Jon Collins and Myles Bebbington have been elected as Vice Chairs, effective from 27 January 2010.

JON COLLINS
Jon is Chief Executive of CGA: a marketing information company specialising in the On-Trade. He was formerly Chief Executive of BEDA. His involvement in the late night industry has given him a firm knowledge of both the retail and supply areas and his particular area of expertise stems from his ability to drive change. He has been heavily involved in the formation of legislation surrounding licensing reform, the smoking ban, door supervisors and has been on the advisory boards for nearly all of the proposed regulation involving the licensed on-trade for the last decade.

Jon has spoken at a number of Institute conferences and is a well respected representative for the licensed trade, with positive support for good partnership approaches to tackling issues around alcohol retail and the positive management of the night time economy.

Jon said:
"I am honoured to have been elected to such a position with an organisation that I respect deeply for its approach to licensing, willingness to pursue broad partnerships and commonsense belief in sustainable solutions. I first worked with the then Local Government Licensing Forum and Society of Entertainment Licensing Practitioners in the mid-1990s; recognising kindred spirits seeking not to unnecessarily burden the licensed trade but to ensure that informed, targeted regulation along with partnership activity delivered safer, better managed and more enjoyable venues and urban centres. I hope to bring to the Board an operational view on licensing matters, founded on the best available industry data and in the shared belief that together we can advance mutual understanding and respect across operators, regulators and the public."

Institute Chair, Philip Kolvin QC said:
"I am delighted that Jon Collins has been elected to the position of Vice Chairman. I know him as someone who, through his work on dispersal policies, Best Bar None and Purple Flag has demonstrated an ability to view issues from all sides, to find sensitive solutions to problems, to promote high standards in the sector and to inspire action in others. His standing in trade and government circles will help to promote the Institute as we move forward in our work."



MYLES BEBBINGTON
Long standing board member and chair of the Eastern Region and Events Committee, Myles Bebbington was also elected as 2nd Vice Chair for the Institute (effective from 27th January).

Myles said:
"I have been a member of the Institute and formally it's predecessor (the LGLF) for 9 yrs and a board director since 2003. I have always and still am proud to be a member and will be equally proud to represent the Institute where required as a Vice Chair".

Philip Kolvin QC said:
"Myles has been a tremendous servant of the Institute and the lynchpin of the day to day work of the Institute as Chairman of the Events Committee, which looks after the Institutes training, publications and events. I am very glad that he has been elected as Vice Chair and I look forward to continuing to work with him."