Who Are We?
Patron
HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
President
The Dean of Westminster
Chairman
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Olwen Rowlands
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she worked for several years as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Trustees
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Tim Mitchell
Councillor Tim Mitchell has been a trustee since 2012. He represents St James’s Ward. He is currently the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health. He is a self-employed computer consultant and is married to a school teacher.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Michael Bach
Michael worked for 35 years for the Government, based in Westminster, developing national planning policy. Since retiring he has been the chairman of the planning committee of the London Forum of Amenity & Civic Societies and planning chairman of the Kensington Society.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Deane Gable
Deane, who is a long-term member of the Society, became a Trustee in 2010. A lifelong resident of Westminster, she spent many years working in Whitehall for HM Treasury. She helped set up and run the Tenants’ Management Organisation for the Grosvenor and Regency Estate and is currently actively in the South Westminster Legal Advice Centre.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
John Hoare
John is a qualified accountant and has worked in Westminster for most of his professional life. This includes a period as Special Projects, Treasury and Development Director for an interior design and contracting company, securing contracts from Middle Eastern and North African countries with projects such as palaces, major office developments, airports, hotels, banks and ministry buildings.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
David Jennings*
David has worked as an architect in Westminster for over 35 years, with a particular interest in complex projects in Conservation areas. He joined the Society in 2012 and manages the Society’s design review panel.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Rebecca Thomas*
Rebecca has over 15 years of experience as an architect working in Westminster and a keen interest in conservation and retrofit schemes. After 10 years at Make Architects she joined Fathom in 2018 and became a director in 2021.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Robin Partington*
Robin is an architect. After an illustrious career at Foster & Partners and Hamiltons Architects he founded Apt in 2009. Here he has built a remarkable and diverse portfolio of innovative award-winning projects across the world, including many in London and the City of Westminster. Robin has been a Trustee of the society since 2009.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Barbara Weiss*
After working for prestigious architectural studios in the UK and USA, Barbara has run her own practice, based in Westminster, for over 30 years. Design quality and heritage conservation are at the heart of the practice’s work, which includes residential developments and award-winning medical projects. She joined the Society in 2019
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Nathan Silver*
Nathan Silver is an architect and educator, and now works mainly as an expert witness in construction and design. He has been architecture correspondent of the New Statesman, and Head of the architecture school at the University of East London. He supervises the Society’s Awards programme and edits the Newsletter.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Ylva French
Ylva has worked as a marketing consultant in tourism and culture in London. She served as a trustee on the Board of the Royal Parks. She has published several books on London and on marketing. Ylva has lived in Pimlico for over 20 years and takes a keen interest in the city’s environment.
Biography
Olwen has lived in Westminster for many years. She became a Trustee of the Society in 2003 and Chairman in 2008. The greater part of her professional life was spent administering large-scale social surveys. After retiring she spent several years working as a London Blue Badge Guide.
Graeme Cottam
Graeme is a retired lawyer and accountant. As a UK director of a global conservation charity and vice-chair of the Victoria Neighbourhood Forum, he is passionate about improving both the natural and built environments. Closer to home, he is the chairman of his local residents’ association and a keen Royal Parks volunteer.
* Member of the design review panel
Trustees are elected by members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting for a maximum of three years in the first instance.
They may stand for re-election when the three-year term comes to an end.
The constitution of the Society and its articles of association may be read here.
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