Cooperating for sustainable development

PROFESSOR GRAHAM GARBUTT

B.Sc., B.Arch., M.A.

2009-2011: Visiting Professor of Governance and Development, University of the West of England.

• UK representative and past president of the European Association of State Territorial Representatives (regional prefects, governors, queen’s commissioners, etc.).
• UK representative, EUROPA universities network. Presentations and seminars on governance, constitutional and policy issues.
• Work with OECD including advisor on national and regional governance to the recent Territorial Review of Chile; presentations to ministers and officials.
• Work with Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Strasbourg including induction for new students on legislative and constitutional arrangements.
• Training for Whitehall civil servants on central/local relations.
• Independent chairman of Cheltenham Development Task Force in south-west England, a partnership of statutory and other bodies.
• Independent chairman of Inquiry into failure of Cotswold Water Park and associated criminal activity.
• Work with individual European countries, for example security issues in Norway and regional development in Finland.
  

2005-2009: Chief Executive, Countryside Agency and Commission for Rural Communities, London and Cheltenham.

• Senior national official providing advice to government (Environment Department and others) on sustainable rural communities.
• Created successful new national government agency. Negotiation and advice on new legislation and briefings to ministers and officials. Accounting officer with full audit and risk responsibilities.
• Presentation and advocacy of policy change up to Cabinet level, and development of effective external communication/media strategy.
• National interventions to ensure effective responses to emergencies including flooding and animal diseases.
• Leading role in EU Rural Development Programme for England and development of structures for implementation and community involvement.
• Chairing of, and speeches and presentations to, national and international conferences and seminars.
• Personal leadership to build ‘new consensus’ on English land-use planning and sustainable development policy across national agencies.
  

2001-2005: Regional Director, Government Office for the West Midlands, Office of Deputy Prime Minister, Birmingham and London

• Senior civil servant in charge of one of nine regional Government Offices in England, serving a population of 5.3 million with programmes across ten government departments. Annual budgets of about £1bn and European programmes of £950m. Advising, briefing and accompanying ministers, European commissioners, etc.
• Leading government official in development of regional spatial strategy and regional housing strategy, based on principles of sustainable development. Close cooperation with local authorities, environmental organisations, voluntary sector, etc.
• Set up and chaired the Regional Resilience Forum comprising armed forces, police and other emergency services, local government, voluntary organisations, media, etc. Management of major training exercises.
• Personal interventions in specific crises to integrate government and EU support.
• Managed UK’s largest European Objective 2 programme, with best national performance and major regeneration impacts.
• Support to governments in Hungary and Romania on management and capacity building, including presentations, staff secondments, etc.
• Successful interventions to improve local government performance; most improved region.
• National lead role for Government Offices with HM Treasury and universities.

1990-2001: Chief Executive, Gloucester City Council

• Executive head of successful city local authority with awards and citations across service areas.
• Initiated improvements to emergency and resilience arrangements and led response to local crises, e.g. floods, industrial explosion, etc. Management of financial, media and other impacts.
• Initiated urban regeneration strategy and a number of successful sustainable development projects including regeneration of historic docks and other sites.
• Initiated work with universities and colleges to develop new campuses and research partnerships.
• Initiated community and economic development programmes.
  

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, 1973-1990

• Director, Canning Town and Custom House Project, Newham, east London
• Policy and Programmes Coordinator, London Borough of Hackney
• Housing Renewal Coordinator, London Borough of Haringey
• Visiting Lecturer, Urban Policy and Regeneration, AA Graduate School, London
• Founding Chair, Bondway Housing Association, Vauxhall, London
• Housing and Planning consultant, Nigeria
• Tutor in Urban Design, University of Sheffield
• Planning Assistant, Peak Park Planning Board
  

EDUCATION

• M.A. Town and Regional Planning, University of Sheffield,1974
• B.Sc.; B.Arch.(First Class Honours), University of Bath, 1972
• Civil Service Top Management Programme, 2004

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