d4e90e071b767bfcdb/Council_meeting_3.10.19_minutes_.pdf) (PDF, 151 KB, 10 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 4 April 2019 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5dbab84440f0b63796dc4be3/BHC_Council_meeting_4.4.19_minutes_of_meeting.pdf) (PDF, 171 KB, 13 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 4 October 2018 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ccc18b8ed915d50bcc9e0f8/British-Hallmarking_Council_4.10.18_minutes.pdf) (PDF, 191 KB, 15 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 22 March 2018 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bf8021340f0b637abbee9a7/Council_meeting_22.3.18_minutes.pdf) (PDF, 225 KB, 14 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 18 January 2018 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ad398ee40f0b617dca71315/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-january-2018.pdf) (PDF, 220 KB, 10 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 13 October 2017 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ad398cbed915d32a3a70ab7/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-october-2017.pdf) (PDF, 213 KB, 14 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 7 April 2017 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82d87340f0b6230269d02a/BHC_Minutes__April_17.pdf) (PDF, 82.6 KB, 9 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 10 October 2016 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82165b40f0b6230269ac44/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-october-2016.pdf) (PDF, 181 KB, 6 pages)
- Meeting agenda, 10 October 2016 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a823ddaed915d74e62368ac/british-hallmarking-council-agenda-october-2016.pdf) (PDF, 47.5 KB, 2 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 15 April 2016 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81596aed915d74e6231c56/british-hallmarking-council-minutes-april-2016.pdf) (PDF, 197 KB, 5 pages)
- Meeting agenda, 15 April 2016 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f49cf40f0b6230268e974/british-hallmarking-council-agenda-april-2016.pdf) (PDF, 83.5 KB, 1 page)
- Meeting minutes, 12 October 2015 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f11cfe5274a2e8ab49eba/bhc-minutes-october-2015.pdf) (PDF, 183 KB, 6 pages)
- Meeting agenda, 12 October 2015 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f9e08e5274a2e8ab4d435/bhc-agenda-october-2015.pdf) (PDF, 117 KB, 2 pages)
- Meeting minutes, 13 April 2015 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a809edde5274a2e8ab5130c/bhc-minutes-april-2015.pdf) (PDF, 121 KB, 6 pages)