Shazia Hussain, who has been in the role since 2022, will take over as CEO of the London Legacy Development Corporation, which oversees the Olympic Park
By Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

The deputy chief executive of Waltham Forest Council has stepped down after two years.
Shazia Hussain will be taking over as chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) in the autumn, overseeing the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
She joined Waltham Forest Council in 2022 after stints in local government in Brent and Tower Hamlets, where she held various senior positions.
Linzi Roberts-Egan, the chief executive of Waltham Forest, said arrangements were being made to appoint a successor.
She said in a statement: “We are working on arrangements to cover Shazia’s remit when she moves to her new role in the autumn.”
Linzi continued: “Shazia joined Waltham Forest in 2022 and has made a significant contribution in driving forward the council’s commitment to supporting and delivering effective services to our residents.
“We are really proud of Shazia, and we will miss her. However, as we are one of the four boroughs involved in the LLDC, we will remain in regular contact and look forward to continuing to work together.”
During her time at Waltham Forest, she was responsible for the Stronger Communities directorate, which focuses on social relations in the borough.
As the chief executive of the LLDC, she will oversee any future developments in the Olympic Park, replacing Lyn Garner.
The LLDC effectively functions as the planning authority for the Olympic Park and surrounding area, meaning it has the power to approve or reject applications.
Shazia was appointed to the role by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan earlier this month.
In a statement on her move to the LLDC, Shazia said: “My focus will be to build on the fantastic legacy already in place, ensuring that growth and development are inclusive, and investment provides east Londoners with the opportunities they need to succeed.
“I’m looking forward to working with the four east London boroughs, the Greater London Assembly (GLA), and all our partners and communities who live, work and visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”
The 560-acre complex was constructed ahead of the London Olympics in 2012 and spans Stratford, Hackney, Leyton and Bow.
It is home to the London Stadium, which is used as the home ground for West Ham United and for concerts, the ABBA Arena, and the London Aquatics Centre.
The stadium, which will become the GLA’s responsibility in April 2025, also regularly hosts international sports events, including the National Football League and Major League Baseball, and food festivals.
In a March interview with the Local Government Chronicle, Shazia criticised the former communities secretary Michael Gove’s request that councils “consider” their expenditure on “discredited” equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) programmes.
The former Conservative MP had said councils would be required to produce plans on reducing wasteful expenditure, and mentioned “consultants and discredited EDI inclusion programmes” as examples of possible options to cut.
Shazia described it as a “joke of a statement” and said investment in EDI was not a “luxury” for councils.
Shazia’s move comes shortly after communications director Eddie Townsend departed the council last month.
He was appointed Southwark Council’s first director of communications, and the Waltham Forest is understood to be in the process of hiring his successor.
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