There are many organisations doing vital work in the debt and credit sector, but MALG is the only place where everyone from across the whole debt ecosystem comes together without commercial agendas and without blame, all working to improve the lives of people in debt. It’s where conversations happen that simply don’t happen anywhere else.

Through our programme of face-to-face and virtual meetings and events, MALG has created a neutral, safe, collaborative space to talk honestly about what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change – especially as the problems we face today are bigger, more complex, and more interconnected than ever.

In just the few months I’ve been in post, I’ve seen first-hand how simply giving that space brings issues to the fore that might not otherwise have been discussed, leading to awareness, ideas and potential solutions from across the sector. This ranges from practical discussions that can catch issues before they become major problems at our fortnightly Friday Forum ‘open mic’. Detailed discussions and learning on specific issues and solutions at our regional meetings around the UK. Big-picture discussions – often the first to bring new topics to the sector – at our national members’ meetings, and annual conference, this year on 12 November in Liverpool.

A great example is the recent report from the CSA “Signposting for customers who have language barriers” the idea of which started at a MALG Scotland meeting.

We all know the UK’s debt environment is changing at pace. The cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away. People who have never been in arrears before are finding themselves there now. More households are juggling priority debts alongside consumer credit, energy bills, council tax, and rent. Vulnerability is becoming more widespread and more complex, and digital channels, while powerful, are creating new risks around misinformation, scams, and disengagement.

The sector is grappling with regulatory change, including Consumer Duty and the evolving expectations around fair outcomes, alongside data challenges – from credit information reform to the ethics of AI-driven decision-making – workforce pressures, and growing mistrust and misinformation.

None of these issues sit within one organisation’s remit. They cut across sectors, systems, and responsibilities, which means the only way to tackle them is together. That’s why collaboration isn’t a ‘nice to have’ – it’s the only way forward, and it’s why MALG’s role matters more than ever.

Shaping the future of the debt landscape means bringing all the relevant parts of the ecosystem together: frontline advisers, lived-experience voices, small community agencies and big national charities, high street banks, alternative lenders, fintech disruptors, utilities and local authorities, collections and debt purchase professionals, enforcement agents, academics and researchers, regulators, and other stakeholders and influencers.

Over the last 40 years, MALG has made great strides in bringing these people together. I want to build on that success and bring even more into the MALG community, in a way that’s bold, inclusive, and challenging.

Looking ahead, the debt landscape will only become more complex. Economic uncertainty, technological change, and shifting consumer behaviour mean we need to be more agile, more collaborative, and more human than ever. For me, the future of MALG is about:

• Deepening cross-sector collaboration, not just at meetings and conferences but also through ongoing working groups and practical projects.
• Championing evidence-based solutions, grounded in both data and lived experience.
• Making space for difficult conversations, especially where sectors don’t always agree.
• Driving innovation responsibly, ensuring digital tools enhance rather than replace human understanding.
• Keeping people at the centre, always.

Debt is not just a financial issue – it’s emotional and deeply personal, and solving it requires every part of the ecosystem pulling in the same direction.

As a not-for-profit membership organisation, MALG is only as strong as the breadth of its membership. That means lenders, both small and large, being part of our community and part of those conversations. When we bring our expertise, insights, and passion into one shared space, we can create real, lasting change.

It’s why organisations across the whole debt landscape need to be part of the community and support its continued existence and growth. So why not join us and be a part?