Heritage expert new chair of Broads Authority
A former Director at the Heritage Lottery Fund has been appointed chair of the Broads Authority.
Dr Stephen Johnson replaces Professor Kerry Turner who has stepped down after five years as chair and 11 years as a member of the Authority. Professor Turner, who is Director of both the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE) and of the Zuckerman Institute for Connective Environmental Research at the University of East Anglia, will continue to chair the Broads Authority’s Climate Change Panel.
Chief Executive John Packman said: "We are greatly indebted to Kerry. During his term as chair the Authority made some major changes, including the transfer of dredging from May Gurney and the reduction in the number of Authority members from 35 to 21. Perhaps the biggest achievements were successfully making the case for additional Defra funding for the new headquarters, taking the administration of planning in-house and securing additional National Park Grant of £1.5 million over three years. Users of The Broads have been able to see a real difference as a result of that extra money and it has put the Authority on a much sounder financial footing.
“We are greatly looking forward to working with Stephen. His experience with the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage, knowledge of the management of public bodies and national contacts will be invaluable to the Authority as it moves forward in the challenging economic and environmental situation we all face.”
Stephen Johnson said: “I am honoured to have been selected by the members of the Broads Authority for this responsibility. I am particularly keen that the Authority continues to develop its pioneering work in helping as wide an audience as possible to understand and enjoy this very special landscape. The protection of this precious resource is paramount, but we face real challenges - of maintaining this fragile freshwater system, of encouraging a new generation of users to value The Broads, and in combating and adapting to the pressures of climate change. I look forward to the task.”
Dr Johnson, who lives in Norwich, was UK Director of Operations of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) from 1997 to 2007, and Head of the National Heritage Memorial Fund for part of that time. This gave him experience of budgetary management in a public sector climate.
During this period he had overall responsibility for the delivery of the heritage bursary schemes, including the millwrights and reed-cutters training scheme run by the Broads Authority, as well as other local grants including those to the new Norfolk Record Office and Norwich Castle Museum. By 2007, HLF had made around 15,000 grants, large and small, to heritage projects in all parts of the United Kingdom.
An archaeologist by background, Dr Johnson started his career with English Heritage, working mainly in the north of England. During the 1980s, he was responsible for all aspects of work on Hadrian’s Wall, and later, as Director for the North Region, led the work to draft the first UK World Heritage Site management plan for the wall. He was also involved in the creation and launch of the England-wide Conservation Area Partnership Scheme, aimed at providing grant for the conservation and enhancement of conservation areas in many parts of the country.
Dr Johnson is also the author of several books, papers and site guides primarily about Roman sites in England and Europe, two of which were about Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth, now within the Broads Authority’s executive area. He was also general editor of the English Heritage and Batsford series of 50 books on a variety of sites and themes.
Dr Johnson is a keen gardener, devotee of classical music and takes part in choral singing and some piano playing. He also enjoys films, theatre and modern ballet.
“I have done some sailing in the past, but have not got into (and am not likely to get into) serious racing or competition,” he said.
Alan Mallett, the EDP’s sailing correspondent, is the Authority’s new vice-chair. He sails a Norfolk dinghy at the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club and Norwich Frostbite Sailing Club. He is a Broadland District Councillor and has been a member of the Broads Authority for eight years.
13/10/2008
