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Ian Shapiro is expected to start work as chief executive of the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in September 2025, succeeding Gillian Charlesworth who is retiring after six years in the post.

Shapiro joins BRE after seven years as chief executive of Reall, a non-profit organisation that invests in and develops sustainable, affordable housing solutions in urban Africa and Asia.

He is on the advisory committee for the United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Director for UN Habitat, and is a non-executive director at WHG housing association in the Midlands.

Earlier in his career he spent  16 years in the Foreign Office and two-and-a-half years with Crown Agents.

Phil Wilbraham, non-executive director of BRE Group and chair of BRE Trust, said: “Following a competitive recruitment process I am looking forward to working with Ian Shapiro as he takes on the leadership of BRE later this year.

“Meanwhile, I would like to extend my thanks and best wishes to Gillian Charlesworth who has brought calm and considered leadership to BRE over the last six years. She leaves the organisation in a strong position so that it can have an even bigger impact developing science-led solutions to the built environment challenges of safety, security and sustainability.”

Ian Shapiro said: “I’m hugely honoured to have been invited to take on this role and want to thank Gillian Charlesworth for her vision and leadership. Thanks to her, I will be joining an organisation that is already making a meaningful impact on the built environment.

“Our focus must now be on transforming the built environment to create safe, sustainable and inspiring spaces for people today and for generations to come – all while targeting net zero carbon. BRE has a vital role to play in this transformation and I’m excited to learn from the science, the solutions and the talented teams driving this mission forward when I begin later this year.”

Gillian Charlesworth said: “I’ve been proud to lead BRE over the last six years and would like to thank the brilliant team at BRE for their continued dedication to collaborating across industries, government and borders to make the built environment better and safer for all. I look forward to seeing BRE’s continued progress on this mission, and I wish Ian every success in his new role.”

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