In This Section
Board Members
We are pleased to introduce the people who make up our Board . You can read more about each person by clicking on the relevant links.
Anne Rowlands
Chair
About Anne
Anne has almost 40 years’ experience in the social housing and care sectors. Currently the CEO of a housing association in the North-East, Anne has also worked in an executive role for a number of charities providing services for people with a learning disability and with mental health problems. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and carries out online tutoring support for individuals seeking to obtain CIH qualifications.
Stephen Guy
Member
About Stephen
Stephen is a former Miner & NUM Official. He is currently a Trade Union Officer in the Northern Region
Gillian Bramfitt
Member
About Gillian
Gillian currently runs a company specialising in training in the housing sector. She worked for DAMHA in a housing management role for 18 years.
Mark Reid
Member
About Mark
Mark recently retired from his role as Director of Resources at a large housing association and worked for over 20 years in social housing.
Louise Buckton
Member
About Louise
Louise Buckton is the New Build Director with Equans (Regeneration), part of the Engie Group and Formerly Commercial Director of Esh Construction Ltd, and Head of Commercial Assets at a large housing provider in Redcar and Cleveland. While familiar at a senior level with the issues of social housing, Louise also brings a different perspective with her professional experience in the private sector.
Ian Youll
Member
About Ian
Ian has a great deal of experience in leadership, risk management, and of governance within the social housing regulatory environment.
Steve Fergus
Member
About Steve
Previously General Secretary of the Durham Enginemen's Association.
Kate Abson
Member
About Kate
Kate has a tremendous amount of experience in strategic decision making at both Executive and Board levels, and of the particular issues around social housing development in the North-East. She is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and responsible for leading a 2,000 home new build development and regeneration strategy in her employed role
Andrew Thompson
Member
About Andrew
Andrew is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), with experience across multiple sectors including auditing, manufacturing, local government and most recently, the housing sector. He joined a regional housing association in 2015, and was heavily involved in the process of amalgamation to form one of the largest housing associations in the North-East in April 2017. He now holds the role of Assistant Director: Treasury at that Association.
