Geraldine in OBE honour
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Incommunities’ Group Chief Executive, Geraldine Howley, had a special appointment at Buckingham Palace yesterday. She was there to receive her OBE from the Duke of Cambridge in recognition of her services to housing, young people and the local community.
Geraldine leads one of the largest social housing providers in the region with over 22,600 homes in Bradford District and West and South Yorkshire. She started as a temporary housing receptionist with Bradford Council over 35 years ago before progressing to become the authority’s Director of Housing. Over the last 15 years Geraldine has led Incommunities, overseeing a £400 million modernisation programme to local homes and transforming neighbourhoods. In 2015 Geraldine served as President of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) having previously been elected as the body’s Vice President. At the end of 2016 Geraldine was made a Doctor of the University of Bradford for her outstanding contribution to housing across the district. She also co-founded GEM, a professional development programme which goes from strength to strength nurturing talented graduates to become leaders of the future. Through various networks she is passionate about championing opportunities for women and other under-represented groups. After receiving her OBE, Geraldine said: “I am so thrilled and honoured to collect this award. "As someone who has been brought up in Bradford and built a career here, to receive this honour is a deeply humbling one and it was lovely to share the occasion with my family. "I am a strong believer in team work and see this as a tribute to the many brilliant and dedicated people who I have worked with over the years and who share my passion to make a difference to people’s lives." |
