Special Interest Groups

Facilitated by Jo Clift, Chair of the General Osteopathic Council, and supported by Marcial Boo, Chair of the Institute of Regulation, the Chairs SIG provides a confidential and trusted space for Chairs to share insights and challenges. The group welcomes the Chairs of our regulator member organisations to this private forum.

The Communications SIG brings together communications professionals from across IoR member regulators to tackle shared challenges, from AI and innovation to changing public and stakeholder expectations. The group offers a collaborative forum to share ideas, learn from each other and develop best practice. Open to anyone working in internal and external communications, public affairs or marketing.

Exploring emerging digital and technology solutions for regulators today, recent sessions have focused on Artificial Intelligence in regulatory practice, including general AI governance and GenAI adoption maturity among UK regulators.

Led by Mike Farrington (Deputy Director for Technology, Ofsted), and Nic Granger (Chief Information & Financial Officer, North Sea Transition Authority).

This group considers the heart of effective regulatory practice, encompassing enforcement practices and case work too.  

Led by Dr. Russell Richardson (General Counsel & Company Secretary, North Sea Transition Authority), and Sonnal Fatania (Principal Case Officer, North Sea Transition Authority)

Exploring equality issues in regulation and sharing knowledge and good practice, this group will appeal to EDI practitioners in regulators, and organisational and functional leaders with responsibility for equality. This popular group is co-led by Naomi Nicholson (Board member, Institute of Regulation) and Joanna Murphy (EDI manager, General Optical Council).

Legal practitioners, governance and regulatory experts are likely to find appeal in participating in this special interest group. In their recent meetings, members of the group have explored the challenges of ensuring candour in regulatory proceedings, emerging considerations around consultation and stakeholder engagement, and reflections on AI‑related developments and their implications for regulatory frameworks. The group is co-chaired by Miles Bake (Director & Board Member, Institute of Regulation), and Lydia Waine (Director of Legal Affairs & Governance, Ofqual).

Established to support professionals in policy development roles, grappling with some of existing and emerging challenges facing regulators today. Recent sessions explored engaging citizens in decision-making through public consultation, and newly developed training on regulatory frameworks. Co-chaired by Emma Leary (City and Guilds), and Vicky Howes (Deputy Director of Strategy, Care Quality Commission).

Co-led by Gemma Long (Head of Degree Awarding Powers, Office for Students) and Professor Jeroen van der Heijden (PhD; Quishi Professor, Zhejiang University & Honorary Professor, Australian National University). This group offers a supportive environment to explore regulatory theory and practice through academic literature, including journal articles and book chapters. It’s designed to be accessible and relevant to all regulators, regardless of their academic background.

The group encourages members to share their own research, suggest readings, and engage in open, accessible discussions. Whether you are looking to deepen your understanding of regulatory concepts or simply want to stay connected to current thinking in the field, the Research SIG offers a valuable opportunity for continuous learning and professional development.

This group provides a forum for discussing any and all aspects of risk management within the regulatory world. Members of the group have recently explored implementing systems effectively, balancing simplicity with functionality, improving reporting approaches, and considering why agile governance matters. This group is co-chaired by Paul White (Senior Manager Risk and Intelligence, Ofqual), and James Walker (Regulatory Manager, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). 

Regulators rely on the expertise and brilliance of their people. This group focuses on all elements of the employee experience, including recruitment, career paths, and professional development in regulation.

If you are a leader in a people role, or have an interest in hearing from others about how we can help shape the regulatory profession, join this popular group which meets quarterly and is chaired by Meg Matthews (Head of Development & Effectiveness, Office for Students), and Nadiya Rahman (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Care Quality Commission).