[slideshow_deploy id=’11055′]The IHBC’s trustees have just elected a new President of the Institute, David McDonald, who is standing down as IHBCs Education Secretary, and thanked profusely the institute’s newest Past President, Trefor Thorpe, for his dedicated work on behalf of the institute.
IHBC Chair Mike Brown said: ‘Making appointments to a role as critical as President is never easy, as we are always in danger of losing skills in one area as we re-appoint them in another. However I’m delighted to say that the wealth of skills and volunteering enthusiasm across our membership means that this should be the smoothest of transitions.’
‘Last year, Trefor kindly stayed on to help drill down into our challenging governance issues, and to lead on establishing the IHBC+ programme. We are delighted that, as Past President, he will continue his work on our links with built environment professional bodies.’
‘Similarly David’s exemplary personal and professional skills – not least his interests in education that have shaped his role as Education Secretary – will continue to inform his new role as President.’
‘Meantime, I’m delighted to say that Henry Russell IHBC – among other things, well known for his roles with COTAC, as Vice Chair, and as a Conservation Course Director at Reading – has agreed to serve as interim Education Secretary – moving across form his role as a membership assessor. This means that while we may lose Henry’s skills in one area, we can roll his detailed knowledge and experience of our membership standards into this strategic role in education.’
‘It goes without saying that, for all this good news, trustees are also very conscious of the urgent need for more female representation across our senior operations, and we hope that our new ‘IHBC+’ programme – initiated by Trefor and the National Office to enhance our governance – with the linked Council+ programme, will secure a better route to a more balanced infrastructure in our institute.’
IHBC’s newest Past President, Trefor Thope, said: ‘It’s been a tremendous experience being President for the last 4 years. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Thanks to all of you who have made it such an honour and a pleasure. As I head for the back benches I’m delighted to be able to hand on the baton (no chain I’m afraid) to David who I’m sure will prove to be admirable in the role. My very best wishes go to him and to you all as well.’
David McDonald, now President of the IHBC, said: ‘It is a great privilege for me to be able to take on this role.’
‘We live in very challenging times for building conservation, not least because of the sharp reduction in the number of local authority conservation officers since the start of the recession. I look forward to working with colleagues and others in the planning and historic environment sectors to tackle this issue.’
‘At the same time I will strive to improve opportunities for training to ensure that IHBC members work to the highest of professional standards’.
For more about the IHBC’s officers, and to find out about the skills you can develop as a volunteer involved with the IHBC, see the website
