Ability Housing Association has appointed Sandaljit Bains as regional manager for Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Poole, Bournemouth, New Forest and Southampton. He joins from Sentinel Housing Group where he was tenant services manager. The same association has also promoted Leslie Pritchard to regional manager.
Ann Ball
Boleyn and Forest Housing Association has a new managing director, Ann Ball. She joins them from New Deal for Communities in New Cross Gate, south-east London. She began her career in housing as a local authority housing trainee.
Rev Lynda Spokes
Rev Lynda Spokes has joined Banbury Homes as chaplain. Ordained in December, she will work with residents at the Foyer, Cotefield House and Rachel House, a supported housing scheme for young mothers.
Steve Coombs
Housebuilder Lovell has appointed Steve Coombs as regional director for London. He moves from Lovell's Eastern region where he was also regional director.
Heather Kelly
Housebuilder Sunley has appointed Heather Kelly as sales and marketing manager. She joins them after 14 years with Persimmon Homes.
Catalyst Corby
Sarah Raper and Simon Evans have joined the senior management team of Midlands regeneration company Catalyst Corby. Raper is commercial director, Evans project director.
Peabody Trust
Catriona Simons has been appointed finance director at the Peabody Trust after five years at the trust. She was special projects accountant, head of project finance and has been acting finance director at the trust since April 2002. Catriona previously worked at consultant Ernst & Young. Gavin Haynes has joined Peabody as business planning and policy advisor. He joins from Kensington and Chelsea council where he was principal planning and development officer. He has also worked for Ealing and Vale Royal councils and North British Housing Association.
Pete McCormack
Acton Housing Association has appointed Pete McCormack as executive director of operations. He was previously director of development and new business at Paradigm Housing Group.
Sue Howarth
Whitefriars Housing Group in Coventry has appointed Sue Howarth as tenant participation officer. She joins from a community centre in Leamington Spa. She has also been a coordinator for the Coventry and Warwickshire Family Mediation Service and project manger at Orbit Housing Association.
Andrew Wiseman
Law firm Trowers & Hamlins has made Andrew Wiseman a partner in its environmental law group. As well as his role at the firm, he is vice-chairman of the UK Environmental Law Association and a member of the City of London environmental law subcommittee and the Institution of Wastes Management.
Job of the week
Christine Storrs
New Job
Chief executive, York Housing Association
What will you be doing?
“I want to build on what the organisation has demonstrated it can do really well, raise its regional profile further and create a dynamic and responsive ‘can do’ culture.”
Old Job
Housing and care director at Look Ahead Housing and Care
First housing job
“Project worker in a small voluntary organisation in the North-east run as a women’s collective – very 1970s! – providing supported housing to single homeless women.”
How did you get there?
“I was working with young unemployed people as a careers officer, became involved in housing campaigning, and then made a sideways move into housing work.”
If you were housing minister what would you do?
“Make sure that housing legislation responds effectively to the needs of single homeless people. Too many people who end up on the streets have not been able to access the help with accommodation and support that they needed at the critical time.”
What kind of home do you live in?
“I have just become a tenant of a private rented ‘apartment’ –the private sector doesn’t seem to call them flats!”
Favourite book
“The Colour Purple.”
Favourite TV programme
“Sad but true, Coronation Street.”
Favourite films
“Local Hero and Doctor Zhivago.”
Why did you choose to become a chief executive and move to York?
“I am going to really enjoy establishing myself in a new organisation, and in a new area. There is lots to learn, and being at the head of the organisation gives me an opportunity to set longer-term objectives with a real chance to influence change for the benefit of local people. Also, being able to live in such a wonderful city and having either a five-minute journey by car or a 15-minute walk to work is just brilliant. It’s less than two hours from London, too.”
What did you want to be as a child?
“A tiller girl or a ballet dancer.”
Source
Housing Today
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