YHN - Key Persons
Anne joined the Board in October 2019. Her early career was in HR within the water industry. For the last 30 years Anne has worked in a consulting capacity with a range of public, private and charity organisations including a number in the social housing sector. She works with senior teams advising on organisation development, supports the development of business strategy and performance through facilitation as well as executive coaching. Anne was an executive director of a consulting company and, over the 13 years as a board member, she held Finance Director and Managing Director roles. She is Chair of Governors at a primary school in North Tyneside, until recently chaired the Institute of Directors Women on Board group and is a member of the North East Women's Leaders Advisory Board whose vision is to make the North East the best place for women in work. She has a passion for the region where she grew up and, particularly raising the aspirations of young people. Anne became Vice Chair of the YHN Board in July 2022 and Chair in November 2023, and is a member of Appointments Committee, Finance and Performance Committee, and is a Director of our Abri Trading limited subsidiary company.
Bill joined the Board in April 2020, having previously supported the Board as a Co-optee for one year. Bill is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has worked in social and affordable housing throughout a long and successful career. Most of his working life has been spent in the North East where he has occupied Director roles in housing management, development and asset management. Latterly Bill has worked in Worcester where, as Managing Director, he successfully merged two in house contracting teams to provide maintenance services to 3 housing associations comprising 22,000 units. He was also responsible for a £5M refurbishment of three high rise blocks in the centre of Worcester and developed 250 new build units before returning to the North East in 2018. Bill became Vice Chair of the Board in November 2023, is the Chair of Health and Safety Committee, a member of Appointments Committee and is a Director of our Abri Trading limited subsidiary company
Alex has served as a member of the YHN Board since May 2022 and was first elected as Labour Councillor for Kingston Park South and Newbiggin Hall on Newcastle City Council in May 2021. After a year as Assistant Cabinet Member, he was appointed as Cabinet Member for a Resilient City in May 2022. In his role, Alex has responsibility for economic growth, jobs & skills, and neighbourhood renewal. Alex provides political leadership for inward investment and capital projects, ensuring that real benefits are delivered for residents. He drives the Council's strategies for apprenticeships, adult education, skills and job creation. He works closely with the cabinet member for a Vibrant City to ensure that culture is effectively integrated in the city's economic development strategy, and with the cabinet member for a Clean, Green City on transport matters. He has long campaigned for better quality social and affordable housing, and was keen to join the YHN Board to represent residents' views directly. Alex is a member of our Health and Safety Committee.
Irim joined the YHN Board in May 2022. She is a Cabinet Member for Dynamic City on Newcastle City Council covering housing, planning and regulatory services. She provides political leadership for housing and planning strategies, responsible for the Council's approach to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping and overseeing advice and support for people facing homelessness. Irim leads the Council's approach to community wealth building and cooperative development in delivery of housing and planning functions, including a focus on growing Newcastle's SME sector and on opportunities for expanding social housing across the city. Irim is the YHN Board representative on Leazes Homes Board, the YHN Group's charitable subsidiary.
Dawn Keightley was appointed as a Leazes Homes Trustee in April 2017 and became Chair in August 2018. She has spent over two decades in the social housing sector, mainly working for a national provider of supported housing and latterly for a regional provider in a range of strategic roles. Dawn previously worked with NHS England Transforming Care Programme focusing on increasing housing choices for people with learning disabilities and/ or Autism and she's currently the Managing Director of a registered provider of social housing in the North East. As the representative of Leazes Homes Board, Dawn was appointed to the YHN Board as a independent member in August 2021, and is also a member of our Appointments Committee.
Doreen joined the YHN Board in May 2021. She is a Liberal Democrat councillor for Manor Park Ward and is Shadow Spokesperson on Housing. She has spent most of her career working in health, higher education, the private and voluntary sector across the UK. After taking voluntary redundancy from the NHS, she took the opportunity to work for charities working in conflict zones in the Balkans and Eastern Africa, using knowledge and expertise to support health care programmes. More recently she has undertaken consultancy roles for charities specialising in HIV, substance misuse and elderly care.
