McGowan, of 2 Bedford Row in London and Lincoln House Chambers in Manchester, is currently vice-chairman. She has experience of high-profile murder, drugs and complex fraud trials, and has also been called to the Irish Bar. She has been a Deputy High Court Judge since 2010 and a Recorder since 1996. 

Nicholas Lavender, a commercial QC, of Serle Court Chambers, has been elected vice-chair.

Lavender – who specialises in banking, computers, insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence and human rights - was called to the Bar in 1989 and took Silk in 2008. His cases range from an investor’s claim against a bank for losses made on its investment portfolio (JP Morgan Chase v Springwell) to cases in the European Court of Human Rights concerning the 1950s Pacific Islands Nuclear Test Veterans.
Stephen Collier, Group Chief Executive of General Healthcare Group, is to continue in the role of Treasurer.