Charity boss Shirley Rodrigues is to join London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s top team as deputy mayor for environment and energy.
Currently Acting Executive Director for Climate Change at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Mrs Rodrigues previously worked at City Hall between 2005 and 2009 and helped deliver the London Low Emission Zone and programmes to retrofit residential and commercial buildings.
In her new role she’ll be responsible for delivering the Mayor’s environmental polices, including his pledge to clean up London’s air quality, and lead on the Energy for Londoners initiative which is expected to help generate more low-carbon electricity and boost recycling rates.
Announcing her appointment, Mayor Khan said: “Shirley Rodrigues brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience and is the perfect person to deliver my agenda to make London a cleaner and greener city.
“Shirley will drive forward the urgent action needed to ensure Londoners no longer have to fear the air we breathe and will address the failure to tackle the problem by the previous Mayor and Government.
“I am sure she will be a fantastic addition to my top team, taking on a crucial portfolio that has become an issue of life and death.”
Mrs Rodrigues said: “I am delighted to be working with Sadiq on his ambitious plans to make London one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.
“Sadiq has already proposed a radical and wide-ranging approach to clean up London’s dirty air and I feel privileged to be able to lead on this vital piece of work that will boost the quality of life and health for millions of Londoners.”