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From local to global - engaged, committed and energetic.I am the elected Alderman for the Ward of Dowgate in the City of London. I am an independent member elected by the residents and voters in Dowgate Ward on a six yearly cycle. On 28th September 2021 I became one of the two Sheriffs of the City of London. I will serve in this office for one year. I live in the City of London and have worked here for 40 years as a solicitor and then partner at the firm of DLA Piper UK where I am now a consultant.
I love the City of London for the business it drives and the opportunities that it offers to people, like me, who came with no previous connections to build a career. The City is a global market place full of energy and innovation, adaptable and farsighted. |
DOWGATE WARD
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Dowgate Ward News
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The City of London: Who, What, Why? written by me and published in July 2019. It gives an insight into the role of the City of London with its ancient roots and historic roles and terminology.
Written to help Liverymen and women to understand how the City works and to answer those questions that people are reluctant to ask, it gives an Alderman's view on some of the ceremonies and working practices of the City of London Corporation. Details here. |
My vision for the future of the City
The governance of the City of London was enshrined in the City Charter and Magna Carta, both of 1215, but it has only survived intact because it has been flexible, vibrant and mindful of the businesses and people living in it. This City needs strong leadership and understanding to ensure that it continues to be the City where you want to live and work.
I intend to continue to work to make the City of London the best place to do business – a City where people can work in a healthy and safe environment and where they are feel valued and are fairly treated, so doors are open all the way up to the top of every business.I will continue to champion the benefits of Green Finance and the steps needed to create a sustainable future – galvanising the City to work to plug the financial gap in the necessary funding required. This is just one aspect of the role the City can play through the use of its capital markets and professional expertise to facilitate funding of the transformation needed.
I will continue to promote property as an asset class that is the bedrock of the value of the City’s portfolios and work to ensure that our properties are fit for the future, operating sustainably and retaining their value and use for the future generations.
I will continue to represent Dowgate Ward, the businesses and residents and take up issues that are of concern and interest; pushing through ideas that need to be progressed and seeking answers to any difficulties.
I intend to continue to work to make the City of London the best place to do business – a City where people can work in a healthy and safe environment and where they are feel valued and are fairly treated, so doors are open all the way up to the top of every business.I will continue to champion the benefits of Green Finance and the steps needed to create a sustainable future – galvanising the City to work to plug the financial gap in the necessary funding required. This is just one aspect of the role the City can play through the use of its capital markets and professional expertise to facilitate funding of the transformation needed.
I will continue to promote property as an asset class that is the bedrock of the value of the City’s portfolios and work to ensure that our properties are fit for the future, operating sustainably and retaining their value and use for the future generations.
I will continue to represent Dowgate Ward, the businesses and residents and take up issues that are of concern and interest; pushing through ideas that need to be progressed and seeking answers to any difficulties.
What I have achieved
As a property lawyer I have enjoyed a successful career from a standing start in the city. My own background has helped me understand the need to bring a wider and more diverse group of people into our city businesses who may not necessarily feel that the city is open to them. So many businesses are working to widen their recruitment and this is to be applauded.
I have promoted a sustainable city environment for many years and led on early committees within the city corporation to encourage a carbon neutral footprint. Many businesses share this ambition and the city corporation set up the green finance initiative and has now a formed the green finance institute, of which I am a non- executive director. The institute champions green finance as a model for meeting the pledged sustainable development goals across the world. The institute is supported by government and I have worked closely with various departments to speak about this topic – including visiting brazil and Argentina with the chancellor of the exchequer when the first economic finance dialogue with brazil was agreed. I attended COP25 in Madrid during December 2019 as the representative of the City Corporation. I am at the heart of the city’s plans for COP26 and will be attending virtually and physically the events in November 2021. There is still a lot of work to do and a wealth of expertise in the city to capitalise on these opportunities.
The city bridge trust is the city corporation’s charitable funding arm and I was the chair from 2016-2019. This works throughout our capital city. As chair I ensured a wider link across London to provide funding to charities in the most disadvantaged areas and to encourage philanthropy as practised by our many illustrious city forebears and which is still vital to create a fairer society today.
As a property lawyer I have enjoyed a successful career from a standing start in the city. My own background has helped me understand the need to bring a wider and more diverse group of people into our city businesses who may not necessarily feel that the city is open to them. So many businesses are working to widen their recruitment and this is to be applauded.
