BPA News Updates and information from the BPA team Re-election dates This month sees the return of elections to the BPAs Council of Representatives after a two-year hiatus. Nominations are now open for a range of seats on the BPA Council of Representatives: 15 seats are available and all members are welcome to nominate themselves to a suitable and relevant position. Existing postholders are eligible to stand for election again and must be nominated accordingly. Elections will be held for all seats where more than one eligible candidate is nominated. The Chairs of the four BPA Service Boards will be subject to election in late summer after the Council elections. All Chairs must be a Council member and are elected from and by the Council of Representatives after the summer elections. For further details see pages 40-41 or email elections@britishparking. co.uk Parkex: have you registered? Its now only about six weeks until the biggest and best parking exhibition returns to the NEC in Birmingham from 14-16 June. Planning is well under way to make this an event to remember and the BPA is looking forward to seeing you there. Make sure you book your tickets and reserve your exhibition stand now at parkex.net Find out more about what is in store and who else will be there on pages 18-20. Inclusion and diversity research The BPA has appointed research consultancy Blue Squirrel Research to help deliver a project to better understand diversity and inclusion within the UK parking sector. Dave Smith, head of BPA communications the experiences of under-represented groups, highlight examples of best practice, and explore perceptions and experiences of parking professionals across the sector. and marketing, said: The project scope will include a member survey, qualitative interviews and case study-based research to understand More information about how you can get involved will be included in the next issue of Parking News and at Parkex in June. Staff update The BPA is delighted to welcome Jonathan Allen as head of technology, information and research. Jon joins the BPA from the international education sector, and brings with him significant experience across a range of activities, highly suited to this important role for the Association. Also Joey McLaughlin has been successful in her application for the post of technology, innovation and research manager. Joey has been with the BPA for three years, in the position of technology, innovation and research officer. Kelvin Reynolds, BPA director of corporate and public affairs, said: With Jons arrival and Joeys success in the new manager post, we will be pivoting the focus of the team more into technology, innovation, and business development, and well be building more research partnerships with the university sector. Jon has already attended meetings with me at the Law Commission, as well as London Councils, the Local Government Association and others, to explore parking law reform and EV charging respectively. He is getting to grips with the wide-ranging scope of the BPA and specifically our technology, innovation and research projects. Paula Burton is the BPAs new training and development manager and will focus on delivering quality, bespoke training for the parking sector, and play a central role in retaining and building our Corporate Individual Membership. Paula had previously been the BPAs events officer. Joey McLaughlin Paula Burton 44 britishparking.co.uk PN May 2022 pp44-45 BPA News.indd 46 21/04/2022 11:52