Julie Tanner
OPUN Chief Executive
julie@opun.org.uk
Julie is a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) with a background in place making policy and regeneration. Julie joined East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in 2001 where she promoted place making, the quality agenda and led on waterways, transport interchange, green infrastructure and public realm capital investment programmes. Julie has also recently been on secondment to Harborough District Council to support the Local Development Framework process. Using her background in change management Julie is passionate about the next era for OPUN in its programmes in the arts, design support and learning. Julie aims to lead OPUN through partnership engagement and to deliver excellence and support to the built environment community.
Dharmista Patel
OPUN Design Support Services
dharmista@opun.org.uk
Dharmista is a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) with extensive experience of working in a number of disciplines including conservation, transport, development management, regeneration, urban design and more recently has specialised in the promotion and recognition of design quality at both a local and regional level. Dharmista is responsible for managing the OPUN Design Support Services and is actively involved in providing design and engagement interventions across a range of projects including the management of the OPUN Design Review Panel. Dharmista is also a qualified Building for Life Assessor and is keen to work across the region in promoting the creation of safe, accessible and attractive places.
Angus Walker
OPUN Funding Advice
angus@opun.org.uk
Angus is OPUN’s financial consultant and Company Secretary. He is qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse Cooper. For 12 years Angus was the Chief Executive Officer of an housing association that addressed needs through empowering communities and its service users. Thereafter, he established a consultancy business that focused on regeneration initiatives, particularly through the creation of practical multi-agency partnerships. Angus specialises in feasibility studies, business plans and organisational development, enabling a strong creative approach. For eight years he was the Charity Lottery’s Financial Advisor where he undertook risk assessments of all its large applications, including capital developments, relating the investment sought to proposed outcomes. Angus has a detailed knowledge of many sectors, including housing; training; education; youth work; health; criminal justice; the arts; community development; both throughout the UK and internationally. He has been a senior non-executive board member of regional, national and international public and charitable bodies right throughout his working life.
Kevin Edwards
OPUN Corporate Affairs
kev@opun.org.uk
Kevin is a former Chief Executive, experienced in developing strategies and plans in economic development and regeneration, helping organisations review their processes and systems, reducing operating costs and increasing business effectiveness. Kevin works closely with OPUN’s Board in the development of the company’s Business Plan and related strategies using his past experiences in business and delivering consultancy. Kevin supports partnership and communications at Opun, assisting with applications for funding with experience of working within European and British funding streams. Opun is interested in the learning and case study material to be gained from its activities and Kevin supports research and evaluation in these areas.
Sally Bassett
OPUN Arts Development
sally@opun.org.uk
Sally has over 20 years experience in business development and project management. She has worked in education, business, regeneration/economic development and the arts. During her time in the private sector she partnered business with the educators to promote creativity in the curriculum working with galleries and museums nationally. Joining East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in 2004 Sally developed and managed projects from capital regeneration to innovation and economic growth, and lead skills partnerships and strategy development. She was seconded to Arts Council England working to bring a range of partners together with local authorities to support the regions new arts venues and to support the sustainability of the arts sector across the East Midlands. Sally is also a Trustee of The Creativity Centre Educational Trust which works to widen access to creative education. Currently working with OPUN on business and partnership development Sally is looking forward to delivering innovative and creative new programmes.
Garry Hall
OPUN Training
garry@opun.org.uk
Garry has a range of experiences in his background making him suited to professional and community training. As an Urban Designer and Planner, Garry has experience in both the Private and Public sectors, working on a range of projects from health care premises through to major housing developments and exhibition centres. He also has experience in project delivery, working as a valuer and land buyer for Registered Social Landlord clients across the South East, and as a consultant, helped to develop cross-subsidy finance models for the delivery of affordable housing. Garry’s particular interests are the economics of delivery and in mechanisms that fix quality early in the design process, and he is an accredited BfL assessor.
