8 January 2008
City appoints new Director of Open Spaces
The City of London Corporation has
appointed Sue Ireland as its new Director of Open
Spaces. Sue will join the City in April 2008, taking over
from Jennifer Adams who is retiring after seven years’
distinguished service.
Sue Ireland will join the City of London from Chelmsford Borough
Council where she is currently the Director of Parks and Heritage
Services. Sue has 25 years’ experience of managing people and
landscapes in local authority leisure and parks services.
In her new role as Director of Open Spaces, Sue will be
responsible for the 4330 hectares (10,700 acres) of parks and open
spaces owned and managed by the City of London, including Hampstead
Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches and West Ham Park. The
City of London’s Open Spaces department employs more than 300 staff
and has an annual budget of over £20m.
Welcoming the appointment, Chris Duffield, Town Clerk and Chief
Executive of the City of London Corporation, said: “I am delighted
that Sue is joining the City of London. Sue brings a vast
array of experience to the role and I am sure she will build on the
excellent work of Jennifer Adams and the whole team in protecting
and managing our world class open spaces”.
Sue was born in Hertfordshire and grew up in Kent and
Devon. She graduated in Geography from Aberystwyth, University
of Wales and then completed a Masters degree in Landscape Ecology,
Design and Maintenance at Wye College, University of London. For
the last ten years, she has been responsible for 610 hectares of
parks, open spaces, allotments, sports pitches, play areas and
grounds maintenance in Chelmsford.
Sue Ireland said: “I very much welcome the opportunity to join
the City of London. I am looking forward to continuing the
excellent work of managing and protecting these important open
spaces for the benefit and enjoyment of Londoners”.
Ends
Notes to editors
The City of London provides local government services for the
Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business
centre through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also
extend far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the
Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,700
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port
Health Authority.
Press enquires to Michelle Logie at the City of London:
0207 332 3450
michelle.logie@cityoflondon.gov.uk