The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has appointed an Arup director and former Grenfell Tower resident as chair of its residents’ panel.
Gill Kernick will head the body, which was formed under the Building Safety Act to ensure that the voices and experiences of residents inform BSR’s work to support the building safety regime.
Kernick is director of strategy and culture realisation at Arup and lived in Grenfell Tower between 2011 and 2014. She is also the author of the book Catastrophe and Systemic Change: Learning from the Grenfell Tower Fire and Other Disasters.
BSR acting chief executive Charlie Pugsley said: “Residents are central to the building safety regime, and their experiences are essential to helping us build a regulatory system that is effective, proportionate and concentrates on the people it exists to protect.”
Gill Kernick said: “Residents bring a unique understanding of building safety through their everyday lived experience. By bringing this knowledge and insight together with technical expertise, we can help create safer homes.”
The BSR is also looking to appoint a new chair to replace Andy Roe, a former firefighter. An advert was released earlier this month for candidates, who have until 15 September to apply for the three-year role.
In an introduction, housing secretary Angela Rayner said the chair would “help shape the future of building safety, strengthen public confidence, and ensure the regulator remains focused on its core mission of protecting residents and raising standards across the built environment”.
