NEWYDD - Key Persons
Deb joined Newydd in 2016 and has recently been elected Chair of the Board. Before taking on the Board Chair role she was Chair of the Governance Committee, which she remains a member of. Deb is a qualified teacher and now works for Public Health Wales in Children and Young People's mental health and wellbeing.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Group Chief Executive
Jason became Cadarn Group Chief Executive in Autumn 2020. Previous to his appointment Jason was Housing Director at Newydd, starting his role in 2003. With over 30 years of experience in the sector, Jason has worked at a number of Welsh housing organisations including Torfaen County Borough Council, Family Housing Association and Glamorgan & Gwent Housing Association. He has also served on a number of housing association Boards and also on the National Council of Welsh Federation of Housing Associations (now Community Housing Cymru). He is currently a Board member of CIH Cymru and a Trustee of Care & Repair Cardiff and the Vale. Prior to moving to Wales, he worked at Welwyn Hatfield District Council.
Kris has held senior operational and HR management roles within retail and has also held a role within a Housing Association, Kris is now a Customer Experience Manager for a sustainable energy firm. Kris has been a member of the Board since 2017 and is also Chair of the Newydd Maintenance Board.
Job Titles:
- Group Director of Business Transformation
Kyle joined Cadwyn in June 2022 from Monmouthshire Housing Association, having previously worked in the social housing sectors in both England and Wales for the past 10 years. He is a passionate advocate for the sector, having seen the positive impacts of quality social housing. To give back, he volunteers as the treasurer for CHC and sits on their Board.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Resources Director
Lee became Finance and Resources Director in 2023. He qualified with the CIPFA in 2014 and subsequently worked across a number of public sectors and in housing. Before joining Newydd, Lee worked for RHA Wales with responsibility for finance, procurement and business improvement. Prior to that his experience includes work for Bridgend College, Trivallis and Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.
Matt is an experienced strategic board advisor working with technology businesses and venture capital funds in Wales, UK and North America. He brings to Newydd over 23 years of strategy, leadership and customer advocacy in high growth and global technology businesses having held executive roles at OpenText and ResonateKT as well as senior roles in a large law firm, non-departmental regulatory public body and financial services. Matt joined the group board in September 2021.
Job Titles:
- Group Director of Governance & Marketing
Nerys has worked at Cadwyn for just over two years, having previously been employed at the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA), a public body established under the EU withdrawal agreement for the protection of citizens in the UK. Before that, she worked in the education sector across various functions, including marketing, communications, IT, and digital development, having originally been a teacher. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Chartered Management Institute, and a Certified EU General Data Protection Regulation Practitioner.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director at Cooke & Arkwright Chartered Surveyors
Nick is a Director at Cooke & Arkwright Chartered Surveyors, based in Cardiff. He be brings to Newydd 18 years of experience in the Chartered Surveying industry. Nick has been a member of the Board since September 2020 and also sits on the Living Quarters Wales Board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Board Advisor, Business Consultant and Chartered Banker
Nigel is an independent board advisor, business consultant and Chartered Banker. He brings to Newydd over 24 years of leadership, corporate finance and strategy experience gained in senior roles at Santander, RBS and Bank of Scotland. Nigel joined the Board in September 2021, he also sits on the Governance Committee and is Chair of Group Audit & Risk Committee.
Oonagh became Housing Service Director in 2021 and has worked in Housing for 25 years. She began her career working for Wales and West Housing Association and then moved to Linc Cymru before relocating to London. There she worked for Hyde Housing Association and managed different area offices in Bromley, Peckham and Lewisham and was involved in a number of major regeneration projects and different housing initiatives for homeless families, rough sleepers and key workers as well as general needs and supported housing developments. More recently Oonagh worked in Bristol as Neighbourhood Services Manager for Merlin Housing Society, now part of the Bromford Group. Oonagh joined Newydd in 2018 and became Head of Housing in 2019.
Padma joined Newydd in September 2022 as Common Board Member and also sits on the Newydd Maintenance Limited Board.
As a CCAB Qualified finance professional, she brings a wealth of experience to our Board. Padma has worked for 8 years in local government and 10 years in the NHS as Head of Finance in Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Children's services.
She also serves a Trustee at the Bristol Law Centre, including six years as Treasurer for the Law Centre until 2021, during which time she was the Chair of the finance committee and provided financial expertise on the Board of Trustees.
Job Titles:
- Maintenance Ltd in 2019 As the Managing Director
- Maintenance Ltd Managing Director
Paul joined Newydd Maintenance Ltd in 2019 as the Managing Director and is responsible for delivering the repairs and maintenance service to Newydd tenants. Paul has worked in social housing since 1996 and before joining us was the Director of Property at Homes in Sedgemoor, where he also had responsibility for ICT. Prior to that Paul worked in both client and contractor roles where he held senior management positions within organisations across South Wales.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Associate Director for Marie Curie Wales
Rachel joined the Board in February 2019 and brings to Newydd over 20 years of public service experience working at a national, regional and local level across a range of services including integrated health and social care; economic development; corporate policy and planning; early intervention; community safety; community development; and research and community engagement.
Rachel is currently the Associate Director for Marie Curie Wales with a responsibility for delivering end of life care across Wales and supporting everyone to have the best possible end of life experience, reflecting what's most important to them. Previously Rachel has held a number of leadership roles in Welsh Government, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Cardiff Council.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Governance Committee
- Member of the Board
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Chartered Construction Manager
Rhys is a chartered construction manager working as a design manager for a construction and development company in south Wales, as well as the south west of England. He is responsible for ensuring new projects progress through the development stages and get on site.
Rhys has been a Board member since 2016 and is enjoying all aspects of his board membership role ensuring Newydd remains a strong tenant focused organisation.
Rhys is also Chair of the Governance Committee and sits on the Living Quarters Wales Board.
Shani has a degree in housing practice and policy and has worked in the Welsh housing sector for five years. She currently works for a local authority within the housing management team in community investment which involves assisting people to gain employment, health and wellbeing projects, digital inclusion, time banking and an open spaces project.
Shani also does relief work in a Homeless Hostel which is something that Shani is passionate about as she believes that everyone deserves to have somewhere that they can call home, which is of a good standard and quality.
Shani is a Newydd tenant and she has been a Board member since 2017, she also sits on the Group Audit & Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Development & Assets
Simon joined Newydd as Director in 2003 and is responsible for the development, asset management and landlord compliance functions for the organisation, along with responsibility for offices and commercial spaces that we either lease or own. Simon has worked in development and asset management roles in the affordable housing sector for the past 30+ years, working for housing associations in England and Wales. Prior to Newydd, Simon worked for United Welsh and before that for Home Group. Simon started his career working in construction project management for a national contractor, working on large commercial projects in London and retail projects throughout the UK.