Join Open City as the next Chair of our Board of Trustees
After an impactful and successful tenure as Chair of our Board of Trustees, Open City is saying thank you and farewell to Deborah Denner, who will be stepping down later this year. Over her time as first a Trustee and then Chair, she has made an invaluable contribution to Open City's mission to make cities more open, accessible and equitable.
Open City is now seeking a new Chair to lead our Board of Trustees. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a diverse and passionate group of trustees, including recently appointed members: Mike Saunders, founder of digital community engagement platform Commonplace; Ann Paul, Chief People Officer at Nesta; Sarah T. Gold, founder and CEO of Projects by IF; and Aretha Ahunanya, alumna of Open City’s Accelerate programme, along with our valued Vice Chairs, Dav Bansal and Selina Mason.
Our new Chair will also support Open City’s staff team, led by Manijeh Verghese, who joined us as CEO at the end of last year.
We are looking for an inspiring leader to support our broader mission, and to get involved with implementing the charity’s future ambitions, including strengthening the Open House Worldwide network, and continuing to grow our education programmes in London, Birmingham and beyond. Find out more about the role, and how to apply by downloading the recruitment pack.
Deborah Denner, outgoing Chair and Founding Director of Frame Projects said:
“Being Chair of the Open City Trustees has been an energising experience, and supporting its inspiring cultural and education programmes has been a privilege. Its ability to connect architecture and city-making with a general public audience is unrivalled. It’s equally impressive for its thriving education programmes, (such as Accelerate and Young City Makers) which have expanded significantly over the past five years. It has been a particular pleasure to welcome Manijeh Verghese as CEO last year, to provide leadership of the wonderful staff team.”
Dav Bansal, Vice Chair and Partner at Howells said:
“We’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Deborah in an exciting and insightful journey - from shaping impactful cultural and educational programmes to supporting the continued success of the world-renowned Open House Festival. We are now seeking a new Chair to lead our diverse Board of Trustees and to work with Manijeh in building on the growth of this generous and ambitious organisation. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on young people, the built environment, and communities across the country. I encourage you to find out more about this role in the recruitment pack - and we look forward to meeting some truly inspiring individuals.”
