Shelter announces former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara as new Chair of Trustees

Shelter announces former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara as new Chair of Trustees

The housing and homelessness charity Shelter has announced Helen MacNamara, Chair of think-tank the Future Governance Forum and former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, as their new Chair of Trustees. Ms MacNamara replaces Helen Baker, who has stepped down as Chair at the end of her six-year term in the role.

Ms MacNamara’s other previous roles across a diverse career include Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the Premier League, Director General of Housing and Planning at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Head of the Economic and Domestic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Prior to this, she spent over a decade in various roles at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, where she ran Secretary of State Tessa Jowell’s Private Office, worked on the successful bid and planning for the 2012 Olympic games, and set-up the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

Ms MacNamara has previously served as trustee of Target Ovarian Cancer from 2008 to 2013, and as Governor of Goldsmiths College, London. She is a founding trustee of the Heywood Foundation, and an Associate Partner at the advisory firm Robey Warshaw.

One of Ms MacNamara’s first tasks with Shelter will be to lead the board’s search for a new CEO, after current Chief Executive Polly Neate announced in October that she will be leaving Shelter at the end of March after more than seven years at the helm.

Helen MacNamara, Chair of Trustees at Shelter, said:

“Home is everything. People who have always had housing security don’t understand how much a home provides the foundations on which so much else in life is built: health, happiness, safety, a sense of place, and an ability to work and study.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining Shelter as Chair. No organisation has done more than Shelter over recent years to drive political recognition of the housing emergency, to support people affected by the crisis with advice and legal support, or to champion solutions such as stronger renters’ rights and the building of more social homes. I’m excited about how, together with the Board or Trustees, I can support this extraordinary organisation to go from strength to strength as we strive together to end homelessness and housing insecurity for good.”

John McQuade, Vice Chair of Trustees at Shelter, said:

“We are delighted to be welcoming Helen MacNamara as Chair. Her passion, sector knowledge, and immense experience in senior leadership positions made her the stand-out candidate from a highly competitive shortlist.

“As we welcome Helen MacNamara to Shelter, I would also like to say a huge thank you to Helen Baker on behalf of the Board and leadership team. She has made an incredible contribution to Shelter’s growth and development over her time as Chair. Her thoughtful leadership provided stability throughout a period of considerable change, during which Shelter has driven the housing emergency to the top of the public and political agenda and given advice and support to millions of people a year. We wish her all the very best for her retirement.”

Helen Baker, Outgoing Chair of Trustees at Shelter, said:

“It has been an honour and a privilege to work with such a dedicated Board of Trustees, with such talented and passionate staff and volunteers, from the executive to the frontline, and with our rich diversity of partners over the course of my six years as Chair. I feel proud to be leaving Shelter’s governance and public profile in a strong place and to see so many of the campaigns started whilst I was Chair finally resulting in government action.

“Although I will no longer be Chair, I will always be a supporter of Shelter. I am exceptionally pleased to be handing over to Helen MacNamara as my successor, with the experience, energy and vision she will bring, and wish her all the very best. I look forward to Shelter’s ongoing impact as it continues to fight for everyone’s right to a safe and secure home.”

ENDS