An experienced executive with 20-year track record is the new corporate director of city development at Liverpool City Council and will take charge of an £86m budget. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool City Council has appointed Nuala Gallagher as its new corporate director of city development.
Nuala, current director of planning, environment and placemaking at Limerick City and County Council, will take up the reins from interim director Mark Bourgeois at the end of March.
She will focus on driving Liverpool’s economic growth and delivering sustainable development across the city centre and communities. She will lead a team of 300 staff and a department with a budget of £86m.
Major schemes that will come under her purview include Anfield Square, Kings Dock, Paddington Village, Festival Gardens and the Littlewoods site.
She will also be responsible for overseeing planning, property and asset management, an investment strategy, as well as skills, adult learning and environmental and sustainability policies.
“This job is a huge opportunity to help shape the future of a city which has an incredible amount of untapped potential,” said Nuala.
“I am very much looking forward to working with the talented team who are working hard to deliver long-term improvements for the city’s residents.
“My focus will be on ensuring Liverpool is a strong investable proposition, and driving forward its development in a way that is sustainable and benefits all our communities.
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Her previous roles include head of regeneration for the London Borough of Newham, director for economy of place at Bristol City Council and director of city centre development at Belfast City Council.
She has also spent time working in New York, leading on sustainable urban development and teaching at Columbia University. Nuala is a registered architect and a graduate of Columbia University with a Masters in Urban Design.
Theresa Grant, interim chief executive of Liverpool City Council, added: “Nuala is a highly talented and inspiring leader, and will be a brilliant addition to the council’s senior management team at this critical juncture in our improvement journey.
This appointment is part of a reorganisation of the council’s senior team, with the authority also in the midst of recruiting a new chief executive.