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BME London Landlords appoints new chair
The chief executive of Ekaya Housing Association has been appointed as the new chair of BME London Landlords.
Ben Laryea will take over the role from Gina Amoh, chief executive of Inquilab, who is stepping down following the completion of her three-year term.
BME London Landlords is a group of 14 BAME-led landlords based in the capital; members include Spitalfields Housing Association, Imani Housing Co-op and Bangla Housing Association.
Mr Laryea said one of his main priorities in his new role will be “working with sector partners to provide practical housing solutions to address the issues that have been brought into focus by the Black Lives Matter cause and the disproportional impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities”.
The group recently conducted a roundtable meeting with Tom Copley, London deputy mayor for housing, to explore how they can contribute to the Greater London Authority’s COVID-19 economic and social recovery plans.
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Further roundtable meetings with London MPs and the Number 10 policy advisor for the equalities minister are also being planned.
In her role as chair, Ms Amoh drove the development of the Leadership 25 initiative, a nine-month training programme for senior leaders in the housing sector from BME backgrounds.
Mr Laryea added: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be taking over this role from Gina and am grateful for the opportunity to build on the great job she has done as chair over the past three years leading BME London Landlords and Leadership 2025.
“As an alumnus who has benefited immensely from Leadership 2025, I am very mindful and thankful for BME London Landlords setting up this programme and will work with my colleagues to continue to ensure the sector improves its performance in addressing the lack of diversity at senior executive and board level...
“Social housing has a responsibility to empower tenants, and wherever possible we must give voice to the voiceless. The [National Housing Federation’s] updated code of governance has created the opportunity for the sector to raise its ambition and lead on equality, diversity and inclusion.
“The voice of BAME communities has been marginalised for too long, this is unacceptable. BME London Landlords are committed to using our learning as a collaboration to enable the dynamism that is in the social housing sector to show leadership to right this wrong. We look forward to the challenge.”
