30 Y E A R B O O K 2 0 1 2 NATHAN BLANCHARD IHBC As colleagues on IHBC’s Council come from di$erent walks of life, you meet new people, learn new skills and have an opportunity to apply existing skills in a di$erent context. architects, engineers, surveyors, town planners and urban designers represented. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and IBWF ZFBST PG FYQFSJFODF JO UIF public, private and third sectors. I think the key skills that I have been able to hone in this environment are listening, seeing other people’s viewpoints, establishing shared ground and negotiating solutions. ACHIEVEMENTS The IHBC still punches above its weight and in Wales I’ve been particularly pleased to see how our JOnVFODF XJUI UIF 8FMTI (PWFSONFOU has grown, a fact demonstrated by the appointment of an IHBC representative to the Minister’s )JTUPSJD &OWJSPONFOU (SPVQ On a more personal note, I was particularly pleased to have nominated the Wales branch to host UIF *)#$ öôõõ -MBOEVEOP "OOVBM School. Working with a core team of branch members we delivered an enjoyable and relevant event to colleagues from across the UK, as the delegates’ feedback showed. VOLUNTEERING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT As colleagues on IHBC Council come from di"erent walks of life, you meet new people, learn new skills and have an opportunity to BQQMZ FYJTUJOH TLJMMT JO B EJďFSFOU DPOUFYU 0GUFO ZPV BSF EJTDVTTJOH key issues with the brightest minds and helping to formulate the IHBC’s response to the latest government pronouncement. It’s the positive aspect of being involved in the heat of the situation that often enthuses. Being a branch representative on Council not only assists with skills BOE FYQFSJFODF EFWFMPQNFOU CVU also helps to build your CV. The work is varied and challenging and includes setting goals, monitoring progress, understanding the legal basis for the organisation, being able to review company accounts and the financial workings of the organisation, BMJHOJOH EFDJTJPO NBLJOH XJUI *)#$ objectives, working strategically and dealing with new challenges. CHALLENGES It is important to be aware of the time commitment and be realistic about what you can o"er before getting involved. Increasingly, work is imposing on our free time, leaving less time to commit to other activities. With diminishing resources and fewer colleagues there is even greater pressure to concentrate on paid duties rather than voluntary work. This may be where the government’s aspirations for the ‘Big Society’ and ‘Localism’ are flawed. As people work harder to maintain their livelihoods they may need stronger incentives to take on voluntary work. On balance, however, I would wholeheartedly recommend getting involved with the running of the IHBC, whether at national or branch level. It is hugely rewarding. Nathan Blanchard has been the branch SFQSFTFOUBUJWF GPS 8BMFT PO UIF *)#$ T Council since 2004. He is a Civic Trust Award architectural assessor and is also the director of Heritage Initiatives, a town planning and historic environment consultancy based near Conwy. Previous work as as the borough conservation officer in Oswestry led to his involvement with the local community at the nearby Whittington Castle and he was subsequently a director and trustee of the Whittington Castle Preservation Trust for five years. The Whittington Castle project was EFMJWFSFE UISPVHI DPNNVOJUZ MFE BDUJWJTN enthusiasm and dedication. It was grant assisted by the Heritage Lottery Fund and others, and led to a major historic building at risk being transformed into a visitor hub. The trust believes that the castle is the only one in the UK to be owned and run by the local community. CURRENT ROLE I’ve been branch representative for Wales for almost eight years, replacing our current IHBC president Trefor Thorpe in 2004. The branch rep is a company director and charity trustee of the IHBC and provides the principal interface between the branch and its membership and $PVODJM UIF QSJNBSZ EFDJTJPO making body of the institute. I also assist with many branch activities, including organising branch day conferences, drafting the branch business plan for approval at the "(. BOE SFTQPOEJOH UP DPOTVMUBUJPOT which have an impact on Wales. SKILLS Before joining IHBC Council in 2004 I held a series of local authority positions in North Wales and the West Midlands relating to development control and grant initiatives. This gave me a strong grounding in FODPVSBHJOH EFDJTJPO NBLJOH CBTFE on evidence, financial control, the promotion of high standards and an ability to work with other professionals to achieve common objectives. The broad church that is our membership is replicated on IHBC Council, with archaeologists, Nathan Blanchard (nearest the camera) and the organising committee of the IHBC 2011 Llandudno Annual School
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