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The chair of the G15 and chief executive of large London housing association Optivo has landed roles with two of the country’s leading built environment institutions.
Paul Hackett, who became chief executive of the newly formed Optivo in 2017, has been appointed as an honorary professor at University College London’s (UCL) Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management (BSCPM), while also securing a spot on the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) housing supply group.
Mr Hackett spent eight years at Amicus Horizon in both the chief operating officer and chief executive roles before its merger with Viridian Housing in 2017. He is also currently chair of the G15 group of London housing associations but is set to end his two-year reign in the role later this year.
Mr Hackett has already started at UCL, and will serve on the school’s independent advisory board as part of his role.
The UCL BSCPM is currently running the Transforming Construction Network Plus project, which is a £1m-funded two-year programme aimed at transforming the way buildings are designed, built and powered.
Professor D’Maris Coffman, head of the UCL BSCPM, said: “With the UK in the grips of the worst housing crisis in a generation, innovation and accelerating the development of new homes isn’t just important for meeting housing need, residential property is also an increasingly important asset class and driver of productivity and economic growth.
“Now is the ideal time to recruit a residential expert to the school.”
Mike Basquill, UK residential associate director at RICS, said that Mr Hackett’s appointment to its housing supply group would bring a wealth of experience and someone who has worked with national, regional and local government on supply issues.
He added: “We see Paul’s appointment as a welcome opportunity to build closer links with the Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management as they partner with industry and government to transform UK construction.”