Release date: 13 February 2012
The Design Council announces the appointment of Tony Burton as its new Director of Policy and Communications to lead the organisation’s work as a centre of insight and advice to industry, education, communities and government on the role of design.
Tony joins the Design Council from his role as founder and Director of Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement which was established in April 2010. In this role he not only set up Civic Voice, but drove forward its highly successful strategy to become an influential national voice supported by 290 civic societies with over 75,000 members.
Tony has over 20 years’ experience working with both government and communities in policy development. His previous high profile roles have included heading up Strategy and External Affairs for the National Trust, and Deputy Director of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council said: “We’re delighted that Tony Burton is joining us. His experience in community engagement and in building and representing memberships will play a vital role in our commitment to putting good design at the heart of delivering new national policies in areas such as social transformation, economic growth and the built environment.”
Tony has provided advice to ministers on a variety of issues including the built environment, in his roles as Chair of Wildlife and Countryside Link and founder trustee of The Heritage Alliance, and through his membership of a variety of boards including Richard Rogers’ Urban Task Force.
Commenting on his appointment, Tony Burton said: “There could be no better time to join the Design Council as it enters a new era as an independent champion of the power of design to transform people’s lives. Policy makers, politicians, businesses and communities are really starting to appreciate design’s role in driving innovation, improving public services and transforming the quality of the buildings, streets and open spaces in which we all live.”
Ends
For further information, biography and images please contact:
Nigel Campbell, Design Council Head of Communications on 0207 420 5282 / nigel.campbell@designcouncil.org.uk
Editor’s Notes
TONY BURTON BA MPhil HonFRIBA
Career Summary
2010-2012 CIVIC VOICE
Director
2009-2010 CIVIC SOCIETY INITIATIVE
Director
2001-2009 NATIONAL TRUST
Director of Strategy and External Affairs
1988-2001 COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND [now CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND]
Deputy Director
1987-1988 SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL
Planning Officer
Ministerial and other appointments include:
- Member DCLG Voluntary and Community Sector Partnership Board: 2011 to present
- Member Defra Civil Society Advisory Board: 2011 to present
- Member DCLG Planning Sounding Board: 2010 to present
- Member DCLG Neighbourhood Planning Sounding Board: 2010 to present
- Member English Heritage National Heritage Protection Plan Advisory Board: 2011 to present
- Chair Wildlife & Countryside Link: 2000-2003 - UK’s leading liaison body for wildlife and countryside ngos, bringing c40 organisations (with over 6 million supporters) together
- Founder Trustee and Board member of The Heritage Alliance: 2002-2006 - UK's leading liaison body for voluntary sector groups concerned with the historic environment and cultural heritage, bringing c90 organisations together
- Member Lord Rogers Urban Task Force: 1998-2000, 2005
- Member DCMS Tourism Reform Implementation Group: 2004-2006
- Chair of English Heritage Working Group on sustainability and Member of Power of Place Executive Group: 2000
- Member Housing Corporation Rural Advisory Group: 1999-2001
The Design Council
The Design Council re-launched in April 2011 as a Royal Charter charity with a mission to bring the transformative power of design to change things that matter. It is setting a new agenda integrating all elements of design to address tomorrow’s challenges and improve everyday life. As a ‘think-do’ organisation it is achieving this through practical demonstration, evidence-based policy making and by delivering impartial advice to communities, businesses, and government. The Design Council is playing a major role in helping government put design at the heart of economic growth, improving public services, business innovation and shaping the built environment. The Strategy Unit being led by Tony Burton is at the heart of the organisation, working directly with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Trustees and in collaboration with all parts of the organisation and its networks.
The Design Council is a world-class centre of design excellence. The organisation came together with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment following the Government review of public bodies in 2011, when it re-shaped itself as an enterprising charity, and was appointed as advisor to Government on design.