Chloe Stothart looks at this week’s movers and shakers
John Godwin
John Godwin has joined Portsmouth Housing Association as a trainee under the positive action training highway scheme, a national drive to increase the number of people from ethnic minorities in housing management. John has worked in care homes and has been studying for an MSc in project management at Portsmouth University.

Shelter
Alison Braybrooks and Benjamin Morrison have joined the fundraising team at homelessness charity Shelter. Alison is head of business development. In previous jobs, she developed a sponsorship programme for Macmillan Cancer Relief and partnerships for children’s charity NCH. Benjamin is now Shelter’s senior business development fundraiser. He was previously corporate fundraising manager for the charity Variety Club.

William Sunnucks
William Sunnucks joins property asset manager Capital & Regional as group finance director. He was formerly finance director of Partnerships UK, a joint venture between the Treasury and private sector shareholders to develop public-private partnerships.

Barbara Duff
Barbara Duff is the new corporate services director of Newlon Housing Group. She was previously head of corporate development for Sense, the national deaf, blind and rubella association.

Job of the week

Name
Deborah Stephenson
New job
Assistant director of community investment at Tees Valley Housing Group
Job specification
“To lead on the development and implementation of the community investment plan. I’m responsible for identifying and implementing community investment projects.”
Old job
Regional development manager for Wise Group, a national charity working with communities to develop employment solutions.
Why Tees Valley Housing Group?
“TVHG has a great track record and is known for its innovative approaches. The role is very community-focused.”
If you were housing minister, what would you do to improve the housing situation in the UK?
“We need to learn from the lessons of the past. Previous mass demolition exercises failed to be sustainable because other factors weren’t considered. Today, we’re more enlightened and look at a range of sustainability issues including the provision of services, employment prospects and active communities. “In some areas, I’d demolish surplus substandard housing and replace it with modern, mixed units in partnership with communities to provide a holistic approach, not an isolated housing development.”
Why choose to work in housing?
“Housing offers a rewarding career path. Working with communities to improve quality of life brings a great deal of job satisfaction.”