Think tank CLES appoints two new board members

The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) has appointed two new board members, including the former leader of Greenwich Council.

Denise Hyland (pictured) and Niall Bolger have joined CLES’s board of trustees.

Cllr Hyland has provided political leadership on the economy of the Royal Borough of Greenwich since 2007, when she was appointed as cabinet member for economy and skills.

She was leader of the council between May 2014 and May 2018, and has since returned as cabinet member for economy, skills and apprenticeships.

During her time in Greenwich, Cllr Hyland has developed a wealth of experience from a local authority which has faced great levels of change, change which is increasingly being experienced by other towns and cities outside London.

Niall Bolger has recently been appointed as the chief executive of London Borough of Hounslow and is due to commence this appointment in December 2018.

He has been involved in economic development, regeneration and environmental development throughout his career.

He is the current chair of the South London Partnership’s chief executive’s board, leading their sub-regional work on good growth, public service reform and infrastructure improvement and influencing regional and national government policy in these areas.

‘CLES is delighted that Denise and Niall are joining the board,’ said chair of trustees, Gill Steward.

‘They have extensive experience and skills in economic development and both have a strong commitment and passion for the work of CLES.

‘This is an important time for CLES –  our work on Local Wealth Building and new Municipalism is gaining influence across the UK and internationally, and the number of organisations developing different economic development models grounded in our research and supported by CLES grows day by day. Denise and Niall will play an important role in supporting the next step of the CLES journey.’

In June, CLES chief executive Neil McInroy joined the steering group of the People’s Powerhouse movement.

Mr McInroy has collaborated with a broad range of local, regional and national governments and agencies across UK and in Europe, Asia, US and Australasia.

For more information about CLES, visit: www.cles.org.uk.