Helen leads the team and sets the strategic direction of the BRC. She joined in January 2013 and has been working with retailers for over 25 years. In 2016 she was awarded an OBE for Services to Retail.

Helen is passionate about diversity and inclusion in retail, acting as the BRC’s Social Mobility Commission ambassador; participating in the Timewise Innovation Unit, looking to support more flexibility in jobs, particularly at senior levels; supporting the Everywoman Retail Ambassadors Programme; and having previously been the Chair of Working Chance, a charity helping women offenders find employment.

Helen believes retail can make a strong contribution to communities, and is also on the advisory board for Pennies, a charity which offers digital charity boxes to businesses. Helen was previously UK Head of Retail at KPMG, driving and developing the retail practice and leading relationships and audits for many clients.

Stephen leads the BRC’s communications and political engagement team, working across the organisation’s priority campaigns. He is an experienced corporate affairs professional with a background in media relations, public affairs and employee engagement.

Stephen spent his early career at the Department for Transport and Ministry of Defence, and has since held senior positions with BAE Systems, Bombardier and Bupa.

Lucy joined BRC in May 2020 to lead the newly created BRC Learning team. BRC Learning’s purpose is to help members achieve the Better Jobs vision and to make BRC the go-to organisation for careers and professional development in Retail.

Lucy is a Retailer through and through having worked in some of the most recognisable business in the UK including Tesco, Argos and Barclays in mainly HR roles. Most recently Lucy was Group HR Director at Card Factory.

Carolyn, who joined us in 2015, is a senior and highly qualified HR professional, coach and coach supervisor with over 25 years of varied experience. She has a proven track record across a broad diversity of organisations including those from the oil and gas, engineering and FMCG sectors, as well as a wealth of international exposure.

Additionally, Carolyn has experience of the public sector, having worked for the police service, social services and the NHS in her earlier career.

Tom leads the Business & Regulation team covering a broad range of business cost and reputational issues including property, planning, regeneration, taxation, crime, employment, diversity and risk and safety.

He joined us in 2008 bringing previous experience in a range of public sector policy roles and began his career at the Local Government Commission leading reviews of local authorities' structure and electoral arrangements.

Kyle Monk leads the team of BRC experts who report on industry trends and act as the benchmark for UK retail. The team produces a regular drumbeat of in-depth analysis on fast moving market developments and longer term structural trends.

Kyle has over 10 years of retail industry experience, with his most recent role involving running the insight function at the New West End Company, a fashion trade body. Prior to that he led the market intelligence function at Planet, a multination retail Fintech organisation.

Andrew heads up the team focusing on the production, labelling and sale of food alongside the responsible sourcing and production of all retail products. Covering a complex legislative agenda, he and his team work closely with key officials in all UK Governments and Brussels. They are also working closely with key NGOs and partners in the supply chain to improve the way products are made and sold.

Andrew has huge experience in food production from his time with the NFU and before that as Chartered Surveyor managing a dairy estate.

Ian joined us in 2017 and oversees our finance team. He has a wealth of experience gained from a career spent in the home shopping retail sector in Finance Director and Chief Executive roles.

While working as Finance Director at Freemans PLC, he participated in the activities of the Mail Order Traders Association. Subsequently he joined an e-commerce start-up, Sit-up Limited, which grew rapidly and was successfully sold to Virgin Media.

Fraser joined BRC in March 2018 and leads our membership, marketing and events team. His remit is to create and deliver membership propositions, products and services that add value to BRC’s Retailer and Associate Members.

He has over 20 years’ experience in trade associations and business-to-business sectors, 13 of which were spent leading marketing at IGD, the UK’s food and grocery trade body. He is also a founder and marketing director of innovative start-up tea brand Twist.