New Directors appointed to the Board
We’re pleased to welcome four new non-executive directors to the HWFI CDT Board. All new Directors are community and business leaders working or living in the area. They bring a wealth of experience of working in the neighbourhood and enhancing the area; and connections and insight from a wide range of local networks, residents’ groups and stakeholder organisations.
The four are:
Abdi Mohamed, a policy advisor for a London MP, who has previously worked for Tower Hamlets and Newham councils advising political leaders on matters of policy and strategy. Abdi is embedded in the local community having lived all his life in the area. He is a Governor of a local school in Bow and an experienced influencer and campaigner.
Brian Akintokun, co-Founder of Hackney Wick FC. Brian has been instrumental in developing programmes to encourage young people from the area into sport and physical activity and transform the club to semi-professional. Brian has experience of community engagement having worked for Housing Associations, of successfully setting up a charity and of fundraising.
Jenna Clark, Executive Headteacher of Gainsborough Primary School. Jenna joined the school in 2017 and since joining has spearheaded the turnaround and performance of the organisation. Her specialisms are in creating the foundations for good governance, developing high performing teams and driving an inclusive agenda.
Paul Reynolds, a founding director at Tapestry - an urban planning and design practice based in Hackney Wick. Paul is Dual qualified as both a Chartered Landscape Architect and an Urban Designer, and has led on regeneration, masterplanning and public realm work in London for more than two decades. Paul is also a Chair of the London Borough of Hackney design review panel.
Alex Russell, Executive Chair of the CDT, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome such a skilled, committed and experienced group to the Board. With Jenna, Brian, Abdi and Paul on board we are enhancing the CDTs breadth of knowledge of the area, local network and technical capability. With a strengthened team in place, we are confident we will be able to make a compelling case for community ownership of places and spaces in HWFI.
What is more, the recruitment process revealed significant interest from residents and people working locally in our mission. There is an appetite from all corners of the neighbourhood to see spaces and places stewarded by the CDT in the long-term. We will be working on ways in which we can harness this interest, development partnerships and build momentum for the movement as we progress.”
The CDT has also invited Chris Paddock, Partner at PRD and expert on place and the economy and Jane Latham, Finance Director at Splendid Communications to join its Advisory Group.