Lord Best officially stepped down from his role as TPO’s current Council Chair on 28th April 2017, after his eight-year term came to an end.
Lord Richard Best, said: “I am delighted that Diana Warwick, my well-respected colleague in the House of Lords, has accepted this role. Her wide-ranging experience in managing organisations of different kinds, and her deep understanding of government and parliament, will be of immense value to TPO. I wish her every success.”
As Council Chair, Diana will lead the scheme’s independent Council to ensure the Ombudsman can act independently and impartially when reviewing property disputes.
Baroness Diana Warwick, said: “I am delighted to succeed Lord Best in this important role and hope that the qualities and skills I bring will help to reinforce the commitment to high standards that he has fostered. I share the Property Ombudsman Scheme's values of independence and public service and strongly support its purpose in providing free, fair and impartial service to buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords of property in the UK.”
Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman, said: “I look forward to working closely with Diana who has spent many years helping the government make and shape laws, and debate public policy matters. She will be a great asset to TPO which aims to raise standards in the industry and protect consumers from unfair practices.”
Diana’s extensive and varied career in public service was recognised in 1999 when she was awarded a life peerage. She is the current Chair of the National Housing Federation and is a Non-Executive Board Member Pension Protection Fund. Diana spent four years as the Chair of the Human Tissue Authority and spent 14 years as the Chief Executive of Universities UK, where she led the body representing the executive heads of 130 universities, both nationally and internationally.
TPO provides a free, fair and independent redress service, which helps over 16,000 consumers every year. The Ombudsman reports to the independent Council and its members represent the interests of the consumer.
The Council has the following key responsibilities:
• Oversight of the work, and protection of the independence of the Ombudsman
• Consider cases referred by the Ombudsman for disciplinary action against scheme members where there has been a flagrant or persistent breaches of the Codes of Practice and protect consumers from unfair practices.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Diana has a keen interest in supporting the work of heritage and conservation organisations, which include The Tate, Royal Academy, British Museum, Dulwich; National Trust, RSPB, WWT
