The Pensions Committee and Board

General Career Background

Having trained as a solicitor in the City of London and worked there for five years, I moved to Cardiff in 1984 to take up a position with Morgan Bruce, the predecessor firm to Blake Morgan. I became a partner in 1985 in the Commercial Department of the Firm. During my 32 years with the Firm, I also held a variety of management roles within the practice including heading departments and carried out various board roles. For the last thirteen years in practice, I specialised in the area of pensions law advising trustees and employers in both the public and private sectors.

Details of my current pension trustee and board appointments are set out below. In addition to my professional career as a solicitor and subsequently as a pension trustee, I also hold a number of external appointments in the Charity Sector.

Public Sector Pension Appointments

March 2015: Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Advisory Board for Wales – Independent Chair

(Re-appointed March 2018 for a further three year term) Appointment made by Welsh Government

June 2015: Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Local Pensions Board – Independent Chair

(Appointment extended June 2018 for a further year) Appointment made by Cardiff County Council

Private Sector Pension Appointments

October 2009: Michael Weinig (UK) 1990 Pension Scheme – Independent Chair of Trustees

September 2016: Monmouthshire Building Society Pension Scheme – Independent Chair of Trustees

Charity Trustee Appointments

January 2017: Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales – Trustee

Trustee of National Museum Pension Scheme & Member of Audit Committee

November 2013: Archdiocese of Cardiff & Hereford Trustee

October 1999: St John’s College Limited (Independent School) – Trustee

Career Appointments

1985-2016: Partner – Blake Morgan LLP (formerly Morgan Cole LLP)

1984-1985: Solicitor – Morgan Bruce & Nicholas

1982-1983: Solicitor – Norton Rose, London

1979-1982: Trainee & Solicitor – Simmons & Simmons, London

Education

1977-1981: Admitted to the Roll of the Law Society as a Solicitor

1974-1977: Durham University – Honours Degree in Economics (2:1)

Personal

I am married with three adult children and have lived in Wenvoe in the Vale of Glamorgan since 1984.

David joined the Board at its inception during July 2015 as an employer representative from Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he holds the position of Director of Finance.

Originally from Swansea and a graduate of Cardiff University, David began his career as an accountant in local government at the London Borough of Newham, followed by a period at Gwent County Council, before joining Cardiff Metropolitan University in 1992.  David has long experience of the local government pension scheme, one of three schemes offered to the employees of the university.

Mark joined the board in August 2020 as an employer representative from Barry Town Council, where he holds the position of Section 151 Officer and Deputy Chief Officer.

Mark has experience in both the public and private sector including South Glamorgan County Council and Chemical Bank. He returned to Local Government in 1997 joining Barry Town Council. Mark’s current role includes responsibility for the effective management and accounting arrangements of the Town Council in accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements relating to Governance and Accountability and as Deputy Chief Officer to cover the duties of the Proper Officer of the Council (Head of Paid Services).

Mark has been interested in pensions and investments since joining South Glamorgan County Council’s Treasurers Department as a trainee aged 16. Mark regularly attends pension training sessions to increase his knowledge regarding the LGPS legislation and helps colleagues with their pension queries relating to scheme benefits / annual statements etc. and actively encourages all pension members to sign up to the Member Self Service portal.

Laithe Bonni Operational Manager – HR Employee Services
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Laithe has worked in Local Government since 1993, and joined the Vale of Glamorgan Council from Cardiff Council in 2017.

Laithe manages a number of functions within HR, which includes Payroll, Lifecycle, Recruitment, Job Evaluation, Health Safety & Wellbeing and Occupational Health.

Laithe joined the Pension Board in 2022 as an Employer Representative, and is looking forward to learning more about how the scheme is managed and to increase staff awareness within his organisation of all things pensions.

Peter has worked in Local Government since 1983, and his interest in pensions has grown considerably over the last 25 years.  During these years Peter campaigned hard to preserve the Local Government Pension Scheme for all Employees, plus requesting an employee’s place within the Pension Board. In 2015 Peter was delighted to be nominated by his union to be one of the first employee members of the Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund Board.

Peter’s current focus is seeking greater clarity of investment transaction costs, and ensuring governance and scrutiny is not reduced with the introduction of the ALL Wales Investment Fund Pool. He is also happy spending time with scheme members to help de-mystify the world of pensions!!

Hilary started her working life as a mortgage & pension broker, and then joined Cardiff Council in 1994 in a temporary role, but soon progressed through several finance roles and became a qualified APB Accountant. Hilary became interested in pensions when she became the Union Pensions Champion, which later progressed to becoming the union’s nominated Pension Board Member.

Hilary is always happy to help LGPS Pension Scheme members to understand their pension benefits, statements and legislation.  She is also interested in pension governance and encouraging people to join the pension scheme.