GPA appoints Ritchie for second term as chair
The Government Property Agency has extended Pat Ritchie’s tenure as chair for a second term.
The appointment means that Ritchie will stay in her role for a further three years, until 2027.
The GPA said Ritchie will continue to work closely with the wider board and executive team to create a “better-connected, better-quality and greener” government property estate.
The Government Property Agency has extended Pat Ritchie’s tenure as chair for a second term.
The appointment means that Ritchie will stay in her role for a further three years, until 2027.
The GPA said Ritchie will continue to work closely with the wider board and executive team to create a “better-connected, better-quality and greener” government property estate.
The news comes after the agency appointed Mark Bourgeois as interim chief executive in November. It is undertaking the recruitment process for a permanent chief this year.
Ritchie was previously chief executive of Newcastle City Council for more than eight years, where she oversaw multi-million pound regeneration projects. She was also chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) and former deputy chief executive of the One North East Regional Development Agency.
The GPA is leading one of the most ambitious workplace transformation programmes in the UK, which include relocating up to 22,000 civil service roles out of London.
The body manages some 10.8m sq ft of the government’s property portfolio, providing strategic planning and workplace services to departments including design, property technology and workplace experience.
It is also bringing forward the Government Hubs Programme, which seeks to create modern, shared workspaces where civil service teams can collaborate and work productively. This includes the new Darlington Economic Campus, which will be home to nine government departments such as HM Treasury, and is set to be completed in 2026.
Ritchie said: “The GPA has already made great strides in creating a more modern, joined-up and efficient estate and I look forward to building on this success in my second term as chair.
“I’m incredibly passionate about the work we do and my focus will continue to be on making sure we deliver a great experience for our clients and looking at how our activity can deliver wider benefits across the UK.
“By creating fantastic places that bring government teams closer to the communities they serve, we’re enabling our civil service to make the best possible impact it can while opening up opportunities for more people to enjoy rewarding public sector careers.”
Image © Government Property Agency
