It is with great sadness that I learned this week of the death of Lindsay Tripp, the Head of “Invest in Hackney” for Renaisi Consulting. I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Lindsay on a recent contract supporting cultural industries in London in partnership with the Cultural Industries Development Agency (CIDA). We last met face to face just a week before her death which made the news all the more difficult to comprehend. I didn’t know Lindsay well, but well enough to know that she was cursed with cystic fibrosis, a hideous disease that claims most of its victims before their 30th birthday. Lindsay never talked about it – in fact never once mentioned it to me, though the difficulty she experienced taking every breath was very apparent. Colleagues at Renaisi always spoke to me about Lindsay’s talent, passion for her work, commitment and tenacity in the face of adversity. She refused to allow her disability to dictate her life and was hugely respected as a skilled and highly qualified regeneration professional. I will remember Lindsay for the sparkle in her eyes, her enthusiasm for life and the courtesy and respect she showed me throughout our brief working relationship. Colleagues at Renaisi are devastated by her loss and it is clear to me her passing will leave massive holes in many people’s lives. My thoughts and condolences go out to Lindsay’s family, her colleagues and the many peoples’ lives she touched.