Former Panel Members

Mrs Lisa Ball

Lisa has over two decades’ experience of adjudication determining complaints of bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination as well as disciplinary matters. In 2008 she was appointed as one of the first independent members of the Armed Forces Service Complaints Panel and since 2009 she has been the independent member of the King’s Counsel Complaints Committee.

Additionally, Lisa has previously served in a wide range of independent and lay roles including the Solicitors Regulations Authority; the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services; a Police Authority; the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; the PHSO and the NHS.

Lisa served as an Independent Expert Panel Member from November 2020 till November 2024.

Mrs Johanna Higgins

Johanna Higgins is currently the Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Criminal Cases Review Commission, a panel member for the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, and a panel member for the Civil Legal Services Appeal Panel, Northern Ireland.

Johanna is a barrister of 27 years call and has worked as a senior public prosecutor in Northern Ireland. She has extensive experience of criminal casework, criminal appeals, judicial review, historic cases, adjudication and community care law. She is also an elected member of the Royal Historical Society.

Johanna served as an Independent Expert Panel Member from November 2020 till November 2024.

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Irwin

Sir Stephen was appointed Lord Justice of Appeal in 2016 and acted as the supervising justice for extradition and national security cases until his retirement in October 2020. He is a member of the Privy Council and continues to sit part-time as a deputy Lord Justice of Appeal.

He is a trustee of the Slynn Foundation, which offers support and training to judges and lawyers in jurisdictions where they may be under pressure, or facing major change. From July 2021 to early 2022, he facilitated discussions which have led to the establishment of a process of alternative dispute resolution for the bereaved. Since July 2021, Stephen has, at the request of the claimants and central defendants, been facilitating discussions to design an alternative dispute resolution procedure for the bereaved, survivors and relatives of the Grenfell fire tragedy.

Stephen was a High Court judge from 2006 to 2016. Between 2013 and 2016 he was Chairman of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) and from 2011 to 2018 he was Chairman of the Judicial Security Committee responsible for judges’ safety. He spent seven years as a tutor on the Judicial College leadership course.

Prior to his judicial career Stephen had extensive experience as a barrister, was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997, and in 2004 took on the high-profile role of Chairman of the Bar for England and Wales.

Sir Stephen was the Chair of the Independent Expert Panel from November 2020 till November 2024.

Professor Clare McGlynn KC (Hon)

Clare McGlyn is a Professor of Law at Durham University, with particular expertise in criminal law. A qualified solicitor, she was appointed KC (Hon) in 2020 in recognition of the influence of her research on law and policy reform, particularly image-based sexual abuse and extreme pornography.

Clare was a member of Durham University’s Sexual Violence Taskforce, undertakes sexual violence and misconduct investigations within the university and is a member of the University's Discipline Committee. As well as supporting other institutions regarding their sexual misconduct policies, she also has experience of adjudicating claims of bullying and harassment.

Clare has held several leadership roles at Durham including as Deputy Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health, and member of the University's governing body, the University Council.

Clare served as an Independent Expert Panel Member from November 2020 till November 2024.