Reflection on the Lapidus AGM 2025

In our latest blogpost, Lapidus chair, Mel Perry, reflects on the recent AGM proceedings. Minutes from the AGM will be available in the coming weeks – thank you for your patience.

I often find that there are moments in life when news arrives or an event suddenly changes how I see the present and future landscape of life. The news might gladden me or help me find gratitude; it might present a challenge and offer an opportunity for me to step into a new space, a new mindset. I think these moments happen for organisations too and Lapidus International’s AGM on 19th November was one such occasion for me personally and for our organisation.

I have worked with Lucy Windridge-Floris since 2021 when we met as part of the planning and delivery group for Creative Bridges that year. Unbeknownst to me we had met briefly in real life at NAWE’s 2019 conference. Even though I have not shared a leadership role of this kind before, it made absolute sense to me when we decided to offer our joint selves as Co-chairs of Lapidus. After 21 months in the role, the first four alongside Val Watson, Lucy has decided to step down as Co-chair to pursue some exciting projects in South Africa where she now lives.

Lucy has been a joy to work with. She has been intuitive and inclusive, reflective, with an energy to crack on with a job. We have shared a great deal together as Co-chairs; we have cried a little, and laughed a lot. Lucy’s dynamism was manifest in her work alongside Buki and Emma to bring through our new EDI policy and ethical code for approval and adoption. She has been the sparkly anchorwoman for three Creative Bridges conferences, and a steadfast advocate for the Plumb Lines project and its potential. While I might be losing Lucy as Co-chair I know that I have a dear friend in Cape Town and I wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

The other pivotal moment at the AGM for me was the unanimous vote in favour of the special resolution to move Lapidus to be registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC). I know that this has been a long-discussed objective for successive Lapidus boards. Our articles have always had a charitable purpose to them, and as we develop as a CIC we will be able to reach more directly into communities that have been discounted, prohibited, displaced and under-served.

I would like to pay tribute to those former Chairs and Board members whose consideration of this change has kept the flame alive and helped inform our final determination. I look forward to sharing with you opportunities that will benefit members and the wider communities with whom you work.

It was a delight to welcome Val Watson, former Lapidus Chair and recipient of our Lapidus Lifetime Achievement Award at Creative Bridges. Val’s warm, quiet strength as she guided us through some writing activities helped us elicit some solid reflections on what change means for us as individuals and as an organisation. I will carry these comments with me as we see our changes.

Thank you to those of you who joined us for the AGM, to my fellow Directors, Buki Akilapa, Matt Bennion-Pedley and Alison Cable; and a very warm welcome to Caroline Burnley who has joined us recently. Finally thank you to Flo Reynolds whose technical knowledge and skill helped make the business of the AGM and the vote run smoothly.