The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has announced the appointment of Gill Kernick as the Independent Chair of its statutory Residents’ Panel. This panel, established under the Building Safety Act 2022, aims to ensure that residents' voices and experiences are central to the BSR's efforts to enhance safety in higher-risk buildings (HRBs).
Kernick's role is voluntary and she will serve in a personal capacity, leading the panel to provide independent advice and hold the BSR accountable. Her background includes decades of work in high-hazard industries, focusing on organisational culture and the prevention of catastrophic events.
Kernick was a resident of Grenfell Tower from 2011 to 2014 and is the author of 'Catastrophe and Systemic Change: Learning from the Grenfell Tower Fire and Other Disasters'. She is currently the Director of Strategy and Culture Realisation at Arup, where she leads a global programme on safety culture.
Charlie Pugsley, BSR Acting Chief Executive Officer, stated that residents are crucial to the building safety regime and their experiences are essential for an effective regulatory system. Kernick emphasised that residents' everyday lived experience offers unique insights, which, combined with technical expertise, can help create safer homes.