The Leadership 2025 Advisory Board has been established to support housing associations to implement the five recommendations of the Leadership 2025 Review on creating a more diverse sector, and to monitor their progress.* At this inaugural meeting, the Mayor of London’s Office confirmed its commitment to ensuring that the capital’s housing sector can draw on the talents of people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. The Board includes: Gina Amoh (Chair) – Chief Executive of Inquilab HA and Chair of BME Landlords London. David Montague – Chief Executive, L&Q Jamie Ratcliff – Assistant Director of Housing, GLA Shaun Scantlebury – Director, EY People Advisory Services Elly Hoult – Chair, CIH Futures Emma Maier – Editor, Inside Housing And is supported by Altair Specialist Housing Consultants.
The Board will meet on a quarterly basis over the next year to consider how the sector can ensure that best practice, from both within and beyond housing, is truly embedded in housing association practices.
Speaking following the meeting, the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, James Murray said:
“Tackling London’s housing crisis is a marathon and not a sprint, and the challenges we face will not be addressed without significant innovation.
“We need our leaders to provide energy, challenge and fresh-thinking. This will not be achieved without much greater diversity at a senior level, across the housing sector. It will be of huge benefit to the city if the people tasked with tackling the chronic shortage of genuinely affordable housing reflects the ethnic make-up of the city.
“I am hugely supportive of the work of the Leadership 2025 Advisory Board so that we can not only tackle the housing crisis but to create a fairer, better, more inclusive London.”
Also speaking about the first meeting, Gina Amoh, chair of the Board said:
“I am delighted that we have Sector and industry leaders on the Board, prepared to give their time and energy to help us find lasting solutions to the challenge of under- representation of BME people at the most senior levels across the housing sector.
The GLA’s commitment and support is particularly welcomed. This is though a national issue and we hope that that across the country, organisations will sign up to be leadership diversity champions and show the same level of commitment.’
