Riaz Nurennabi

Role: Chair of the Local Pension Board – Employer Representative
Date Appointed: August 2022
Biography
Riaz joined the Local Pension Board in August 2022 and is employed at Sheffield Hallam University as Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development (Pensions, Payroll and People Services). Riaz is a qualified pensions actuary, having previously worked at KPMG and PwC.

Riaz has worked in the pensions industry for over 20 years and provided pensions consultancy support to a variety of private and public sector clients during this period. In his role at Sheffield Hallam, Riaz has developed an in-depth knowledge of LGPS and other pension schemes in the Higher Education sector.

David Webster

Role: Vice Chair of the Pension Board - Scheme Member Representative
Date Appointed: October 2019
Biography
David joined the Pension Board in 2019 as a scheme member, employed at that time by Rotherham MBC. He spent his career in Internal Audit, risk management and governance in the public and private sectors, including seventeen years as Head of Internal Audit at Flintshire County Council and then Rotherham MBC. Now retired from full-time employment, he is an independent member of four Audit Committees within local government.

He brings an independent and inquisitive approach, with the ability to analyse and interpret information objectively and a desire to drive improvement. He is committed to helping the Pension Board achieve its purpose of assisting the Pensions Authority to maintain effective and efficient administration and governance.

Andrew Gregory

Role: Scheme Member Representative
Date Appointed: July 2019
Biography
Andrew has worked on Pension Scheme Boards since 2001 in the private sector, including The Vaillant Group Pension Scheme, and currently The Hepworth Building Products Pension Scheme.

In 2004, Andrew gained the Certificate of Trusteeship at the Pensions Management Institute in London. Andrew’s roles have given him experience of Investment strategies, Funding strategies and Actuarial Valuations. He also has experience monitoring administration and scheme member communications. In 2019, Andrew joined the SYPA Board and enjoys being part of the great team.

Andrew has now retired from his role as Technical Specialist at Hallam University but continues to work to the best of his ability on the Pensions Board, always with the best interest of the members at heart.

Sheldon McClure

Role: Scheme Member Representative - Unite Union
Date Appointed: August 2024
Biography
Sheldon joined the Local Pension Board in August 2024 as a representative of Unite. Sheldon has worked for City of Doncaster Council for 35 years, moving to St Ledger Homes of Doncaster, which is an almo of the Council, in 2007.

Sheldon has served as a convener for Unite (T&GWU) for 20 years and with extensive experience of employment matters, serving on various committees and representing union members, Sheldon is in a good position to effectively represent scheme members on the Local Pension Board.

Nicola Gregory

Role: Employer Representative - Academy Employer, Minerva Learning Trust
Date Appointed: November 2017
Biography
Nicola has over 35 years of experience working in Human Resources within the public sector and schools, she is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development and holds a Level 7 qualification in employment law.

Nicola’s previous experience includes leading the schools HR service within Sheffield City Council before transitioning to the academy sector, where she established the HR provision within Minerva Learning Trust. Nicola is currently serving as Chief People Officer, with strategic oversight of both HR and Governance.

Nicola possesses a wide range of skills, knowledge, and expertise in public sector pay, pensions, and terms and conditions, as well as statutory governance arrangements in both the community maintained and academy sectors. She is an experienced local governor and currently Chair a governing body within another Multi-Academy Trust.

Nicola works with a broad range of stakeholders and has a strong understanding of pensions administration for the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Now in her third term of office on the Pension Board, she is committed to supporting the Pensions Authority in delivering good governance of the scheme and ensuring that the interests of scheme members, including those of employers, are effectively represented.

Cllr. Linda Beresford

Role: Employer Representative - Local Authority Councillor, Rotherham MBC
Date Appointed: June 2024
Biography
Linda held a senior leadership role in the Financial Services industry, with responsibility for the UK Stockbroking arm of a global bank, and she was previously a senior manager in a Pension Administration business and Head of Contact for a Private bank.

Linda brings a wealth of expertise in oversight of financial institutions, including Pension and Investment businesses gained at a senior level. She is committed to contributing to the sound governance of SYPA with the focus on providing good outcomes for both members and employers.

Shelagh Carter

Role: Scheme Member Representative - GMB Union
Date Appointed: June 2025
Biography
Shelagh worked in local government for nearly 38 years within adult social care, with her final role as a community based occupational therapist, visiting vulnerable individuals who required assessments for home adaptations, being the most rewarding.

For twenty-two of those years in local government, Shelagh was an active workplace representative for the GMB union, Shelagh remains an active branch member and has held various positions over the years, including branch secretary, equalities officer, and health and safety officer. She is currently the elected branch president and has also been elected by the branch to serve as the Pensions Officer.

In May 2025, Shelagh chose to take early retirement from her post with Sheffield City Council to spend more time with family, friends, and on personal interests. She is continuing to represent GMB on the Local Pension Board and although new to the role, she hopes to apply her existing skills and undertake any necessary training to better serve scheme members.

Cllr. David Nevett

Role: Employer Representative – Local Authority Councillor, City of Doncaster Council
Date Appointed: June 2025
Biography
David has been a member of the Works Factory Consultative Pension Scheme for 14 years, served as a member of the Pensions Authority for 3 years, and is now an elected member of the Local Pension Board. Drawing on this extensive experience, David will help oversee the scheme and act as an advocate for his fellow scheme members.

He will continue to attend pensions training and update his knowledge to ensure the scheme delivers value for money and achieves its objective, being able to pay pensions for all current and future members of the scheme.

Neil Mason

Role: Independent Adviser to the Local Pension Board
Date Appointed: August 2024
Biography
Neil has been the Director of Pensions for the Surrey County Council Pension Fund from 2017, after having various other senior roles in the LGPS since 2009 and over 10 years’ experience in investments and pensions in the private sector prior to this. As well as supporting the SYPA he is Chair of the London Borough of Hounslow Local Pension Board and is also a long-standing member of Pensions UK, where he has sought to promote the LGPS in the pension industry.

Neil believes that good governance is the key to a successful pension fund. It is essential that this is embedded not just internally by SYPA, but that the Authority also leads the aspiration for governance excellence in its external relationships, particularly with Border to Coast but also in the wider LGPS environment.

As a long term supporter of the role that Local Pension Boards can play in furthering the LGPS as a national scheme, Neil is passionate about his role at the Authority. He is encouraged by the culture of excellence that he has encountered, but ambitious to continue to work with members and officers to continue to work to improve outcomes for members and employers.