Meet the Representative Committee
The APSCo UK Representative Committee plays a critical role in ensuring that our strategy and business plans are focused on our members' needs and support the best interests of the recruitment profession.
The Committee is elected by our membership and elections are held every two years. Any APSCo member can stand for the RepComm which comprises 4 permanent members of APSCo staff; elected recruitment members and 1 Trusted Partner member. A Chair is elected by the Committee and usually serves for two years.
The 4 permanent members
Ann Swain
Ann is founder and Global CEO of APSCo, an international trade body representing the professional recruitment sector with operations in the UK, Germany, Australia and across South East Asia.
She has over thirty years’ recruitment experience including time as UK Sales Director of multinational staffing firms and Managing Director of recruitment training company Learning Curve before establishing APSCo in 1999.
In 2009, she was honoured to receive a fellowship from the NSPCC and in 2018, received the prestigious Leadership Award from the Trade Association Forum. Ann currently features in the SIA ‘Global Power 50’ list of the most influential women in international recruitment. She is also one of the select recruitment sector leaders to have made the Staffing Industry Analysts Hall of Fame, which celebrates individuals in the recruitment field whose accomplishments, dedication and drive are making a difference to work today, and to what work will look like in the future.
Ann is an acknowledged thought leader and her articles feature regularly in the national and recruitment media. An award-winning business leader and inspirational keynote speaker, she is also the co-author of the best-selling ‘Professional Recruiter’s Handbook’.
- Twitter:
- @AnnAPSCo
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annswain/
Samantha Hurley
As APSCo's Operations Director, Sam has responsibility for the development of APSCo’s presence and reputation within the UK. She ensures innovation, development and improved delivery of existing and new members services, resources, and engagement through the various delivery teams, and the continuing improvement and development of the operational running of the UK business.
Sam has over 30 years’ experience in the UK recruitment sector, and previously ran APSCo’s legal and public affairs offering. Prior to joining APSCo in May 2013, Sam owned and ran a legal services company and held senior management positions within the recruitment sector.
Moya Rylands
Moya leads both the new member and talent development teams for APSCo. This involves supporting the needs of recruitment firms across the UK in professional staffing sectors and communicating the ways in which APSCo can effectively provide representation and support. Through the talent development team, she is responsible for the ongoing design and delivery of innovative training to meet the evolving needs of members.
Moya brings a passion and enthusiasm for recruitment having spent 30 years in the sector in a variety of operational roles. Prior to joining APSCo in 2012 she ran her own training business
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/moyarylands/
Sushil Sidhu
Sushil joined APSCo in September 2023 as the Global Finance Director and is responsible for developing and implementing financial strategies, managing risks, ensuring compliance, and providing financial leadership to support overall success of the business.
Sushil is chartered accountant with over 16 years experience gained mostly in recruitment sector, having previously worked at ManpowerGroup, LHH (part of the Adecco group) and most recently Parallel Consulting. Sushil is also a returning employee of APSCo having previously worked for us as our Financial Controller between 2019 to 2022 where he helped improve internal financial controls, supported in the implementation of our current CRM and doubled up as our IT manager.
Elected members
Amy Davies
After nine years in various leadership roles supplying services into the UK recruitment industry, I believe that my approach and perspective paired with understanding the needs of suppliers and Trusted Partners in the industry will contribute positively to the committee, community and team at APSCo.
In addition, I am confident that anyone who has worked with me will testify to my commitment to transparency, integrity, and collaboration. I understand the importance of these principles in fostering trust among members and ensuring the committee's effectiveness in achieving its goals.
With a focus on leadership, a commitment to ethical business practices, and a dedication to collaboration, I believe I can contribute significantly to the goals of the committee as the Trusted Partner Representative and the greater APSCo community.
Amy Gudgeon
I have worked in recruitment since 2009, commencing my career in the social work sector and then founding an education department in 2016. In 2022, I was first elected as an APSCo Representative Committee member and I am looking forward to serving on the board for a further two years. With my high energy I would like to contribute further to make a real impact to the firms APSCo represents.
During my tenure with APSCo, I championed the voice of public sector recruitment, the progression of the compliance standards and the growth of committee members. My commitment to the standards and practices of safer recruitment continues, with a vision of creating a public sector recruitment forum across all sectors. As an avid champion of SMEs with a keen interest of how technology will shape the future of the industry, my focus is always people, where I strongly encourage best practice and promote personal and professional development for both internal staff and candidates. My commitment to best practice extends to those across education, social work, and healthcare, representing 3D Recruit at sector meetings, as well as being an active committee member of APSCo Compliance+.
