Biographies
Guest Speaker and Q&A panel member
Nicholas Wirz, Principal Solicitor
Northumbria Police
Nicholas graduated from NottinghamUniversity in 1990 with a degree in Modern Languages. He worked in banking, becoming a branch manager in London in 2003. Nicholas then worked as a Project Worker for a homeless charity in Newcastle upon Tyne providing emergency and longer-term care for young adults. In 2005 Nicholas commenced legal studies at the University of Northumbria School of law and qualified as a Solicitor in 1999. After researching European Union Law, Nicholas gained a Masters Degree in Advanced Legal Practice. Nicholas worked as an Assistant then Senior Solicitor at North Yorkshire County Council advising a variety of external clients, including the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Probation Committee. As manager of the Litigation Department, Nicholas dealt with a variety of contentious matters. Following this, Nicholas worked for Gateshead Council, becoming an Employment Law specialist, advising both the Authority and the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police. Nicholas' role was transferred to Northumbria Police, where Nicholas works as a Principal Solicitor in the Employment Law Department. Nicholas acts as a legal adviser to the National Police Attendance Management Forum, which meets quarterly at West Midlands Police. Nicholas also acts as legal adviser to the Southern Group of Force Medical Advisers, which also meets quarterly in London. Nicholas is a member of the Employment Law Sub-Committee of the Association of Police Lawyers. Nicholas' practice exposes him to a wide range of employment law issues. He has provided accredited training over many years and delivered a lecture to the South West branch of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in December 2008. Nicholas is a contributor to the Association of Local Authority Medical Advisers Newsletter. Nicholas' work brings him into daily contact with Force Medical Advisers and Selected Medical Practitioners. Nicholas is recognised nationally as an expert in Police Pension law and has also undertaken work for the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police officers"
Trevor Forbes
Trevor Forbes served as a Police Officer with the West Midlands Force and in his capacity as secretary and deputy secretary of the Federation Joint Branch Board dealt with ill health and pension matters on a daily basis.
Since retiring as a Police Inspector in 1999 he has worked as a consultant representing and advising a number of Forces nationally on pension matters as well as at independent appeals panels both on a personal basis and also through the National Police Consultancy Service, which was developed and supported through the National Attendance Management Forum and the West Midlands Police. He has assisted numerous Forces in re organizing their OHU functions to produce best practice and quality of service and has conducted numerous training courses for SMPs, Personnel and OHU staff. He prepares submissions and conducts PMAB appeals on behalf of several Police Pension Authorities.
Q&A Panel member
Dr Jonathan (Jon) BROOME MBBS MRCP(UK) MFOM DIH
FMA/SMP, Northumbria Police
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