Great news as Arhag welcomes new Board Chair
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
After nine years, Arhag’s outgoing Chair bids farewell to the Board and executive team here at Arhag and we welcome in a new Chair.
Qadeer Kiani OBE, Board Chair of Arhag since September 2013, stepped down at the end of September.
During his time as Chair, Qadeer oversaw a 65% growth in the association and led the strengthening of Arhag’s position as the “go-to” organisation for migrant and refugee housing issues in London.
He said, “It has been a privilege to be part of Arhag’s journey for so long. My focus was consistently on ensuring that Arhag got its core business right – always seeking to deliver excellent customer service. I joined nine years ago with the intention of making a difference in an organisation with a social purpose. I am immensely proud of the growth of the organisation and grateful to have worked with so many talented people. I have no doubt that I am leaving Arhag in highly capable hands.”
After a thorough recruitment process, we are delighted to announce that we have appointed Reena Purchase to be our new Chair.
Chris Harris, Arhag’s Chief Executive said, “We are sorry to say goodbye to a much-valued colleague. Qadeer has been an inspiring chair. He was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to migrants and refugees and was instrumental in bringing about our partnership support model– The Real Change Collective. I know that he will be watching Arhag’s progress with interest and support as we move into the next stage of our journey. Looking to the future, I am delighted to welcome Reena Purchase as our new Board chair. Reena has many years’ experience in housing and shares our vision to be the go-to organisation for migrants and refugees in London – not just those living in our homes.”
Reena took over as chair in September and has already settled into the role. She said, “I am thrilled to have taken up the role as Chair of the Board at Arhag. I have been aware of the organisation since the early 1990s when it was one of only a few BME housing associations at the time. This is an exciting new challenge for me. I am keen to bring all my skills to support Arhag’s teams as we step into the next stage of our development. I am passionate about supporting migrants and refugees and adding value through the services we provide. I want to build on what Qadeer has achieved and create a positive narrative around the huge contribution migrants and refugees make to our society.”