bpha is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Paul Leinster CBE as its new Chair of the Board effective from 23 April 2018. Paul is Professor of Environmental Assessment at Cranfield University and a non-executive board member of Flood Re, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and Delphic HSE.
He is a member of the government’s Natural Capital Committee and chairs the Bedfordshire Local Nature Partnership. His first job was with BP. He then worked for Schering Agrochemicals before moving into consultancy and then on to SmithKline Beecham.
Paul joined the Environment Agency in 1998 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2008, a post he held until 2015. Professor Leinster has lived in Bedford for almost 30 years and has extensive experience of the environmental, planning and infrastructure opportunities and challenges within bpha’s area of operation, the ‘growth and innovation’ corridor between Oxford and Cambridge.
Over the years in his various roles he has established an extensive network of contacts within local authorities, developers, planners, government departments and agencies and major infrastructure providers.
Kevin Bolt, bpha’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be able to appoint Paul as bpha’s new Chair. He brings a wealth of high level private and public-sector experience, as well as a clear vision of the importance of housing in the development of the Oxford to Cambridge growth corridor.
His corporate background experience at the Environment Agency together with local connections and perspectives make him uniquely qualified for this role and they will be invaluable to bpha in the implementation of our ambitious future plans.”
Professor Leinster said: “I can draw many parallels between work that I have been involved in at the Environment Agency and the challenges facing modern housing associations. I am excited at the prospect of being able to contribute to the future development of bpha, my ‘local’ housing association.
bpha is uniquely positioned to meet the challenges of providing much needed new homes in an area that will undergo considerable change as the Oxford to Cambridge corridor develops.”
Professor Leinster takes over from Robert Burgin who retired from the post at the end of March having completed a term of office. bpha’s Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert for his significant contribution over the last three years.