Three months in to my new role as chief executive, I am delighted to welcome you to our very first blog – we’ll be using this space to help keep you up to date with the latest news from APIL and our members, share our opinions and provide commentary on changes in personal injury law and how it could affect you.

Over the past 25 years my career has spanned the legal, commercial and the public sectors and before coming to work with the team at APIL I was chief executive of the Legal Complaints Service, where I built an efficient and effective system handling more than 15,000 complaints a year.

I am very excited to be working as part of the team at APIL. I’ve always been aware of what APIL does and what it stands for and having always worked in very ethical businesses I wanted to work for a not-for-profit organisation where I could share its values and really take it forward.

Over the next few months we will be working hard to support our members and look at re-shaping strategy, direction, vision and values for the brand. Ultimately we are keen to ensure that APIL is established as a kitemark for the sector, recognised as the industry standard.

Since being set up in 1990 APIL and its 4,700 members have done a sterling job fighting for the rights of injured people, campaigning to change the law, protecting and enhancing access to justice and improving services provided for victims of personal injury. I am keen to build on this, increasing awareness and guiding consumers on how to fight for right and gain just compensation for injuries sustained through negligence. Our accredited lawyers are a real credit to the organisation and their expertise in dealing with personal injury claims and ethical approach ensures they always act in the best interest of their clients to make sure they get what is rightfully theirs.

This could not be truer in the current climate with significant changes in the legal landscape underway with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill and the proposed extension of streamlined claims process for example presenting new challenges to lawyers who are striving to represent the best interests of injured people.

This, coupled with the development of a new strategy makes for interesting times ahead – watch this space for more information and updates in the near future.