NWH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Communities
Allan joined NWHA in August 2020 as our Assistant Director of Communities, and brings 15 years of housing management experience to the role. Allan has worked in small, medium and large sized organisations and has successfully led teams through periods of significant change following mergers and restructures. Allan has a broad range of experience across all housing management functions, with particular specialisms in Allocations and Neighbourhood Management. With a track record of delivering positive performance through a focus on culture and values based leadership, Allan's leadership style fits well with the ethos of NWHA. Putting customers at the heart of his thinking, Allan recognises the importance of the work done by NWHA and will lead and support colleagues to deliver joined up services that will have positive impacts in our communities.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chief Executive of Muir Group Housing Association
Catherine is Chief Executive of Muir Group Housing Association based in Chester. Catherine previously worked at GreenSquare as Executive Director (Organisational Development & Corporate Services) in Wiltshire and prior to that as Director of Business Support with Synergy Housing based in Dorset. Catherine has many years' experience in housing and working for a local authority in education, social services and the fire & rescue service. Catherine is Chair of Governors at Ysgol Sant Dunawd in Bangor-on-Dee. Catherine has a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and is a Chartered Secretary & Administrator (ACIS).
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Chartered Architect
Derwyn is a Chartered Architect and works as the Corporate Landlord at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and specialises in the Estate Management and Development within the Public Estate. He has a wide range of experience in both the Private and Public sectors having previously worked as Head of Property Management and Asset Services at Conwy Council and Director of Property and Campus Services at Bangor University.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Chairman Audit & Risk Committee
- Head of Financial Accounting at Bangor University
Dylan is currently Head of Financial Accounting at Bangor University and has a wide range of financial and management accounting skills. He also has extensive external and internal audit management experience along with practical experience of complying with regulatory systems and governance having previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and WaterfordWedgwood. Dylan trained with District Audit in North Wales and is a fluent Welsh speaker. Dylan has a degree in European Finance and Accounting and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Finance
- North Wales Housing in 2010 As the Head of Finance
Emma joined North Wales Housing in 2010 as the Head of Finance, which then evolved into the Assistant Director Finance role. Emma is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England Wales after obtaining her qualification in November 2003. Prior to NWH, Emma worked in various accountancy practices in North Wales and Chester. She heads up the finance department which includes both the rents and the finance teams. After growing up and living her whole life in North Wales, she is passionate about our communities and the Welsh language. Emma is a fluent Welsh speaker and is Chair of our Charity panel that has raised around £30,000 for various local charities over the last 7 years.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- North Wales Housing As Chief Executive
Helena Kirk joined North Wales Housing as Chief Executive in October 2016. Helena has worked in the housing sector since 1982, gaining extensive experience working for local authorities and both traditional and stock transfer RSLs. Her roles started with front line customer service and have included three previous Director positions in Birmingham, Coventry and Hereford. Prior to joining North Wales Housing she was a member of the Executive team at Shoreline Housing Partnership in Lincolnshire for 6 years. She joined Shoreline Housing Partnership in 2010 returning to a role with direct responsibility for customer services from 7 years working in housing consultancy. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has a Master's degree in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Finance and Resources Director
Jayne is a qualified accountant (CIPFA) with 30 years public sector experience, 5 years as Treasurer/ Director of Finance and prior to taking up this role Jayne undertook the role of Director of Finance (Police and Crime) for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. This and previous roles involve significant complexity, with accountability for multi-million budgets and advising on the deployment of these resources. Areas of expertise include treasury management, financial planning, audit, procurement, commissioning, value for money, organisational transformation and effective governance. Prior to taking up this role Jayne worked as Treasurer for the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner and prior to that various roles for Trafford Council, she offers a breadth of experience that goes beyond her financial expertise in particular, public service reform, partnership working, estates strategy and performance management. Jayne's career has been rooted in the public sector, caring deeply for the role of the public, voluntary, social enterprise sector in society.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director Commercial
Lauren joined North Wales Housing Association in June 2021 as our Assistant Director of Commercial. Lauren has worked in Development for 20 years with the first 17 years being in the public sector, working for Flintshire County Council. Lauren's background is in Town Planning and she has worked in several roles at Flintshire CC, gaining invaluable experience across a broad range of developments. This development experience covers residential, retail, industrial, renewable energies and heritage assets. More recently Lauren has worked in the private sector as a Planning Consultant for a multi-disciplinary consultancy firm. A large portion of her clients have been RSLs who are building affordable schemes throughout North Wales and it is this experience that has encouraged her to move into the housing sector and focus on what she enjoys most. Lauren has a Masters degree in Environmental Planning.
Job Titles:
- Head of People
- North Wales Housing in 1992 As Finance Secretary
Lynne joined North Wales Housing in 1992 as Finance Secretary and has held a number of roles prior to becoming the Head of Personnel (now People) in 2012. As Head of People her areas of responsibility include developing and implementing people strategy to support NWH's future business aspirations. Lynne holds an Honours Degree in Business Studies, ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management and is a Certified NLP Practitioner. She is awaiting her final assessment for the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Certificate in Human Resources.
Ruth Lanham-Wright has worked in housing for 19 years, 18½ of which have been with North Wales Housing Association. She has worked in a wide variety of roles in various departments, but mostly managing the Finance and Incomes teams. Ruth is now working as the Assistant Director Homes, managing the repairs, assets and compliance functions. She is a student member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and is in the final stages of qualifying as an accountant. She has a first class honours degree in applied accountancy with her specialist field being the financial and operational impact of welfare reforms. More recently she completed a qualification with Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and has an ILM level 5 qualification in leadership and management. Ruth has a particular interest in service improvement.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Head of Consultancy for Pennington Choices
Sarah is the Head of Consultancy for Pennington Choices, providing strategic support to organisations across a range of sectors across the UK. Sarah previously worked at Muir Housing Group as Assistant Director of Business Support and Head of Strategic Change for Cheshire Police and Fire. Sarah has many years experience across the public and not-for-profit sectors leading complex and large-scale digital and organisational change programmes. Sarah spent eight years with the Audit Commission as a Corporate Assessment Inspector and Performance Specialist, as well as time with the HMIC and Cabinet Office as a Gateway Assurance Reviewer for major government projects. Sarah is the Vice Chair of the Women in Social Housing (NW) Network and a member of the Institute of Risk Management. She has a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Joint Honours Degree.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
Sian is a member of the Senior Leadership Team in Aura Leisure and Libraries Ltd, an Employee Owned Community Benefit Society which operates these services within Flintshire. Sian has a BSc and MSc in her field and within her role as Leisure Development Manager has the responsibility for all Leisure services, sports and community development. She has company responsibility for the HR function within the organisation, responsible for the SLA for the buyback of HR services. She has experience in Local Government and Social Enterprise and is a school governor. She has over 15 years in management / senior leadership roles. Sian has a passion for delivering fantastic community services and a particular interest in developing people, training to become a qualified NLP practitioner last year. She volunteers as a mentor for the WISH network and enjoys supporting women in their roles to be the very best they can be.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Certified Accountant
- Vice Chair
- Vice Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Bill is a Chartered Certified Accountant and works as a Finance Manager at Bangor University responsible for day to day financial transactions within the College of Business, Law, Education and Social Sciences. He previously held the post of Finance Manager/Company Secretary at the Management Development Centre, Bangor.