The British Polygraph Society is an unincorporated association. The people who govern the Society are the elected members of the Board of Directors, constituted under clause 7 of the Constitution. They act on behalf of the membership collectively, under the Regulations, Part 3.
How the Board is Constituted
The Board of Directors consists of three Directors — a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer — elected at the Annual General Meeting for two-year terms. Only Members and Senior Members in good standing are eligible for election. Every member of the Board is an active examiner bound by the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice, and files a statement of interests under the Regulations, Part 5.
Fuller detail on the Society’s governance arrangements, sub-committees and standing functions is set out on the Governance and Board page.
Members of the Society
Senior Member · Director (President)
Marc Bester
SMBPS · BPS-44506
Trained at the American International Institute of Polygraph in 2004 and has practised as a polygraph examiner since, reporting on his own account more than 19,000 examinations. Holds a four-year degree in Security Risk Management from the University of South Africa and has completed over thirty advanced APA-accredited courses. Works in criminal investigation, pre-employment screening, and company labour matters, and has given expert testimony in criminal and labour courts. Previously ran a polygraph practice in Cape Town; moved to the United Kingdom in 2021.
Senior Member · Director (Treasurer)
Taryn Boshoff
SMBPS · BPS-44540
A polygraph examiner and a Member of the Society. A full biography will be published shortly.
Senior Member · Director
Justin Erasmus
SMBPS · BPS-44469
Served twenty-eight years as a police officer, investigating and prosecuting a wide range of crime, including several years at national level developing programmes on domestic violence and spousal issues. Resigned in 2014 at the commissioned rank of Captain and trained as a polygraph examiner with the American International Institute of Polygraph. Practises from Nottingham and at further locations across the United Kingdom, working principally in infidelity matters and pre-employment credibility screening.
Senior Member
George Ferreira
SMBPS · BPS-44127
A former police sergeant who qualified in the Deception">Psychophysiological Detection of Deception at the American International Institute of Polygraph. Has practised as a forensic psychophysiologist since 2010, working for law enforcement agencies, law firms, and private clients. Practises through International Polygraph Services Ireland, with a head office in Galway and further locations across Ireland. An accredited member of the American Polygraph Association and of the British and European Polygraph Association.
Senior Member · Director (Secretary)
Rene Simpson
SMBPS · BPS-44417
A graduate with distinction of the International Polygraph Studies Center, an APA-accredited school, where she was trained by Raymond Nelson — a former President of the American Polygraph Association and developer of the OSS scoring system — and by Rudolfo Prado Pelayo. Holds a qualification in Forensic Psychophysiology alongside a B.Com in Financial Accounting from the University of Cape Town and an MSc in Tourism Development and Management. Spent over twenty years owning and managing tourism businesses in South Africa, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom before moving to the UK in 2018. Based in Bournemouth, Dorset, and practises across the south of England and nationally.
Senior Member
Deborah Van Coller
SMBPS · BPS-44893
Qualified in the Psychophysiological Detection of Deception at the American International Institute of Polygraph in 2009 and has practised as a forensic psychophysiologist and investigator since that year. Works through International Polygraph Services Ireland as its senior forensic psychophysiologist. An accredited member of the American Polygraph Association and of the British and European Polygraph Association.
The Board
The Society has three Directors, who hold the three offices below. They are elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting from among the membership, and are also listed above as members. The responsibilities attaching to each office are fixed by Part 3 of the Regulations.
President
Marc Bester
SMBPS · BPS-44506
Presides at meetings of the Board and at general meetings of the Society. Principal public representative on policy matters. Co-signs contracts on behalf of the Society with the Secretary or Treasurer.
Secretary
Rene Simpson
SMBPS · BPS-44417
Maintains the Register of Members and the Register of Interests. Convenes meetings, takes and circulates minutes. First point of contact for applications and complaints.
Treasurer
Taryn Boshoff
SMBPS · BPS-44540
Keeps proper books of account, collects subscriptions, presents quarterly financial reports to the Board and an annual statement to members at the AGM.
Contact
Correspondence for the Board should be addressed to the Secretary. Concerns about the conduct of a member are handled under the Regulations, Annexure A rather than by direct approach to individual Directors.