Our Board

There is no doubt that the social housing sector has a big impact on the lives of thousands of people across the country, every day. There is also no doubt the people on the boards of these organisations make decisions which have a long-lasting positive impact for future generations.

Julie Thomas RNMH, DipN, MSc (Gofal Iechyd)

Chair

Julie is a retired Divisional Director of Community Services with Aneurin Bevan Universities Health Board. She joined the board in 2015.

Anthony Hearn

Vice Chair

Anthony is Director of Housing & Communities at Merthyr Valley Homes

Wendy Bowler MSc (Health), MSc Cert, Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies.

Following a career in the civil service and then public health, Wendy is now a professional genealogist.

Lisa Howells

Lisa is a Sales & Marketing Director for Curo Group with 20 years’ of property experience within the housing sector; member of the Housebuilding Federation and the National Housing Federation.

Cliff Jones

Cliff is a retired banker, Financial Advisor and Relationship Director for the Social Housing Sector, Education and Local Authorities for Barclays in Wales.

Sarah Bees

Sarah has a health and social care background, and is currently a Policy & Project Officer for the Gwent Regional Partnership Team.

John Jackson

With over 25 years marketing experience, John is a strategic marketing consultant. His private practice specialises in brand development, innovation strategy and marketing communications.

Gareth Thomas

Gareth began his career as a carpenter with Powys Council over 10 years ago, with a passion for asset management he worked his way up and got an HNC in Construction. Recently moving to Alliance Homes as a Technical Manager in England he still wanted to be part of Welsh housing so joined our board.

Chris Edmondson MSc Cert. Ed

Chris is a freelance management researcher, adviser and editor and was previously Chair of the Board.

Martin Reed

Martin is a retired finance director of Brains Brewery. He had worked there for 17 years before he retired in June 2019. He is also a non-exec director of Welsh Whisky.

Paula Kennedy

Paula has worked in social housing for over 28 years, with 16 of these based in Wales.

Appointed as Chief Executive in 2017, she brings with her a wealth of knowledge from her previous roles with Brunel Care and Herefordshire housing.

Peter Crockett

Peter has held senior posts in the housing association sector since 1995 where he gained considerable experience in all aspects of commercial activities including strategic finance, loan funding, development and all other support services.