The Board

The Board meet regularly to decide the direction for the Association

Jolyon Harrison: Chair

Jolyon has a background in the house building industry and was primarily Chairman of The Home Builders Federation in Yorkshire and is Chairman of North Country Homes Group Ltd specialising in building low cost homes for people on low incomes in areas of industrial decline and social and economic deprivation. He is currently a member of the North East Housing Board, Chairman of JDP Rooflines, a regeneration company in the North East and Council member of The Home Builders Federation.

Peter Lumley: Deputy Chair

Peter joined the Board in December 2000. His background is in HR, and he now runs a personnel management and training consultancy.

Maureen O'Hare

Maureen joined the Board in December 2000. Until she retired she worked for William Sutton Trust, mainly specialising in development. She is now a Tenant Inspector with the Audit Commission and Chairs her local leasehold residents association.

Nigel Craddock: Chair of the Audit Committee

Nigel joined the Board in June 2003. He is a qualified accountant with a background in public sector finance, particularly within local authority housing and direct labour organisations. He currently works for Leeds Metropolitan University's Yorkshire First Foundation.

Abdul Rashid

Abdul joined the Board in June 2003. Abdul has a background in financial work, and has worked for Sadeh Lok Housing Association and is currently doing freelance financial work. Prior to this he worked in a bank.

Neil Townend

Neil joined the Board in June 2005. He has a background in housing as a private
landlord and is also involved in the development and management of commercial property. Prior to this Neil has held senior positions within the shopfitting industry.

Rick Elliott: Chair of Performance Committee

Rick Elliott joined the Board in June 2006. He has worked in housing for many years, latterly for the Housing Corporation as Head of Investment in Yorkshire. He is currently a freelance housing regeneration consultant.

Peter Francis

Peter joined the Board in June 2007. He has a long background in housing and has worked for a number of organisations including local authorities in London. He has recently moved up to Yorkshire.

Ruth Brigham

Ruth joined the Board in June 2007. She has worked in local government finance for over 40 years mainly as Finance Manager for the Community Services Department in York covering all financial aspects of housing and social care. More recently she has been a financial consultant to Hull City Council.

Elspeth Harrow

Elspeth Harrow is a solicitor and has 20 years experience in property matters. She has acted for Housing Associations in the past, dealing with acquisitions, shared ownership and funding from the Housing Corporation. Elspeth is currently a partner with Harrowell Shaftoe solicitors and specialises in residential conveyancing which can include a wide range of housing issues for a variety of clients.

Christine Burgess

Christine returned to the UK after 29 years in Holland where she worked in engineering in Sales and the Project Secretary.
For the last 5 years she has been a tenant of the Association.

Penny Stafford
Penny has been a tenant of the Association since 2004, and as a parent carer of a young disabled son has a particular interest in accessible social housing for families with disabled children. She has worked in the mental health field for a number of years and has a strong interest in and knowledge of mental health and housing issues.