Outgoing FPA Chair, Julie Berry, has been recognised with a Life Membership to the association. One of just 12 Life Memberships bestowed by the FPA, the announcement was made on Ms Berry’s last day as FPA Chair.
“It’s a very humbling thing,” Ms Berry told Riskinfo. “You just do what you do, and you do the best you can, but you don’t realise that people are watching, and taking notice.
“It’s the highest honour that the FPA has to bestow and I think it’s just fantastic that they thought I had done enough to be in that group.
“I actually didn’t know what to say, which is very unlike me.”
Ms Berry said she was looking forward to sharing the news with her local community. “I think my clients will be really pleased. They know I’ve been doing a lot of work for the FPA and so I’m looking forward to telling them.
“It’s been like two full time jobs, and I am looking forward to some more personal time. For a while that will be good. But then I’ll have to go and find something else to take up. I’m looking for another board, because I really love the strategic side of things and being a director, and being in a position where I can add value. And I’ve said to the FPA I’ll never be far away.”
During her three year tenure as FPA Chair, Ms Berry has been a passionate driver of change, and said she was proud to hand over the reins to new Chair, Matthew Rowe. “It’s been three very hard years. But from my point of view I’m happy to pass over something that is largely fixed, rather than something that needs fixing.”
Mr Rowe said he was delighted to accept the position and recognised the need for the FPA to continue to provide the vision, leadership and resources to raise professional standards and the community standing of members.
