Plunkett Foundation appoints Margaret Clark OBE as new Chair

Plunkett Foundation welcomed Margaret Clark OBE as the its new Chair.  A keen supporter of community-owned enterprises, including co-operatives, Margaret Clark brings extensive knowledge and experience to the Foundation.

She is former Director and Deputy Chief Executive of the Commission for Rural Communities and Countryside Agency and former Rural Adviser to Business in the Community, with particular responsibility for HRH The Prince of Wales’ Affordable Rural Housing Initiative, having been involved in three pilot projects in North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Cornwall. Ms Clark is also current Chair of Hastoe Housing Association, the leading specialist provider of rural affordable housing in England.

Peter Couchman, CEO of Plunkett Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Margaret has accepted this important role. She has an excellent track record of championing the needs of rural communities in the UK and around the World, as well as a real commitment to the co-operative solutions that the Plunkett Foundation stands for.”

Ms Clark, who succeeds Peter Cleasby, Chair of the Foundation between 2010 and 2013, joined Plunkett’s Board in February 2013.

Referring to her new role as Chair of Plunkett Foundation, she said: “I am honoured and delighted to become the chair of such an important organisation. The Plunkett Foundation plays a critical role in helping rural communities to take action on those things that are important to them.

“Community-owned enterprises are providing essential services in rural areas across the UK, and in these challenging times, we need to do all we can to provide them with much-needed support.”

She has been UK’s representative and Chair on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s working party on territorial development policy in rural areas. Ms Clark is also a past member of the Carnegie UK Trust Rural Committee (2005-2010), the BBC Rural Affairs Advisory Committee (2007-2011) the Independent Policy Commission on Primary School Organisation in Shropshire and the Housing Corporation's Rural Housing Advisory Group.

Margaret Clark lives in Dorset and was Chair of the Somerset, Devon and Dorset Community Land Trust Project (2009-2012). She is a Trustee of the Arkleton Trust, a Member of the Campaign to Protect Rural England Policy Committee and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She was awarded the OBE in 1999 for services to rural development.