The Goldsmiths’ Company appoints new members to its Court of Assistants

• The Goldsmiths’ Company has appointed three new members to its Court of Assistants: Robert Hayes, Nicola Le Clair and Emma Himsworth KC.
• The Court of Assistants is equivalent to a non-executive board and has overall responsibility for the Company’s affairs.
• Assistants are elected from within the Company’s membership following a recruitment process focused on key skills and requirements.
• There are 26 Assistants on the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Court of Assistants, of which 27% are women and 73% men.

The Goldsmiths’ Company has announced the appointment of three new members of its Court of Assistants – Robert Hayes, Nicola Le Clair and Emma Himsworth KC – who have been elected for their commercial, financial, charity and legal experience, and for their contributions to the craft and trade of jewellery and silversmithing.

Equivalent to a non-executive board, the Court of Assistants is the Company’s governing body, and has overall responsibility for the Company’s affairs and for appointing members to the 11 committees which direct the day-to-day operation of the Company.

Established by Royal Charter in 1327, the Goldsmiths’ Company is a membership organisation focused on supporting craftspeople through the training and development and promotion of jewellers, silversmiths and the allied trades; protecting consumers through hallmarking; and improving lives through its work with charitable partners.

Following a recruitment process focused on key skills and requirements, Emma, Nicola and Robert were elected from within the Company’s membership by the Court of Assistants. There are now 26 Assistants on the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Court of Assistants: 27% women and 73% men.

Robert Hayes recently retired after a 40-year career in the Investment Management industry, the latter 22 years at BlackRock. His final role at BlackRock was as Investment Director and Head of UK Charities, where he worked with UK charities on their investment strategy and portfolio management. Robert is an active collector of modern British silver, a member of the Silver Society and the Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council. He is also a Goldsmiths’ Fair Ambassador. Since becoming a member of the Goldsmiths’ Company, he has served on the Collections and Communications & Marketing Committees and is a Trustee of the Staff Pension Scheme.

Nicola Le Clair’s career spans over 35 years in global banks, primarily in risk. She is currently the Chief Risk Officer for MUFG (Japan’s largest Bank) covering Europe, Middle East and Africa; a position she has held for four years. Nicola plays an active and energetic role in the Company, including as a member of its Investment Committee. Nicola is also a keen supporter of Goldsmiths’ Fair and an avid collector of modern and antique silver.

Emma Himsworth has been in independent practice as a barrister since 1995 at the Chambers of Lord Grabiner KC in Temple, London. She specialises in intellectual property law and related aspects of commercial law. Emma was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2012; as an Appointed Person hearing appeals from the UK Registrar of Trade Marks in 2013; and became Chair of the Intellectual Bar Association in 2022. She has been an active member of the Company for 24 years and is currently serving on its Charity Committee (since 2011). 

Prime Warden (Chairman-equivalent), Charles Mackworth-Young said of the appointments, “I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our three new members of the Court of Assistants. They each bring a wealth of experience to the Company and have played an active role in how we are run and the support we give to the craft and trade of jewellery and silversmithing. I look forward to working with them on areas such as improving our charitable impact, governance, and attracting more people from the trade into our membership.”

Wednesday 5 July 2023