Management Team
The Institute is managed by a Council made up of IPW & ISPW Members elected by the Membership for a three-year term.
One of the Council members acts as Chair and a member is also appointed to represent the Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters (ISPW).
The Council have regular meetings to discuss matters facing the IPW/ISPW and its Members. They also run the Annual General Meetings with fellow Member delegates.
All our Council members run their own Will writing businesses and some are also studying for STEP examinations.
Paul Sharpe
IPW/ISPW President & ADR Official
"I have been involved in writing Wills since 1990, joined the IPW in 1993, joined its management team in 1997 and was Chairman from 2000 to 2014. I am still involved in my Will writing business, which means that I experience first-hand the day-to-day trials, tribulations and elations of being a Will writer.
"What is clear to me as a Will writer is that, for my business to survive and thrive, it needs to set itself apart from all of the other firms offering Wills and all the different methods of making a Will. This is why my IPW membership, along with compliance with a TSI Approved Code of Practice, is an essential part of my business strategy – and why I continue to work to set the highest standards for the Institute and its membership."
Sue Ioannou
IPW/ISPW Chair & Head of Training
"I started my working life in 1982 in The Lord Chancellor’s Department (now the Ministry of Justice). I worked my way up the management chain and in 1992, I became Manager of the London Probate Office which is where my love of Wills began! In 1997, I discovered the IPW and decided to study for their exams to qualify as a professional Will writer. I was admitted as a member in 1998 and became a Fellow in 2009.
"I started my business on a part time basis in 1998. In 2002, I moved out of the Probate Office and became the Training Manager for the Family and Probate Service of England and Wales. During my time in that role, I set up the Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline and was responsible for training the HMRC staff that would cover the helpline.
"In 2005, I obtained a Master’s degree in Strategic Management and then started my qualifications with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
"I became an IPW Trainer in 2004 and have been responsible for identifying, developing and delivering training needs to our members since then. I took up the appointment of Head of Training in late 2016 and have acted as Vice Chair of the IPW since January 2017, having been elected to the Council in 2014.
"I am passionate about the Will writing profession. The most important thing for me is to provide my clients and my trainees with the best possible service and it is extremely rewarding to hear them tell me that I have achieved that. I am proud to be a member of the IPW and to have been elected by the membership to represent them on the Council."
Sarah Williams
IPW/ISPW Vice Chair
I have over 20 years’ experience win the Estate Planning sector
having studied Law at the University of Liverpool and the College of Law before
working as a Private Client Solicitor in private practice. I then moved in to a
more commercially focused role as Company Solicitor and HOLP for a national
Will Writing company and subsidiary of Skipton Building Society, managing a
national team of over 200 consultants as well as a large legal team involved
with drafting volume wills, trusts and LPAs.
For personal reasons I left that role and established Accord
Legal Services 8 years ago and have steadily and organically grown my own
business to a national provider with a team of consultants operating across the
UK. A keen academic I obtained my STEP qualification as well qualifying in
Scottish will writing and will happily serve the Scottish IPW members and be
involved in the changing legislative landscape across the border.
I am extremely passionate about the Estate planning sector and
was privileged to be selected by the Legal Services Board as one of only a
handful of fellow experts in the review of regulation of the will writing
industry. I am a campaigner for regulation and recognition of expert will
writers. I am dedicated to changing the statistics of our population that do
not have Wills and committed to making Estate Planning a talking point rather
than something to avoid.
I am determined to make a difference to the IPW and its members
for the positive and am really looking forward to working with my fellow
council to achieve some big changes.
CHRIS FOOKS
LIAISON AND MEMBERSHIP
I have worked in the Financial Services Industry since September 2000, during
that time I have worked in a variety of roles from office administrator,
paraplanner, mortgage advisor, and Client Relationship Director. Estate
planning has become a core part of my business as I think with people’s wealth
increasing and family dynamics changing it is even more important to make sure
that families, wealth and bloodlines are protected.
My time is split spent working with private client work in the South West – and
also in London and the Home Counties.
I am blessed to have a beautiful wife and 4 amazing children. All who keep me
grounded and help appreciate the simple things in life. When I am not helping
clients I like to spend time on the beach, swimming, and reading.
JOHN WILFORD
MARKETING
At the age of 60-ish, after 26 successful years as a Financial adviser, (in
differing roles in 3 national companies) I looked for an opportunity to help
people with vital Will and and Estate Planning, things I couldn't do before, but
saw the glaring need for. I have now been with the IPW for 6 years, running a
successful one-man business where I've literally done everything myself-
marketing, selling advertising, client calls, all administration, accounts etc
etc- the whole lot. I have vast experience to draw upon, including being
married and divorced twice, various house moves, mortgages, renting, being made
redundant 6 times, losing family etc etc. Life throws you many challenges and
its how you handle them and respond which really matters.
Whilst in the IPW I've met some great people, and helped the training team
by organising, designing and conducting two IPW training sessions - A Guide to
Setting Up Your New Willwriting Business, and a guide to Pensions and
Protection- both absolutely vital areas to know about.
I've been invited to join the council to help with Marketing, and by working
with other members, will help to develop this area for new and existing
members. I may well be in touch with you!
Contact me on marketing@ipw.org.uk.
Cheers!
Marcos Kallou
SPONSORSHIP
After a successful 15-year senior management career in
hospitality, I retrained and started my estate planning business in January
2004. Some twenty years and 3,000 clients later, I now operate out of 2
offices: one in Epping, Essex and, as of 2023, the other in Skipton, North
Yorkshire. Shortly after starting my business, I became a member of the IPW. It
was the only professional body that was, and still is, fighting for the
Willwriting profession to be regulated. It continues to lead the way in training,
self-regulation and consumer protection. I was fully aligned with its ethos and
the fact that it was not easy to join, actually appealed to me. I wanted to
join an organisation that made it hard for me to become a member of, and not
one that merely just took my money. I find it incredible that this profession
remains totally unregulated currently; the IPW has been at the forefront of the
fight to change that since its inception in 1991.
Some years ago I was honoured to be invited to become a
Fellow of the IPW. This was in recognition of my length of time as a member, my experience, and the fact that I am up to date with my insurance and
training, and have had no complaints against me.
For me, the IPW’s Code of Conduct which is approved by
the Chartered
Trading Standards Institute is pivotal in what this organisation stands
for. It is unique. No other Willwriting body or organisation has this. I am
proud as a member, and as a Council member, to have this valuable and valued
recognition that sets my business, and my self-regulatory body, way above the
competition. Getting it was incredibly hard in the first place; maintaining it
is even harder.
This is actually now my second stint on the Council.
Having done just over 4 years some years before, I was chuffed to be asked to
re-join, to help shape the direction and strategy of the organisation
that I have supported and been a member of virtually from the outset of my
business. These are indeed challenging and interesting times as we continue to
fight for full regulation
PAUL DODSWORTH
FINANCE & STANDARDS
Over 18 years’ experience in estate planning. Paul is a diploma qualified full member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Willwriters , as well as sitting on the IPW Council, its management board. He is an active member of the client facing team, working hands on with our clients on a daily basis to help them protect their wealth and make sure their loved ones are properly provided for. Paul is passionate about delivering a great quality service and ensuring EPS is always striving to be the best we can be. He inspires us all in EPS. Paul is married to Natasha (25 years) and has two daughters in their twenties, one of whom is following in his footsteps and works for EPS. Away from work he loves sport, a good comedy or murder mystery and a nice malt.
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