IHBC’s latest Council received impressively positive feedback, but was very busy, so this NewsBlog post spotlights a paper easily missed in this part of our ‘exploration of conservation services’ – in advance of a light-touch survey – all part of the response to our Parliamentary ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation…’.
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘At Council we had a very tight timetable. While that feature was welcomed by many, it did mean we had to move rapidly. So we’re doing a suite of NewsBlog spotlights on some key resources from the day, where we can.’
‘As you know, IHBC’s Council is a members only, live event, which helps the ‘Chatham House’-styled discussions, so we can’t make all public. But of course, where we can do that by agreement, we will.’
For this NewsBlog we’re spotlighting the commentary from IHBC Trustee Serena Cardozo, Principal Conservation Officer at Uttlesford District Council (UDC): ‘From private sector architect to local authority conservation officer, via Public Practice’, which includes a tellingly supportive contribution from her manager.
As Serena explains: ‘My transition from private sector architect to local authority conservation officer was made possible through the Public Practice Associate Programme, a unique initiative that connects experienced built environment professionals with public sector placemaking roles.’
Serena also notes that: ‘Nigel Brown, Head of Development Management and Enforcement at UDC, shared his thoughts, stating: ‘This private sector ethos also provides a solution-led pragmatic approach which
sometimes can be lost in the public sector. Although the candidate and the role may not align perfectly, by definition the candidates are experienced and of a medium/high level of experience and can be quick and agile to being effective in their new public sector roles.’
Serena concludes that: ‘My own transition into the public sector has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am now approaching three years at UDC. Stepping into a slightly different professional role has been both challenging and rewarding, requiring me to grow my technical knowledge while adapting to the pace, culture and decision-making processes of local government. My colleagues have been consistently supportive, and many have expressed the value of having a conservation officer with architectural experience, particularly when navigating complex design discussions with applicants. Their feedback has reinforced the impact that Public Practice placements can have not only on individual services, but also on organisational confidence, capacity and the quality of outcomes we are collectively able to deliver.’
In summary the paper highlights how, ‘for IHBC members, my experience highlights a growing and important shift in how local authorities are building conservation capacity.’
See Serena Cardozo’s paper ‘From private sector architect to local authority conservation officer, via Public Practice’
See more on the IHBC council at: Top marks for IHBC’s latest Council as LA Conservation service talks, papers & film get 10/10 from nearly 20% of 120+ delegates, shaping the survey for our new parliamentary push
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