_edited.png)
Land Data today welcomes two new members to its Board:
Claire Holloway, Head of Corporate Services at the Local Government Association, and Nick Chapallaz, Managing Director, GeoPlace LLP.
These two new appointments bring highly relevant experience and skills in company governance, strategy, business transformation and senior leadership to the Land Data team. Their guidance over the coming years will be key to the evolution of the Community Interest Company which was set up by central and local Government in 2001 to manage and regulate the newly created National Land Information Service – the first platform for official electronic conveyancing searches.
Imtiaz Farookhi, Chairman of the Land Data Board welcomed the new Board members:
“I’m delighted to welcome Claire and Nick onto the Land Data Board – their combined knowledge and experience will play a crucial role in shaping Land Data’s future, helping us address the needs of the market and of the consumer."
Fiona Barron, Land Data Chief Executive, explained the timeliness of the appointments:
“The appointments come at a time when we are instilling the importance of official, regulated conveyancing searches across Government and the property sector. The benefits of these searches, which are carried out directly by Local Authorities and other official data providers such as the Coal Authority, include unlimited indemnity and adherence to the Law Society’s best practice guidelines for CON29 searches. They offer homebuyers the highest quality conveyancing search data available, safeguarding their future.”
About the new Board members
Claire Holloway’s career in local government spans almost 40 years across a wide range of service areas. As a member of the Local Government Association’s Strategic Leadership Team, she is responsible for the operational business including IT and business management, human resources, legal services and the management of two commercial central London properties. The national membership body for councils in England and Wales, the LGA is politically led and cross party and exists to support, promote and improve local Government. Claire oversees its political governance arrangements, provides support to member councils and manages its four political group offices. Claire is Company Secretary of the LGA and for the past eight years has been Chair of GeoPlace LLP – a joint venture between the LGA and Ordnance Survey.
Claire commented:
“I look forward to supporting Fiona and the team by bringing a Local Authority perspective to discussions and decision making. Land Data provides a unique role in the home buying and selling market – it is the only champion and regulator of official searches, and the only organisation to provide training and events for Local Authority Local Land Charges teams.”
Nick Chapallaz is an expert in location-based systems and services, with extensive experience advising local authorities, central government agencies, and private sector businesses. He has a proven track record in using information and communication technologies to enhance organisational activities in both the public and private sectors.
Nick has been a key advisor and contributor to the development of British Standards and early e-Government initiatives such as the e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF), Planning Portal, and Transport Direct. Latterly, as Managing Director of GeoPlace, Nick has been an advocate for bringing location data to life, working to ensure that address and street data are recognised as critical national assets. He has been instrumental in promoting the importance of accurate geospatial information in improving public services, supporting infrastructure projects, and driving innovation across sectors.
Nick said:
“The geospatial data used for conveyancing searches, which we all rely on when we buy a new home, is a crucial component of our national data infrastructure and we must protect its stewardship by Local Authorities. In my role as Board member I will be supporting Land Data to ensure official searches, and the organisation itself, remain competitive and relevant in the marketplace.”