Former Baxi chief receives CBE

Former Baxi Group chief executive Bryan Gray received a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list for his services to regeneration through his work with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Other industry figures awarded honours: Knighthood - Peter Dixon lately Chairman of the Housing Corporation For services to the Housing Sector CBE Alistair Buchanan, chief executive of Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) For public service Richard McCarthy, director general of Housing and Planning, Department for Communities and Local Government OBE Edward King,  Lately Principal Technical Policy Adviser, Sustainable Buildings Division, Department for Communities and Local Government For public and voluntary service Val Lowman, Head of Community Development and Sustainability, Bovis Lend For services to the Construction Industry and to Skills Training. Paul Morrell for services to Architecture and to the Built Environment Geoff Snow for services to the Construction Industry and to Apprenticeships in Wales MBE Peter Hindle, chief executive at Saint Gobain Distribution UK For services to the Building Industry and to Charity Terence Lazenby, chairman at the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board For services to Skills and Training Malachy McKernan, Deputy Principal, Energy Division, Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland Executive For public and voluntary service

Other leading industry figures receiving honours included Ted King who received an OBE for his work at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Mr Gray has been chairman of the NWDA since 2002 and has played a key role in major initiatives including the development of MediaCityUK at Salford Quays in Manchester, leading the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan, the establishment of the University of Cumbria and helping to deliver Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture programme.

Mr Gray was previously chief executive and deputy chairman of European heating giant Baxi Group and was chairman of Baxi Technologies. 

He was also vice president of the Micropower Council which promotes new energy technologies.

Mr Gray said: “To be awarded a CBE is a great honour and one which I am delighted to receive.

“As well as being an honour for me, I see this as recognition of the work the Agency has instigated, led or developed to ensure the ongoing economic regeneration of the region.

“I am very proud today and even prouder to continue to be part of the ongoing transformation of England’s Northwest.”

Other roles Mr Gray currently holds include the position of Pro Chancellor of the University of Lancaster. He also leads for the Regional Development Agencies on skills and education and is a member of the National Learning & Skills Council.

He is chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, a Trustee of National Museums Liverpool and a member of Liverpool Cathedral Council.

He is also Non-executive Chairman of Westmorland Limited, a member of the Lake District National Park Authority, Chairman of Urban Splash Hotel Company and a Non-executive Director of United Utilities Water Company. He is also Chair of Carlisle Renaissance.

Other interests include being Chair of the Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust and Chair of the newly formed Churches Trust for Cumbria.

He was Chairman of Preston North End Football Club until October 2001 and was founder chairman of the National Football Museum.

He was awarded an MBE for services to regeneration in Preston in 2001, and an honorary fellowship of the University of Central Lancashire in 2004.  He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire and was High Sheriff of Lancashire in 2003/04

In 2006 he was awarded HRH The Prince of Wales’ Ambassador Award for the North West.

Sustainability champion also honoured: Gideon Amos, chief executive of leading planning and housing charity the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), was awarded an OBE for services to sustainable development. Mr Amos, who is also a member of the 2016 Taskforce reviewing zero carbon homes targets, said: “I am absolutely delighted - it is a real accolade for the work the TCPA generally has been able to deliver and the changes it has helped to bring about on regional development, affordable housing and climate change.” Gideon has played a leading role at the TCPA in promoting a greater interaction between policy makers, industry and the wider community through a strategic and integrated approach to planning based on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and community cohesion. Recent highlights include “A Programme for Sustainable Communities” which Gideon co-authored and the report “Connecting England – A Framework for Regional Development” which he edited. Gideon is a member of the Planning Advisory Group at the Department for Communities and Local Government and a member of the Government’s 2016 Taskforce to achieve zero carbon homes.