Earlier this year we began the search for our new Board Chair, and we are very happy to announce that we have successfully appointed Navdeep Deol to head up the board of the National Park City Foundation and London National Park City.
Navdeep has been a long-term friend to the National Park City movement, and was at the launch of London National Park City back in 2019.
He’s been active with local community groups in Hounslow and West London for over four years, initially through litter picking but now supporting street and tree champions to improve and care for the green environment around them and in a local community garden.
Through his volunteering he has actively encouraged collaboration across the city and contributed to local policies on important issues such as protecting biodiversity, water and waste management, enhancing the urban landscape and linking people to nature.
Emily Brennan, interim National Park City Foundation Chair says;
“I am absolutely delighted to announce that we have appointed Navdeep Deol as our new Chair. Navdeep has been a passionate supporter of the National Park City movement for many years and is a founding member of Heston Action Group, a dynamic and diverse community environmental group in west London.
I’m really looking forward to the next stage of the National Park City Movement under Navdeep’s leadership, and I would like to give him a warm welcome on behalf of our staff, volunteers and partners.”
Navdeep has always lived in London and is incredibly proud of the city, its diversity and landscape. It’s a place with so much to discover and he is keen to encourage and support the enjoyment of the many green and blue spaces and ‘corridors’ that allow us to explore the full potential of the city and its communities. On a wider scale he is determined to see the movement grow across the world, and for the Foundation to support other cities that are also seeking ‘National Park City’ status.
Navdeep brings a wide range of valuable knowledge and experience to the role of Chair, alongside his passion for greening cities and for encouraging people to engage with, and benefit from, nature. In his day job he works as a lawyer.
This appointment brings to a close a 3-month search after former Chair, Paul de Zylva of Friends of the Earth stepped down in July of this year. Paul was one of the founding Trustees of the National Park City Foundation and led the board for over 7 years – he remains involved as an advisor and supporter to the board.