I have promoted a sustainable city environment for many years and led on early committees within the city corporation to encourage a carbon neutral footprint. Many businesses share this ambition and the city corporation set up the green finance initiative and has now a formed the green finance institute, of which I am a non- executive director. The institute champions green finance as a model for meeting the pledged sustainable development goals across the world. The institute is supported by government and I have worked closely with various departments to speak about this topic – including visiting brazil and Argentina with the chancellor of the exchequer when the first economic finance dialogue with brazil was agreed. I attended COP25 in Madrid during December 2019 as the representative of the City Corporation. I am at the heart of the city’s plans for COP26 and will be attending virtually and physically the events in November 2021. There is still a lot of work to do and a wealth of expertise in the city to capitalise on these opportunities.
The city bridge trust is the city corporation’s charitable funding arm and I was the chair from 2016-2019. This works throughout our capital city. As chair I ensured a wider link across London to provide funding to charities in the most disadvantaged areas and to encourage philanthropy as practised by our many illustrious city forebears and which is still vital to create a fairer society today.
About Alison
I HAVE WORKED IN THE CITY OF LONDON AS A SOLICITOR ALL MY WORKING LIFE AND FOR 10 YEARS WAS BASED IN DOWGATE HILL AND NOW WORK IN ALDERSGATE STREET AT DLA PIPER. I AM A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LAWYER AND HAVE ACTED FOR MANY PROPERTY COMPANIES AND COMMERCIAL CLIENTS IN PROPERTY INVESTMENT, PROJECT FINANCE AND INSOLVENCY WORK. I HAVE ENJOYED MAKING A CAREER IN THE HEART OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CITY AND ADDING TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS COUNTRY.
SINCE 1991 I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION AND SINCE 2002 HAVE SERVED AS THE ALDERMAN OF DOWGATE WARD. I HAVE FULFILLED MANY ROLES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND, MOST RECENTLY, HAVE BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE CITY BRIDGE TRUST AND AM CURRENTLY A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREEN FINANCE INSTITUTE. I ALSO CHAIR THE ACTIVE CITY NETWORK. I SERVE ON THE PROPERTY INVESTMENT BOARD. I AM A TRUSTEE OF THE MUSEUM OF LONDON AND THE MUSEUM OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGY.
WITHIN THE WARD, I HAVE ACTIVELY TAKEN UP ISSUES FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH NOISY ROAD WORKS AND LIGHT POLLUTION, PLANNING ISSUES, BEGGING, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND ROUGH SLEEPING.
I HAVE WORKED IN THE CITY OF LONDON AS A SOLICITOR ALL MY WORKING LIFE AND FOR 10 YEARS WAS BASED IN DOWGATE HILL AND NOW WORK IN ALDERSGATE STREET AT DLA PIPER. I AM A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LAWYER AND HAVE ACTED FOR MANY PROPERTY COMPANIES AND COMMERCIAL CLIENTS IN PROPERTY INVESTMENT, PROJECT FINANCE AND INSOLVENCY WORK. I HAVE ENJOYED MAKING A CAREER IN THE HEART OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CITY AND ADDING TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS COUNTRY.
SINCE 1991 I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION AND SINCE 2002 HAVE SERVED AS THE ALDERMAN OF DOWGATE WARD. I HAVE FULFILLED MANY ROLES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND, MOST RECENTLY, HAVE BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE CITY BRIDGE TRUST AND AM CURRENTLY A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREEN FINANCE INSTITUTE. I ALSO CHAIR THE ACTIVE CITY NETWORK. I SERVE ON THE PROPERTY INVESTMENT BOARD. I AM A TRUSTEE OF THE MUSEUM OF LONDON AND THE MUSEUM OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGY.
WITHIN THE WARD, I HAVE ACTIVELY TAKEN UP ISSUES FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH NOISY ROAD WORKS AND LIGHT POLLUTION, PLANNING ISSUES, BEGGING, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND ROUGH SLEEPING.
CHAMPIONED CAUSES
CITY LIVERY CLUBPresident 2009-10
LONDON ROAD SAFETY COUNCILChair of the Council
MUSEUM OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGYTrustee
PLAISTERERS LIVERY COMPANYMaster July 2019 - 2020
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GLOVERS LIVERY COMPANY
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GREEN FINANCE INSTITUTEDirector
METHODIST CHURCH at Hinde StreetMember
PLASTIC FREE CITY
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Director of the Green Finance Institute, Alison Gowman: "We’re changing the dial on what’s happening around the UK on green finance. "
03/06/2019
The Trust's Chair, Alison Gowman, is interviewed to discuss our Stepping Stones social investment readiness programme.
03/10/2017
31/08/2019