Doreen's interest in housing was initially spurred whilst a community nurse. She is an advocate for better and more accessible social housing, keen to highlight the links between health, wellbeing, climate change and housing and ways we can improve these. Doreen is a member of our Audit and Risk Committee.
Ged was appointed to the YHN Board as an independent member in February 2024. He has been a Leazes Homes board member since April 2018. Ged's last full time role was as Director of Development and Assets at Karbon Homes and he has over 30 years of experience working in the construction and housing sectors. Ged is a chartered surveyor and, during his career, worked for several large social housing organisations as well as for Homes England. He is also Development Committee Member for Gentoo housing in Sunderland.
Lynne joined the Board in October 2019. She is an experienced policy and programme manager, specialising in regeneration initiatives, tackling inequality and developing cross sector commissioning for improved health outcomes. Lynne's roles have included Wellbeing and Health Coordinator for Newcastle and Head of Practice Based Commissioning for NHS North of Tyne. Since leaving the NHS in 2011, Lynne has undertaken a range of projects as an interim manager in health and social care settings. Now operating as a freelance consultant, she has completed multiple projects predominantly supporting third sector organisations in engaging with change and developing their business strategies and services to align with funding and commissioning priorities. She is also a longstanding Board Member and Trustee for regional charity Mental Health North East (MHNE). Lynne is a member of our Customer Services Committee. Lynne is a member of our Customer Voice Group, Audit and Risk Committee, and is a Director of our Abri Trading limited subsidiary company.
Malcolm joined the Board in 2015. He is Chief Operating Officer at Teesside University, joining in 2013 from his position as Executive Director of Commercial and Corporate Services at Sunderland City Council. He has previously worked as Deputy Chief Executive at the Regional Development Agency, One North East and is a fully qualified accountant. Malcolm brings with him considerable strategic, corporate and resource management experience and a strong track record of operating and delivering at Board level. Malcolm is the Chair of our Finance and Performance Committee, a member of Appointments Committee, and is a Director of our Abri Trading limited subsidiary company
Councillor Nick Kemp joined the Board in May 2023. He was elected to Newcastle City Council in 2002 and has proudly represented the East End Ward of Byker ever since. He has held a series of council roles including Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods. He was elected Leader of Newcastle City Council in May 2022 and leads his Cabinet to address the city's most important priorities, including tackling the cost-of-living crisis, eliminating poverty and achieving net zero carbon emissions.
He has worked across sectors, holding diverse roles such as caseworker for a local MP and as business development manager for the Tyne and Wear Development Company. He currently runs a public affairs agency and is a trustee of the National Centre for Children's Books. Nick is a member of our Finance and Performance Committee.
Nigel joined the Board in August 2022. He is a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson heading the firm's Housing Group specialising in all aspects of residential property. He is a client partner for a number of major organisations in the sector, including Grainger, The National Trust and Home Group. In 2020 Nigel became the firms' Newcastle Office Head and led the office move to The Spark, a purpose built development on The Helix. From 2013 to 2022 he was a Board Member of Byker Community Trust (now merged with Karbon Homes), the registered provider for the Byker estate. He is currently a member of the Strategic Advisory Group of the UKAA (UK Apartment Association) co-chairing the Research, Education and Policy Committee. He is also a trustee of Urban Green Newcastle, the innovative solution to the funding and operation of Newcastle's parks and allotments. Nigel is a member of our Health and Safety Committee.
Nigel joined the Board in July 2021. He has worked in business and IT roles across a range of industries for more than 40 years, with experience of overseeing transformation programmes for leading organisations including GE Capital, Microsoft, Travelport and Vodafone. Since 2016 he has been the Chief Information Officer for Northumbrian Water Group, responsible for the innovation strategy and execution across the group, and has led the successful delivery of a significant investment with an overall ambition of making NWG the most digital water company in the world. In this guise he helped to create the Innovation Festival, which last year attracted nearly 3,000 participants from 900 organisations in 37 countries, generating hundreds of ideas to improve business, society and the environment. Nigel is a member of Appointments Committee, Finance and Performance Committee, is Chair of our Audit and Risk Committee, and is a Director of our Abri Trading limited subsidiary company