Built Environment Forum Scotland has announced that its new chair will be Dr Graeme Purves OBE, former Assistant Chief Planner in the Scottish Government’s Planning and Architecture Division, succeeding Professor Emeritus Cliff Hague at the end of his 3-year term.
BEFS writes:
We are pleased to announce that, following our AGM on 11 December, Dr Graeme Purves OBE has been elected as BEFS new Chair. Graeme was the Assistant Chief Planner in the Scottish Government’s Planning and Architecture Division until September 2013 with extensive experience in urban regeneration and rural development issues and an expert on the pioneer Scottish planner, Sir Frank Mears.
Graeme said: ‘The quality of our built environment is of crucial importance to our wellbeing and economy. I am looking forward to working with BEFS member organisations to safeguard and enhance our built environment and highlight the roles which planning, design and creative conservation can play in building a better Scotland.’
The AGM also marked the close of Professor Emeritus Cliff Hague’s 3 year tenure as BEFS Chair. BEFS Director, John Pelan said: ‘Professor Emeritus Cliff Hague has been an inspirational Chair for BEFS. His leadership, expertise and intelligence along with the high esteem in which he is held across the sector has enhanced BEFS’s profile and reputation. His work on the Small Towns Initative and Measuring Success in the historic environment sector has been particularly exemplary. I have enjoyed working with Cliff over the last three years and, on behalf of the Board and staff of BEFS, wish him well in his many pursuits and interests.’
‘We welcome our new Chair, Dr Graeme Purves. Graeme’s experience of Scottish Government, his passion for the built environment, historic and contemporary, and strong record of project delivery will be of enormous benefit to BEFS’.
Craig McLaren and Sean O’Reilly stood down from the Board at the AGM and BEFS are grateful to them both for the direction received. Sean was instrumental in creating BEFS and his guidance and support in his 14 years as a member of the Board have been invaluable.
Two further appointments were made to the Board were Torsten Haak for the Institute of Historic Building Conservation and Nikola Miller for the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland.
