Ecology Building Society appoints two non-executive directors to its board

Engineer Merry Mashford and climate change actuary Louise Pryor bring ‘a diverse range of expertise, experience and views’

Ethical finance mutual Ecology Building Society has appointed two new non-executive directors to join its board and help guide its growth.

It says Kerry Mashford and Louise Pryor bring a wide range of skills and expertise, which will add significant value to the strategy, governance and ongoing development of the society.

A mechanical engineer by background, Ms Mashford has a long-standing passion for harnessing the systemic change required for Ecology to help deliver environmentally sound and energy efficient buildings.  A fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Engineering and Technology, she was previously chief executive of the National Energy Foundation, working across manufacturing, innovation, construction, sustainability and building performance. She received an OBE in 2017 and is a private sector board member and energy champion for the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership.

Ms Pryor is a climate change actuary and risk specialist with 30 years of experience in actuarial consulting, software development and academia, having worked with a variety of clients in the public and private sectors. She has worked on emerging risks, risks to cities, and how insurers can support resilience to climate risks and recently has been focusing on climate-related financial disclosures. Louise is incoming president-elect of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, a fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, and chair of the London Climate Change Partnership.

Ecology offers a range of simple, transparent, ethical savings accounts that fund mortgages for properties and projects supporting individuals and communities to adopt green building practices, retrofitting the UK’s housing stock and to live or work in a way that promotes a sustainable economy. 

The new directors were elected to the board at the society’s AGM at the end of April.

Ecology chair Steve Round said: “Our environmental lending supports both the transition to a zero-carbon economy and the creation of new jobs in the green recovery which will be critical as we adapt to the impacts of Covid-19.  

“We are delighted to welcome two such talented people who bring a diverse range of expertise, experience and views to the board. I firmly believe that the Board has the strength and depth to uphold Ecology’s ethics and ecological mission while successfully maintaining a thriving and sustainable society for the benefit of members.”