Ian Shapiro to take reins this September
The Building Research Establishment has appointed a new chief executive to take over from the retiring Gillian Charlesworth later this year.
Ian Shapiro will take over from Charlesworth, who leaves the Building Research Establishment (BRE) after six years in charge.
Shapiro has spent seven years as chief executive at Reall, a non-profit organisation that invests in and develops sustainable, affordable housing solutions in urban Africa and Asia.
He also sits on an advisory committee for the United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Director for UN Habitat, and is a non-executive director at WHG, a housing association in the Midlands.
Phil Wilbraham, chair of the BRE Trust and non-executive director of BRE Group, thanked Charlesworth for bringing “calm and considered leadership” to the organisation.
“She leaves the organisation in a strong position so that it can have an even bigger impact developing science-led solutions to the built environment challenges of safety, security and sustainability,” he said.
In his new role, Shapiro will have to work to address the loss of reputation suffered by the BRE in the wake of the Grenfell Inquiry.
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The inquiry’s report found that “much of the work carried out by BRE was marred by unprofessional conduct, inadequate practices, a lack of effective oversight, poor reporting and a lack of scientific rigour”.
Shapiro, who takes up his post in September, said the organisation’s focus “must now be on transforming the built environment to create safe, sustainable and inspiring spaces for people today and for generations to come – all while targeting net zero carbon”.
He added: “BRE has a vital role to play in this transformation and I’m excited to learn from the science, the solutions and the talented teams driving this mission forward when I begin later this year.”
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