Barnaby Parker
I am a recruitment leader and entrepreneur. Having previously set up and successfully floated a niche recruitment business on the London Stock Exchange in 2007, I went on to launch Venquis with the vision of creating a pan-European staffing solutions business. Venquis now operates with clients across Northern Europe delivering projects in technology, data and automation from its delivery centre in Leicester. I am extremely well connected and have a confident, approachable leadership style.
Che Hookings
Offering and tempering views with such a prestigious peer group has been a tremendous experience during my first term on the Representative Committee. Seeing active change in the sector as a result, in part, of my efforts boosts confidence and encourages a deep affinity with the team.
I have experience in a few areas that I believe beneficial; the majority of Recruit 121's trade is across broad international territories, we are technology specific and our business model is one of empowerment where we have embraced fully remote working. I offer this knowledge in an enthusiastic, happy to be challenged/wrong personality style which I believe encourages others to contribute and feel engaged.
The challenges intensify, with geopolitical unrest, unbalanced fiscal and monetary priorities and the impact of AI. Harnessing wide ranging views and influencers from within the recruitment sector and bringing them to focus on these issues is more important than ever. My work is not yet done!
Christopher Eldridge
During my 29 years of working in the Staffing sector I have been fortunate enough to develop a broad and rich pool of knowledge, through mainly being thrown in the ‘deep end’.
I began my career as a Resourcer at Harvey Nash and through my time there, as well as the following 15 years in leadership roles at Spring and PSD I broadened my product, geographical and functional knowledge leading and integrating several acquisitions alongside driving profitable organic growth. I have recently left InterQuest Group where I was the CEO for 8 years, establishing a vibrant, fun and growing business, that along with my team, we successfully delisted from AIM into private ownership and recently exited in a trade sale. During this time I have developed a deep knowledge of the UK, North American, European and Asian staffing markets and set up and led permanent, contract, MSP, RPO, Hire-Train-Deploy and consulting businesses. I have recently joined Robert Walters to lead the UKI and North American business.
I have been lucky enough to have been very happily married for 20 years and have two, fast growing up, children that absorb the majority of my free time when not working.
Dan Taylor
I have been the Managing Director of Morgan Hunt since January 2017. Over that period, I have overseen a full-scale change programme that has led to a more defined offering to the business's long-standing clients, a full change of brand, a new CRM and several adoptions of new and innovative tech and the opening of a new business in Scotland. All this has contributed to returning this long-standing business to profit.
In 2023, Morgan Hunt was awarded the NORA award for best large recruitment business for Morgan Hunt’s online presence. The Financial Times listed Morgan Hunt as one of the top 30 British Recruitment Companies and The Recruiter Magazine will feature Morgan Hunt in their Fast 100 for 2023.
I have worked within staffing and recruitment for 28 years. I am a major supporter of APSCo, attending many events throughout the year. I am a firm advocate for greater professionalism within the recruitment industry.
Gavin Beart
Having been in recruitment since 2001 and a committee member of APSCo in the Education sector, I feel I can add value to this committee.
As the MD of Reed Education, I sit on the Board SLT at Reed, and as such have experience and insight from a £1b turnover agency. I am a specialist in the Education sector but have exposure to all vertical markets in UK Plc. I am deeply involved in compliance and UK vetting standards, involved in strategic planning for Reed and the operational running of a National agency in the Education sector. My skillsets include strategy planning, data analysis, collaboration and decision making.
Ian Knowlson
With almost 40 years in the professional recruitment industry, I have a wealth of knowledge and experience initially working in senior positions (including Board Director) with APSCo members, Computer People, QA-Myriad, and Hays PLC (IT, Telecoms and Corporate Sales). Over the last 14 years, I have operated as a Growth Coach/L&D Trainer/NED, supporting professional recruitment businesses across the UK, Europe, Australia, and US, working annually with 60-80 recruitment business leaders.
Recently Onalytica named me in their Top 10 Global Influencers on the Future-of-Work/Talent-Recruitment and I regularly speak at conferences on future technology impacts on the employment sector. With disruptive times ahead I’m passionate about advancing and shaping our industry to embrace the societal and technological challenges that we face whilst raising the ethical standards which bind us.
Married with four children and a grandson, I’m a keen gardener, golfer and a member of Royal Birkdale Golf Club. I live in Cheshire where I’m active in my community.
James Hanbury
I have been with SThree for over 20 years after starting as a trainee in Birmingham in 1999. I am responsible for the UK’s largest profit centre – London. The London profit centre is home to 3 brands (Huxley, Real Staffing, and Computer Futures) covering IT, Banking, Life Sciences, Public Sector, and Education markets.
I am also a key member of the UK SLT leading on several key strategic projects. I have a strong record of creating and scaling high-performing sales teams by developing strong leadership layers below me and have been responsible for creating more sales directors than anyone else at SThree.
