Commissioners

Chris Stephens, Chairman
Christopher Stephens is a non-executive director of WSP, a global engineering consultancy and Holidaybreak plc, a travel and education business. He was Chairman of the DHL (UK) Foundation, a charity committed to community development and education projects both in the UK and worldwide, until May 2011 and Chairman of Traidcraft plc until March 2011.

Christopher was a Member of the Senior Salaries Review Board (2009-2011) and a Civil Service Commissioner (2004-2009). Until 2004, he was Group Human Resources Director of Exel (now DHL), the international logistics company.

Lord Justice Toulson (judicial), Vice Chairman
Roger Toulson was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in January 2007. He was Chairman of the Law Commission from 2002 to 2006.

Mr Justice Bean (judicial)
Mr Justice Bean was appointed a Justice of the High Court, assigned to The Queen's Bench Division, in 2004. He has been Chairman of the Bar Council (2002), and is a former member of the Civil Justice Council. He was a Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit from 2007 to 2010.

Lady Justice Black DBE (judicial)
Jill Black was educated at Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay and the University of Durham. She was called to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1976 and appointed a QC in 1994. In 1999 she was appointed a Recorder, and later that year a Justice of the High Court, assigned to the Family Division. She served as Family Division Liaison Judge for the Northern Circuit from 2000 to 2004. Jill Black was Chairman of the Family Committee of the Judicial Studies Board from 2004 until she joined the JAC in 2008.

Martin Forde QC (professional - barrister)
Martin Forde QC took Silk in 2006 and became a Recorder in 2009. His early career on the Midland Circuit included crime, personal injuries, matrimonial and a variety of civil and criminal work, though latterly he has focused on medical negligence and regulatory work. He is the South Eastern Circuit Diversity Mentor and Chair of the South Eastern Circuit Minorities Committee. He is also the Chair of the Bar Council's Equality and Diversity Sub Group: Access to Appointments and Progression.

Ms Alexandra Marks (professional - solicitor)
Alexandra Marks has had a career as a partner at Linklaters, practising in commercial property. She became a Recorder in 2002, is a Deputy High Court Judge, an Adjudicator for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and Chair of the Architects Registration Board's Professional Conduct Committee. She is also a Past President of the City of London Law Society and a Board member of JUSTICE.

Her Honour Judge Taylor (judicial)
Deborah Taylor has a varied background in both civil and criminal law. Having been a civil practitioner, she began as a Circuit Judge at Basildon Crown Court, presiding over criminal cases before moving to Inner London Crown Court, Blackfriars Crown Court and for the last four years, Southwark Crown Court. She also sits at the Mayor's and City of London County Court and covers a range of civil and criminal cases.