Derek Latham, Dip Arch RIBA Dip TP MRTPI Dip Ld MLI IHBC AHI FRSA AABC is retiring as a Trustee of the charity Design:Midlands, after 22 years, including 17 with its predecessor body, Opun. Passionate about designing and creating places holistically in response to their context, Derek studied and qualified as an architect, a town planner, a landscape architect and a conservation architect. 

Derek has been described as one of the most highly respected conversation architects, well known for his work in the re-use of historic buildings. His specialist expertise and experience has provided a blend of the highly sensitive with the necessary imagination and originality to evolve successful and often award-winning schemes, turning often unwanted and redundant properties into viable and marketable assets.

Councillor Gary Hunt, Chair of Design:Midlands commented: “When I succeeded Derek as Chair of Opun, his excellent leadership skills meant that the organisation was in a very strong position; established, credible and with strong Trustee governance, ideal for the formation of the charity.”

The breadth of Derek’s work in conservation, regeneration and master planning across the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire is enormous. A published author on the subject of Creative Re-Use of buildings, Derek has also been an external examiner for Nottingham, Leicester and Oxford Brookes Universities and is an academian of the Academy of Urbanism. 

Chief Executive of Design:Midlands Julie Tanner said: “We are incredibly grateful for the time and effort Derek Latham has put into the work of Design:Midlands and its predecessor Opun (Architecture East Midlands) where he was a founder member in 2002. His wealth of experience has been instrumental in the regeneration of communities throughout the region and he will be sorely missed on our Board of Trustees.  We wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.”