Two of my greatest accomplishments while being at SThree are winning Director of the Year twice, most recently in 2021.
Jon Cox
I've been a die-hard APSCo fan for 20 years, home and away games, scarf and all. The work the APSCo team does to raise standards and advocate for our industry is phenomenal - professional, sharp, ethical and fun.
I bring my experience as Chair of the SME Forum and several RepComms, including Vice Chair 2018-2020. I honed my expertise in Cont & Perm IT & Engineering recruitment at PSD, Start, Parity, Longbridge and CCL, and now run contracts, mobilisation and international payroll compliance at Pangea and Parallel in Fulham. My experience and dedication can contribute significantly to shaping the future of our industry.
Lee Knowles
Since incorporating Adepto Technical Recruitment in 2015, I have always worked very closely with APSCo - whether that be through utilisation of their model TOBs, policies & procedures, the legal help desk, or indeed more recently co-chairing the North West Business Forum, which I have really enjoyed.
Having joined the recruitment industry in 1997, I have gained broad experience - working up to director level in an international corporate, to running and growing Adepto where my mantra has always been 'do the right things, and do them well'.
I believe strongly in recruitment as a credible and rewarding career choice; in training and compliance; in the relationship between RPO/MSPs and recruitment companies - and how these can cooperate more effectively for better client outcomes. I am passionate about my home, the North West, and am keen to be a voice for recruitment in the region.
Lisa McLean
I have over three decades of experience and expertise within the recruitment sector, aligned with APSCo's objectives, which often include matters related to professional recruitment and staffing.
I have a genuine interest in contributing to the betterment of the industry that APSCo represents. Including but not exhaustive of advocating for best practices, staying abreast of industry developments, and actively participating in discussions and initiatives aimed at improving standards and outcomes for both employers and job seekers and the recruitment sector as a whole.
As most in the recruitment sector would say, I possess strong communication and collaboration skills, and as committee work often involves working with diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals. Being able to effectively articulate ideas, listen to others' perspectives, and negotiate consensus are important qualities for a representative.
Lucy Morgan
I am CEO of Pod and serving my second term on the APSCo RepComm. Pod was started 11 years ago to change the perception of the recruitment industry. That still rings true today; we do recruitment in the right way, driven by values and with people at the heart of everything we do, with a huge focus on DE&I. Having won 7 industry awards, I believe we are some way towards achieving what we set out to do.
As an openly gay, non-binary leader, I am a huge advocator for DE&I in recruitment, and I know we have work to do to make our sector more inclusive and a place where those from underrepresented backgrounds can thrive. I’ve used my position on the RepComm to highlight and action change, for example by becoming Chair of the Embrace Committee and setting up Campaign – an LGBQT+ networking group for the recruitment industry. I will continue to use my platform to influence change.
Mark Baker
Having completed an initial 2-year term on the Representative Committee, I found the experience really interesting, extremely insightful and very rewarding in terms of contributing to the group and seeing first-hand how APSCo is run for the membership. I'm hugely passionate about the recruitment industry and want to continue to showcase both this and my commitment to its ethical and professional development serving my second 2-year term. I will use my experience as the Founder/Director of a Global Staffing business that has grown organically over the past 22 years to demonstrate my understanding of both the current challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
I will continue to drive the values of collaboration, inclusivity and diversity throughout the sector.
Stephen Shorter
I am CEO of Cobalt, an international, multi-brand group specialising in the Built Environment with 11 offices across Europe and North America. I am also co-chair of APSCo’s International Forum.
I have been Cobalt’s CEO for the past two years - prior to this I was CFO for 8 years. Before entering the recruitment industry (something which I never envisaged!), I trained as a chartered accountant with Deloitte, and held a number of commercial finance and general management positions in industry.
My motivation to join RepComm stemmed from seeing the benefits both personally and for Cobalt as APSCo members over several years. I am eager to contribute and give back to APSCo and its membership. I think the next few years are going to present a huge challenge for the recruitment industry but also huge opportunities. A strong RepComm with a range of experiences and perspectives is vital to helping members make the most of the opportunities that will present themselves, and I am enthusiastic to use my experience to help shape the future of APSCo.
Tara Ricks
I now possess over 25 years (yikes!) experience in the recruitment sector, most recently encompassing NED & Advisory services; M&A; Strategy; People & Culture; Leadership & Coaching. Having previously been Chair at APSCo in 2011 - and remained closely involved since then, as either a recruitment business owner, friend and now part of AdvisorLink - I am acutely aware of the significant value of a robust and professional body which effectively - and successfully - represents both the interests of recruitment organisations and delivers a guarantee of excellence to its members.
I am delighted to use my extensive experience of our sector to support APSCo in shaping strategy and business planning, to deliver the best offering to members.