Leeds housing boss has been appointed to serve on government inquiry panel into the Grenfell Tower fire

The chief executive of Leeds-based housing association has been appointed to serve as a member of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel.
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Ali Akbor has led Unity since January 1999 and was awarded the OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to the community in Leeds.

Under his leadership, Unity Enterprise was established in 2000 to promote local entrepreneurial activity. Unity Employment Services followed in 2011 to enable Unity tenants and their surrounding communities to better access employment and training.

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In addition to his responsibilities as Chief Executive of Unity Homes and Enterprise, Mr Akbor served as secretary/treasurer of BMENational, the collective of more than 60 BME-led housing associations in England.

Ali Akbor, OBE and chief executive of Unity and Equity housing.Ali Akbor, OBE and chief executive of Unity and Equity housing.
Ali Akbor, OBE and chief executive of Unity and Equity housing.
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The Prime Minister announced that there would be a public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower which had started on June 14, 2017 and claimed the lives of 72 people. The inquiry would look at the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower, a 24 storey tower block in north Kensington, London.

Yesterday it was announced that Mr Akbor will join the panel from the beginning of next month.

On the appointment, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The appointment of Ali Akbor is an important step forward in Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. He will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, as well as a crucial understanding of the issues at the heart of Phase 2 and an unwavering commitment to improving people’s lives."

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Mr Akbor said: “I have been privileged to work with Unity colleagues and partners for more than two decades to deliver high quality affordable homes and other essential services to those in greatest need.

“We have radically improved the quality of life for thousands of people. This is a source of great pride to me and I know that this wonderful work will go on. The future of the association and its customers will be in excellent hands.”

He started his career straight from school as a Youth Opportunities Programme trainee at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council near Manchester.

Initially it was for a six-month placement on a scheme run by the Manpower Services Commission, but he quickly made an impact and began training to be an accountant.

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After qualifying as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Ali held a range of finance and accountancy roles over a 14-year period at Tameside before moving to Salford City Council where he became Head of Finance in the Community and Social Services Directorate.

This is where his interest in housing grew and he was invited to join the board of a local housing association. He then helped set up a new housing association in Oldham which later merged with a number of other associations to become Aksa Homes.

Unity Chair Shruti Bhargava added: “We are sorry to be losing Ali but proud that he has been chosen to join the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel. He is a person of the highest levels of integrity, decency and authenticity.

“He is regarded as a role model for staff at all levels of Unity and across the diverse communities we serve. We are thankful for everything Ali has done to help so many people and wish him well for the future.”

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Thank you

Laura Collins