The property industry has appointed a new frontwoman to help improve its reputation. Dame Janet Paraskeva, a former chief executive of the Law Society, will chair a new standards and regulation board that is being set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to help maintain public trust and confidence in the profession.
UK Cypriot Dame Janet whose father is from Neta in Cyprus is expected to bring clout to the regulator as the estate agency sector comes under increased scrutiny from ministers concerned about poor practices. The Property Ombudsman, a public redress scheme, received a record 29,000 inquiries last year, up 22 per cent on the previous year.
Her extensive regulatory and board experience includes serving as chief executive of the National Youth Agency and as First Civil Service Commissioner. She was also a non-executive director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.