Sir William Utting is new JRF Chair

Sir William, whose career as a social worker included senior posts in the probation service and local government as well as the civil service, has been a trustee of the Foundation since 1991. His other voluntary activities include being President of the Mental Health Foundation and Chair of the Council of Goldsmiths College in London.

Between 1994 and 2001 he served on the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan / Neill Committee) and in 1997 he published People Like Us, a government-commissioned review of safeguards for children living away from home. (A report examining subsequent progress was published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in November 2004.)

Sir William is succeeded as Deputy Chair of the JRF board by Debby Ounsted, a freelance management consultant and writer and former Chief Executive of the Octavia Hill Housing Trust and the Habinteg Housing Association. She is a former chair of KIDS, a charity that supports children with disabilities and their families.

Kenneth Dixon’s retirement from the board comes after eight years as a trustee, including more than three years as chair. His association with the Rowntree name began in 1956, when he joined the confectionery company co-founded by Joseph Rowntree and rose to become Group Chairman from 1981 to 1989. He is also a former Chair of the Council of the University of York (from 1990 to 2001).

Lord Richard Best, Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Ken Dixon’s contribution to the Foundation’s work and development has been tremendous. His wise leadership has enabled JRF to maintain its position as a major funder of social research and a progressive influence over public policy at a time when the financial climate has been far from easy for endowed charities.

“Memorably, he has also presided over our centenary celebrations for New Earswick, Joseph Rowntree’s model village on the outskirts of York, and for the Foundation itself, culminating in a highly successful two-day conference last month at the University of York. We shall miss him very much.”

He added, “We are fortunate that such depth of experience and distinction exists among our trustees that we are able to welcome Sir William Utting as our new Chair. With Bill at the helm, the JRF looks forward to making an exciting and challenging start to its second century.”

The Foundation has also announced the appointment of Andrew Barnett as its new Director of Policy Development and Communications. Andrew, who starts work at the end of January, joins JRF from the UK Sports Council where he has been Director of Communications since 2001. He was previously Head of Public Affairs at the National Consumer Council.

For further information, contact:

David Utting, Associate Director (Public Affairs)
020-7278 9665
david.utting@jrf.org.uk