University of Ulster academic Paddy Gray has been elected Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

A senior lecturer in the School of the Built Environment at Magee, Mr Gray is the first person from Northern Ireland to hold the prestigious post.

The Chartered Institute of Housing is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. It has thousands of members working in over 20 countries across the world.

Director of the CIH in Northern Ireland, Grainia Long, said: "This appointment takes place at a critical time for housing in Northern Ireland as the organisation works through the current recession.

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"With many challenges facing the sector from housing benefit reform to making best use of our housing asset base, Paddy’s expertise will contribute to setting a long-term vision for housing, and for a sustainable future."

Mr Gray added: "It is an honour to be elected CIH Vice President, and I look forward to working with professionals across all sectors throughout the British Isles and further afield to help address the many challenges we face.

"I am particularly keen on examining the role that housing professionals can play in addressing the legacy of segregated communities, on an international, national and local level, and achieving integration so that we can all live in a peaceful and prosperous society.

"The recent attacks on members of the Roma community in south Belfast that have forced residents from their homes prove that this will be no easy task, but it is one that I and the Institute are committed to driving forward."

(PR/BMcc)