Knight Frank appoints group head of diversity, equity and inclusion
Knight Frank has appointed Hannah Awonuga as group head of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Awonuga has over 17 years of experience in the banking industry, joining Knight Frank from Barclays Bank Plc where she was global director and head of DE&I colleague engagement. This follows the appointment of Karen Bowes as Knight Frank’s group chief people officer earlier this year.
Awonuga’s role at Knight Frank will focus on developing a strategic roadmap with the overall purpose of providing a superior experience for Knight Frank’s people. She will provide strategic direction to the group executive and UK Boards, business balance leads and formulate and execute a DE&I strategy to facilitate the adoption of industry-wide best practices in DE&I, as well as develop a set of metrics which will drive this agenda across the Group.
At Barclays, Awonuga was a member of the DE&I senior leadership team responsible for the design and delivery of the firm’s global DE&I colleague engagement strategy and its tangible interventions for all global colleagues, clients, and customers, covering c. 90,000 employees across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Americas, and APAC.
Awonuga was also responsible for introducing and implementing the firm’s global social mobility strategy and defining and repositioning the Barclays’ Global Employee Resource Groups, aligning the ERG strategy to the bank’s five key DE&I priorities.
Awonuga said: “Knight Frank’s focus on its people mirrors my own values and commitment to creating a culture where everyone can thrive. It is critical to the success of our business to enhance the employee experience and ensure that we are cultivating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion across the business. I look forward to working with the Board, partners and all colleagues to build on Knight Frank’s culture to create an environment where all colleagues have a sense of inclusion and belonging.”
Karen Bowes, Group Chief People Officer at Knight Frank, added: “At Knight Frank we are committed to unlocking the potential of all our people, creating a diverse place to work where all are seen, heard, valued and thrive. Due to the efforts of our Business Balance groups, we have made great progress but have much to do.
“Hannah’s appointment is demonstrative of our commitment to build an inclusive and balanced partnership, and her experience will enable us to implement a robust, measurable DE&I strategy and plan, designed to create equitable outcomes for all.”
New chair appointed at Women in Residential Property
Nicola Broomham, a director at property recruitment firm deverellsmith has taken the reins at Women in Residential Property, a popular group aimed at fostering greater collaboration across the property industry.
Broomham’s appointment follows an extensive recruitment process which saw a number of candidates put their name forward for consideration. The next phase of the process will see her lead the formation of a new Committee for which applications ae currently being considered.
Women in Residential Property was established six years ago by Emma Vigus and in that time has amassed a significant following across the property services sector encompassing block management, surveying, estate agency, panel management and conveyancing to name a few. The group promotes wider knowledge sharing and professional development throughout it’s regular on and offline networking and training events.
Commenting on Nicola’s appointment, Vigus said: “I am delighted that Nicola is taking on the role of Chair. We received some very strong applications but the breadth of Nicola’s connections across the residential property sector and her evident passion for improving the industry for the good of all, really stood out during the selection process. “
“Running WIRP has been a hugely enriching experience and I am looking forward to seeing the group continue to grow and evolve under Nicola’s leadership.”
“Finally, I’d like to thank all those who applied for the role and, all the individuals and businesses who have supported WIRP during my time as Chair.”
Nicola Broomham said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to step into the role of Chair at Women in Residential Property. I would like firstly to commend Emma Vigus for the incredible work she’s done during her time as Chair. Under her guidance, this organisation has taken huge leaps in bringing women together to collaborate, uplift one another, and amplify women’s voices within the residential property realm.
“My mission is to carry forward that amazing progress! Taking the reins is a fantastic opportunity to lead and empower a group of incredibly talented professionals in the real estate sector. My dedication is unwavering in creating an environment that’s both welcoming and supportive, allowing women to flourish, shine, and break down barriers.
“Let’s unite our efforts, generate positive change, toast to achievements, and lay the groundwork for a future in residential property that’s rich with diversity and energy. I can’t wait to team up with inspiring individuals and play a role in crafting an industry that’s fair, thriving, and prosperous for everyone involved.”
New Planning Inspectorate Board Non-Executive Directors appointed
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has confirmed the appointment of three new non-executive members of the Planning Inspectorate Board: Adrian Penfold, Emir Feisal, and Oliver Munn.
Penfold and Munn have been appointed for a term of three years from 1 October 2023 until 30 September 2026.
Feisal has been appointed as chair of Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for a term of four years from 1 October 2023 until 30 September 2027.
As members of the Planning Inspectorate Board, non-executive directors contribute to providing collective strategic leadership to the organisation. The Board is an advisory Board and is responsible for ensuring the Inspectorate fulfils the aims and objectives of the Strategic Plan; that work reflects the priorities set by the secretary of state; and complies with the requirements relating to the use of public funds.
Non-executive directors are ministerial appointments for a period of up to three years. Positions are appointed following fair and open competition.
Adrian Penfold
Adrian joined British Land as head of planning following his time working for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, as Chief Planner at Dartford Borough Council, and at the London Docklands Development Corporation. He was a member of the Barker Review of Land Use Planning Panel of Experts and, in 2010, published the independent Penfold Review of Non-Planning Consents. He was a member of the Local Plan Expert Group which reported in 2016. He was non-executive chair of the built environment charity Design South East from 2015 to 2021. He joined the Governing Council of the University of Warwick in 2016, and is also chair of the Estates and Environment Committee. He was a Commissioner on the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission which published its final report, Living with Beauty, in 2020, and is a member of the Office for Place Board.
Emir Feisal
Emir is a Chartered Accountant and a specialist in transformational change. The majority of his career was spent at the Sunday Times as associate managing editor. He now holds a portfolio of non executive directorships, including being the chair of Audit on a number of Boards.
He is a Commissioner for the Judicial Appointments Commission. His present portfolio consists of being on the Boards of the Disclosure Barring Service, the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, the Bar Standards Board, British Transport Police Authority, the Honours Committee and as a trustee of The Henry Smith Charity. He is involved in a number of initiatives in the diversity and inclusion arena. He has held non-executive board member positions with The Serious Fraud Office, Lambeth Clinical Commissioning group, and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, amongst others.
Oliver Munn
Oliver Munn is an operational transformation expert and senior civil servant who currently serves as the UK Health Security Agency’s Director General Health Protection Operations. In that role, he oversees the operational response to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other health threats in England. He also leads a modernisation programme that is upgrading legacy IT systems and streamlining manual processes, aiming to improve the experience of users and staff. Before joining UKHSA, Oliver worked at the Cabinet Office where he was Director of Testing and Tracing Delivery in the COVID-19 Task Force from April 2020 to March 2022. Prior to that, he worked at McKinsey & Company, helping public and private sector organisations to modernise and transform their operations.
Commenting on the new appointments, chair of the Planning Inspectorate Board, Trudi Elliott, said: “I want to thank our outgoing non-executive directors Rebecca Driver, Stephen Tetlow and Sally Dixon. Rebecca and Stephen have had their contracts extended until 30 September.
Adrian, Emir and Oliver together have a wealth of experience across the planning sector and in senior executive roles. I am looking forward to working with them and believe they will all bring a lot to the Inspectorate.
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