IFSO Board members focus on ensuring high standards and a consumer-focused culture

InSeptember, Julian Walker, Director at funeral directors AB Walker & Son Ltd, and Leon Livermore, Chief Executive Officer at New Homes Quality Board and a longstanding champion of consumer rights, were appointed as non-lay and lay board directors, respectively, of the Independent Funeral Standards Organisation (IFSO).

Both bring valuable experience and insight to the work of IFSO. Leon Livermore’s experience includes leadership of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute as its Chief Executive after a successful career in Local Government. He has also overseen the transfer of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme from the Office of Fair Trading to the Institute, chairing the Government’s Used Car Commission looking into the high levels of consumer complaints and delivering the National Trading Standards Conversation. He has previously contributed, as a consumer champion, to the Independent Funeral Service Consumer Standards Review in 2018-19.

A.B. Walker & Son Ltd is a seventh generation family business, independent funeral directors and monumental masons, serving Berkshire and South Oxfordshire for over 196 years. Julian Walker, as Managing Director, runs the business with brother Matthew and Matthew’s wife Melissa and the firm also founded Memory Giving, which enables bereaved family and friends to raise money for charity in memory of a loved one. Julian is an active member of both the National Association of Funeral Directors and the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors.

Leon Livermore said of the appointment: “I have a passion for good consumer protection and that it’s a system that is proportionate, pragmatic and is built on an understanding of the sector from both consumer and business perspective. Having been part of the strategic group that over saw the development of the Funeral Directors Code I saw at first hand the desire from the industry to get it right. My background in better regulation, codes and supporting businesses means that I genuinely believe I am able to help them on that journey.”

Julian Walker added: “The decision to put myself forward was derived from my belief that our profession and the people in it are enormously committed to delivering sensitive and considerate care, personal service and respect for all.

“The opportunity to contribute to building a national regulatory framework is exciting: standards incorporating aspects of real-world experience alongside wider consumer expectation and considering evolving practices and needs can only help our profession meet the expectation of our future customers.”