
Meet the Team
A little about us at the BAJ.

Nigel Howard – General Secretary
Nigel is a former Evening Standard Newspaper Night Photographer and Night Picture Editor and worked at the paper for over twenty-five years. He took up the role on 1 January 2025.
Nigel regularly covers stories across London where he specialises in news, politics, crime and features. His work is regularly published in newspapers and online. He also undertakes commissions for PR Companies who engage him to convey a news narrative with his images to convey the message they are putting forward with their Press Releases. Nigel was involved in negotiations by photographers with the Metropolitan Police which resulted in issuing of The Media Guidelines and were accepted by then ACPO (now replaced) and police services across England and Wales. He is currently also reviewing the New updated Media Guidelines with two other prominent photographers.

Annette Raitz – Solicitor and Deputy General Secretary
Annette is a qualified solicitor advising BAJ members on all aspects of employment law. She has a wealth of experience in redundancy, discrimination, unfair dismissals, grievances, disciplinary hearings and appeals and regularly advises members on Settlement Agreements. BAJ can call upon the expertise of the specialist employment law barristers at Outer Tempe Chambers and their opinion is required in order for BAJ to support litigation in the Employment Tribunal on behalf of members.
Annette also advises on copyright law and has obtained compensation for passing off, infringement of copyright in photographs, books and articles for BAJ members.
Annette is a qualified mediator and is trained in Mental Health First Aid.

Jon Bamborough MBE - Chairman of The NEC
Is a Blackpool based freelancer. He is a founding member of the British Association of Journalists and was formerly editor of the DWP staff magazine Headphones as well the Fylde PCS Union Newsletter.
Jon is very active in the local music scene and is the founder/organiser of Blackpool Music Festival. He is also a very active campaigner for the homeless and in 2019 was awarded an MBE for his work in helping the homeless in Blackpool.




