Senior figures from industry and local government to join WRAP Board
The chief executive of a leading waste management company and a senior local government councillor specialising in environmental issues are to join the Board of resource efficiency experts WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), it was announced today.
WRAP’s chairman Peter Stone said David Palmer-Jones, Chief Executive of SITA UK and Councillor Clare Whelan who serves on the Local Government Association’s Environment Board, would bring invaluable experience and insight at a critical period in WRAP’s development.
They will replace long-standing WRAP Board members Mike Averill and Councillor Kay Twitchen, both of whom came onto the Board in WRAP’s first year (2000) and have now decided to step down.
David Palmer-Jones became Chief Executive of SITA UK last year. He has wide experience within the waste and resource management sector both in the UK and abroad. His previous roles include Chief Executive of SITA in Scandinavia.
Clare Whelan has been a councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth since 1990, is a member of the LGA’s Environment Board, and has served as a Board Member on the Western Riverside Waste Authority.
Welcoming their appointments, Peter Stone said:
“David is an incisive strategic thinker and leader with vast international experience in the waste and resource management sector, while Clare has deep first hand understanding of the environmental and resource efficiency issues facing local government. These are both key areas of WRAP’s work, and they bring an exciting combination of invaluable skills, deep insight and a real passion for WRAP’s agenda.”
Peter Stone paid tribute to the contribution made by retiring Board members Mike Averill and Kay Twitchen, who between them have given 17 years service.
“WRAP owes a great debt of gratitude to Kay and Mike. They have helped shape WRAP’s development through their wisdom and passion. This has helped continually develop WRAP’s understanding and influence over the years, and they leave with our thanks and very best wishes. “
David Palmer-Jones, CEO of SITA UK said:, "I am delighted to be joining the board of WRAP at this most challenging time for the industry. The thought of working together with its impressive team to utilise my resource management experience as well as best practice disciplines gained from my time in Scandinavia really excites me."
Clare Whelan said: “WRAP has a vital role in helping local authorities, and the wider community, reduce waste, recycle more and use resources well. I am delighted to have been asked to join the Board.”
They will formally join the WRAP Board at its meeting on 24 June which will be Mike Averill and Kay Twitchen’s final Board meeting.
Editor's notes
1 WRAP helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.
2 Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
3 Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP’s work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
4 More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk
5 David Palmer-Jones was Chief Executive Officer of SITA Scandinavia from 2003 to 2006 before taking up the position of Operations Director for the Industrial and Commercial Division. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of SITA UK in September 2008. Since joining SITA UK, David has transformed the way the company manages waste for its 30,000 plus business customers. SITA UK's service is now recycling-led, with the emphasis on helping customers to reduce costs and their carbon footprint by recycling as much as possible.
6 Clare Whelan has worked extensively in Westminster for individual Members of Parliament and as the Director of political pressure groups. She has a long track record of working on environmental issues as a Member of the LGA Environment Board and chairing Lambeth’s Climate Change Commission. Other previous roles include cabinet member for Environment at Lambeth, serving on the Western Riverside Waste Authority, and a contributor to David Cameron’s Quality of Life group which advised on environmental policy.