Our People
Kevin Grix, LL.B (Hons), ACIArb, Head of The Furniture Ombudsman
Kevin was appointed in 2008 and is responsible for directing the activities of The Furniture Ombudsman, including its Alternative Dispute Resolution service.
Kevin read law at university for 3 years and graduated with honours, prior to studying to be a Barrister in London at the Inns of Court School of Law. He was called to the Bar by the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple, after successfully passing his Bar exams (BVC). Kevin is professionally qualified as an Associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb) and represents the Ombudsman on the All Party Parliamentary Group for furniture at the Houses of Parliament.
He has a keen interest in consumer affairs and a specialist understanding consumer law and has written and presented a series of courses and seminars on this subject. Before his appointment at The Furniture Ombudsman he gained practical experience as a legal advisor to the public and in 2005 he was part of the team of advisors that set up the Hertfordshire University Law Clinic, a pro-bono legal advice centre serving the local community.
Jon Walters, BA (Hons), DCDA, Service Delivery Manager
Jon is primarily responsible for operational excellence, ensuring timely delivery and high quality standards in all aspects of the work of The Furniture Ombudsman.
Before his appointment, Jon worked with the Office of Fair Trading on the central management team of their Consumer Direct service, in a role that involved operational oversight of the national consumer advice service, and relationship management with central and local government departments (both domestic and international), commercial companies and charity and third sector organisations.
Prior to this Jon worked as an operational lead for a commercial outsourcing provider of customer management on behalf of the East of England Trading Standards Association and Hertfordshire County Council.
Jon specialises in consumer law, and has achieved university qualifications in this area though a combination of training and independent study.
Dispute Resolution Team
Dominique Le-Grand, LL.B (Hons), ACIArb, Senior Adjudicator
Dominique is the Senior Adjudicator and consumer law trainer at The Furniture Ombudsman. She has extensive specialist knowledge of legal and consumer issues acquired through academic study and her work in Alternative Dispute Resolution at The Furniture Ombudsman.
Dominique is responsible for leading the Dispute Resolution Team and providing internal and external training on consumer law.
Dominique has first-hand experience of complaint handling at the sharp end, having previously been a retail store manager for a major fashion chain. She is a legal graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and is professionally qualified as an Associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb).
Judith Turner LL.B (Hons), Adjudicator
Judith read Law at King’s College London for 3 years before graduating with honours in 1998. She went on to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and a training contract before qualifying as a solicitor in 2001.
Judith was previously employed by a City Law firm, practising in Commercial Law. An experienced legal professional, Judith also specialises in Alternative Dispute Resolution and joined The Furniture Ombudsman as an Adjudicator in 2011. Since her appointment, Judith has written and presented training courses on Consumer Law and Compliance.
Jane Parsons, BA (Hons), ACIArb, Adjudicator
Jane is an experienced Adjudicator and trainer has been involved with consumer issues relating to the furniture industry for over ten years. Before being appointed as an Adjudicator for The Furniture Ombudsman in 2002, she gained extensive practical experience dealing with technical issues for a fabric and furniture wholesalers.
During her career with The Furniture Ombudsman she has overseen a vast array of complaints relating to furniture, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. She is academically qualified to post graduate level and spent a year studying in Colorado, USA whilst at University. In 2009 she successfully attained professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb) in relation to her work in Alternative Dispute Resolution for The Furniture Ombudsman.
Natalie Williams, BA (Hons), ACIArb, Adjudicator
Natalie began her career at The Furniture Ombudsman in 2009. Since then she has spent time working in all areas of the organisation in order to gain experience in the administration of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Project Management.
In February 2010 she was promoted to the Dispute Resolution Team having successfully completed a course of internal training and development. She is involved in a broad range of furniture and home improvement related disputes between retailers and consumers and has handled in excess of 500 cases.
Natalie is also responsible for analysing and reporting statistics and trends and was involved in the writing of The Furniture Ombudsman’s inaugural Annual Review. A graduate of the University of Brighton, Natalie has a keen interest in social and economic geography and consumer affairs. In 2011 her expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution was recognised when she became professionally qualified as an Associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb).
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