David Orr

David is a hugely experienced leader in both Executive and Non-Executive roles. He has over 30 years of experience in Chief Executive roles, most recently at the National Housing Federation, having previously been Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and of Newlon Housing Trust.

In Non-Executive roles, David is Chair of The Good Home Inquiry. He is Chair of Clarion HA Board, Chair of ReSI Housing and ReSI Homes and a board member of Clanmil HA and the National Communities Resource Centre. He is a previous President of Housing Europe and previous Chair of Reall, an international housing development charity. David is also co-Chair of #Housing2030, a joint Housing Europe and UNECE study on affordable housing in the UNECE region and was a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Housing, Church and Community Commission.

David is widely regarded as a compelling and inspiring public speaker focusing on the challenge of optimistic leadership and the critical importance of great governance. He has huge media experience, is a well-regarded commentator and blogger, and has extensive expertise navigating the sometimes opaque world of politics and government.

In June 2018 David was awarded a CBE.