Five new people joined the Broads Authority's Navigation Committee in September following the largest number of applications ever received for the role.

A new selection process, which included an invitation to all Broads users to put their names forward, generated 47 applications – nearly five times more than in 2004 when the committee was last appointed. Then only 10 names were put forward for seven places.

Seventeen applicants were interviewed, of which eight were appointed after consultation with the Navigation Committee and user organisations. They will serve for three years, with a maximum term, if reappointed, of 10 years.

The Navigation Committee, whose important advisory and scrutiny role is strengthened in the Broads Authority Bill, is made up of 13 members, five Broads Authority members and the remaining eight representing users.

• David Broad *, a retired former chairman and managing director has been a Broads resident since 1989. He is a member of Horning Sailing Club and the Royal Yachting Association, chairman of the Broom Owners Club, a council member and director of the Cruising Association and a toll payer. He represents the owners of private pleasure craft which use any part of the Broads.
• Martin Broom chairman of the Navigation Committee of which he has been a member for 19 years, has been re-appointed to represent the Great Yarmouth Port Authority. Mr Broom has been director of Broom Boats Ltd for nearly half a century. He is an Hon President and a committee member of the British Marine Federation, East Anglia, a member of the RYA Inland Waterway Group, a committee member of NSBA and a past chairman of the Broads Hire Boat Federation. He is Commodore of the River Cruiser Class in which he races his yacht Raisena.
• Simon Daniels, a farmer, was appointed by the Secretary of State to represent landowning interests. He is a member of the Regional Flood Defence Committee and Internal Drainage Board, and is a member of Norfolk Punt Club.
• Phil Durrant, managing director of the UK's leading environmental marine survey company, is a keen angler and sailor. He was appointed to the Broads Authority by Defra.
• Melanie Farrar *, Head of Design Technology at Diss High School, is the first woman to represent users of the navigation. Previous women members have been local authority and Secretary of State appointees. Brought up on the Broads, Melanie races her River Cruiser Farthing and is a former captain of the River Cruiser class. She is a member of Green Wyvern Yachting Club, Yare Sailing Club, Norfolk Broads Yacht Club and Norwich Frostbites Sailing Club.
• Colin Gould represents South Norfolk District Council on the Broads Authority. He is a retired policeman and a keen angler.
• Paul Greasley director of Norfolk Broads Direct Limited, is a chartered accountant and a toll payer. He represents the owners of hire pleasure craft.
• Patrick Larner *, a self employed chartered surveyor, committee member of the Broads Society and member of several yacht clubs, represents users of the navigation.
• Alan Mallett represents Broadland District Council. He races a Norfolk dinghy at Norfolk Broads Yacht Club and Norwich Frosbite Sailing Club and is sailing correspondent for the Eastern Daily Press.
• Philip Ollier *, a member of Horning Sailing Club and Norfolk Punt Club and secretary of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association, represents the owners of private pleasure craft nationally. He is a self-employed management consultancy partner, a civil engineer and a toll payer.
• Alexandra Steven, Broads born and bred, was appointed to the Broads Authority by Defra. She is a development surveyor with Cator & Co of Salhouse, is a member of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and a council member and steward at the Royal Norfolk Show.
• Anthony Trafford has been director of JPC Ltd since 1981 and a Navigation Committee member since 2004. He is chairman of the Broads Hire Boat Federation and BMF East Anglia. He represents the owners of hire pleasure craft.

* New members