NEW Chair & Vice Chair for the Passivhaus Trust

In February 2025 Emma Osmundsen,  Assistant Director of Housing Regeneration for the London Borough of Ealing, takes over from Chris Herring, Founding Director of PHT Patron 21 Degrees as Chair of the Passivhaus Trust. Jono Hines, Director of PHT Patron Architype is taking the role as Vice Chair, while continuing in his role as Chair of Passivhaus Trust Scotland. 

Thank you to Chris

Chris has been Chair of the Passivhaus Trust since its inception, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Trust in 2010. During the 15 years as Chair, Chris has helped steer the Passivhaus Trust, supporting the Board of Trustees and staff team, from initial launch through to the milestone of Passivhaus achieving 1% of the new housing market. Chris' experience of running product supply company Green Building Store (now 21 Degrees), whose building team built some of the first UK Passivhaus projects including Denby Dale, Golcar, and the Stirley Farm EnerPHit, have made him uniquely placed to understand the burgeoning UK Passivhaus supply chain and construction industry.

Chris Herring commented:

"I am hugely proud to have played a part in founding the Passivhaus Trust in 2010 and in what we have subsequently achieved. Back in 2009 the AECB held the first UK conference largely dedicated to Passivhaus with Prof Wolfgang Feist as key speaker. That year, the idea of establishing a separate organisation to support and promote Passivhaus was born. The contribution that Passivhaus can make is so clear and self-evident in the face of the climate crisis. It is brilliant to have achieved the sort of traction we have now. There has never been a more important time for the Trust to increase its ambition and to get the Passivhaus message heard, that these are buildings for the future.

While it feels like a sad moment to step down from a role I have been so passionate about for 15 years, I am also excited and delighted to pass on the baton to Emma Osmundsen, our new Chair and Jono Hines, Vice-Chair.  Working with our Board and excellent staff team, I am certain that their commitment, knowledge and status in the industry will bring fresh impetus to Passivhaus at this critical time, when industry and government – from local to national – are finally taking notice of the lessons that Passivhaus offers."

Jon Bootland, Chief Executive of the Passivhaus Trust, commented:

"Chris has been an excellent Chair to the Trust, offering steady guidance and leadership as we have moved Passivhaus into the mainstream of the UK construction industry. Chris has been with the Passivhaus Trust every step of the way, from the early pioneering selfbuild projects, to Passivhaus now being discussed at policy level, including the Scottish Government's proposed Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent. I have relied on Chris' calm and clear-headed counsel and advice on innumerable occasions and want to share the heartfelt thanks of the Passivhaus Trust for his 15 years service in this role. "

Welcome to Emma

Emma Osmundsen has played a pivotal role in the popularisation of Passivhaus in the UK, spearheading Exeter City Council's pioneering and ambitious Passivhaus programme both for housing and the UK's first Passivhaus leisure centre St Sidwell's Point. Emma is currently Assistant Director of Housing Regeneration for the London Borough of Ealing and is a chartered Surveyor with over 25 years extensive experience working in development roles for local authorities. Emma is rightly described as a 'Passivhaus pioneer' and is passionate about delivering homes and buildings that enhance the wellbeing of their occupants, that contribute towards the preservation of the planet and generate wealth for all.

Emma Osmundsen commented:

"I’m delighted to be joining the Trust as its new Chair at this exciting time. I am keen to extoll  the many benefits of building to the Passivhaus standards to as wide an audience as possible and ensure that the Trust supports clients, contractors and developers at the early stages of their Passivhaus journey to help fast-track and smooth out the Passivhaus learning curve."

Jon Bootland commented:

"Emma is in a perfect position to pick up the baton of Passivhaus Trust Chair and help us grow Passivhaus in the UK from the strong position that Chris has helped us achieve. We want Passivhaus to grow from 1% of new homes to 10% over the next 10 years. Emma's experience of delivering largescale Passivhaus projects for local authorities will be invaluable. Her determination and conviction in driving through Passivhaus projects for Exeter City Council and now Ealing will help us maintain the exponential growth we need and will help us navigate any obstacles or hurdles along the way."

New & continuing role for Jono

Jono Hines is the Chair of Passivhaus Trust Scotland and is now also stepping up a Vice Chair of the UK Passivhaus Trust. Jono is the Managing Director of experienced Passivhaus architects Architype which, amongst other things, has delivered numerous Passivhaus schools across the UK. Jono has been playing a key role in the Trust's work in Scotland supporting the Scottish Government's Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent policy, and sitting on a cross-industry working group with Scottish Building Standards. 

Jono Hines commented:

"Getting Passivhaus adopted into policy will really help towards our target of at least 10% of all new homes meeting the Passivhaus standard. Scotland is showing global leadership with its Scottish Passivhaus equivalent policy and I'm excited to see how that comes to fruition over the next few months"

Jon Bootland commented:

"Jono has already contributed so much to increasing the uptake of Passivhaus in the UK, through Architype's expertise and determination in delivering largescale cost-effective Passivhaus projects across the UK, as well as his role in Scotland supporting the Scottish Passivhaus equivalent policy. He has been instrumental in negotiations to develop Passivhaus as a credible alternative for the Building Standards in Scotland, through the Scottish Government’s Passivhaus Equivalent commitment. Having Jono as Vice-Chair will help strengthen the Passivhaus Trust to achieve our ambitious targets to achieve 10% of the new housing market by 2035".

20th February 2025

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