16 YEARBOOK 2025 CHAIR’S REVIEW CHALLENGING TIMES DAVID McDONALD, IHBC CHAIR IN LAST year’s Chair’s Review, I wrote about advocacy, and specifically the advantages of chartered status for the IHBC. By the time this Yearbook has been published, the Privy Council Office will be considering our memorandum, seeking its comments on a possible formal petition by the IHBC. However, the importance of advocacy will not be lost on our members in this rapidly changing political environment. A change of government has meant an increased emphasis on growth in the housing sector as well as an intention to speed up the planning process, particularly in relation to major infrastructure projects. While it would be churlish to object to housing growth and a more efficient planning process per se, we do have a responsibility to ensure that there is sufficient consultation and the right level of checks and balances are in place to protect the historic environment. We have already commented on the infrastructure bill and will continue to respond to government consultations on legislation and policy over the year ahead. Our advocacy role does not simply entail responding to government. We are also in constant touch with other organisations in our sector and working with them to ensure that our voice is heard. ‘Heritage as an enabler not a blocker’ is the phrase that I keep hearing and that has been echoed in Griff Rhys Jones’s endorsement of this year’s IHBC Annual School in Shrewsbury. His witty and informal online advertisement for the Annual School contended that heritage supports growth rather than stifles it. We are fortunate to have gained some of his time in between his sterling work as president of both Civic Voice and the Victorian Society. In choosing the theme of ‘context’ for both this edition of the Yearbook and the Annual School, we are also advocating the value of the historic environment and demonstrating its relevance to growth and sustainability. During the last year, for me the overriding theme in sustainable conservation has been the connection between the natural and historic environment. This was covered admirably in Context No. 180, the theme of which was ‘Where heritage and nature meet’. I also attended The Heritage Alliance’s Foresight Day which dealt with similar issues. In the autumn I was privileged to be able to chair IHBC London’s Annual Conference which had the rather provocative title of ‘A Walk on the Wild Side’. At each of these events, there was a consistent message about working together with professionals in nature conservation and above all recognising that our professions are complementary rather than conflicting. If you’ll excuse the pun, 2024’s Annual School was much more down to earth. In dealing with finance, policy and people in conservation practice there were many lessons in how to manage the increasingly complex world of the historic environment. It was also a pleasure to be in Reading, a city with more historic interest than it is normally given credit for. I was particularly interested to learn that it was the home of the eminent Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse. Of course, he is famous for his public buildings such as Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London, but it was instructive to see some of his lesser works in and around Reading. Returning to our proposed petition for chartered status, it is reassuring to me that Mike Brown who, as President of the IHBC, was one of those strongly promoting chartership and he will be continuing to be involved in moving the initiative forward. As Immediate Past President, his responsibilities will include membership of our Petition for Charter Working Group. I would like to thank Mike for all and everything that he has done for the IHBC as President. It is one of those roles which combines formal responsibilities such as chairing council meetings with more informal tasks such as attending other organisations’ events on behalf of the IHBC. He has done all this with his customary energy and enthusiasm. He has proved to be an excellent representative and I am pleased that he will be continuing to work with us for the foreseeable future. At the same time, I should like to extend a warm welcome to Rebecca Thompson, our recently elected President. Rebecca, as many readers will be aware is Director of Property at St Paul’s Cathedral. I am grateful to her for taking on the role as president in addition to her duties at St Paul’s. She will bring to us the benefit of her experience in property care and management. I know that she has particular interests in training and equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) issues. I am looking forward to working with her over the coming year. Finishing on a positive note, I am pleased that we have added to the membership of the IHBC Board by appointing some new trustees, with a wider demographic background than previously. This will assist us in meeting the challenges ahead. David McDonald chair@ihbc.org.uk
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