Orkney Housing Association
Quality Affordable Homes for Orkney
Tel: (01856) 875253
Email: enquiries@ohal.org.uk
Tel: (01856) 875253
Email: enquiries@ohal.org.uk
We are the Orkney Housing Association, Limited (OHAL): a charitable not-for-profit organisation established in 1985, and the only housing association operating within Orkney.
I wished to join the Committee as I felt that I could contribute the experience and knowledge I have gained from studying public relations and renewable energy as well as my background in fuel poverty to the Association and at the same time develop my own skills and further learning in relation to Governance and good practice.
My main focus in both my role as a Committee Member and at THAW is to be able to help support people to ensure that they are warmer and are living more comfortably in their homes.
I joined the Management Committee in 2011 and was elected to the Chair in 2014.
My experience, gained working as a General Manager, gave me wide and varied skills in planning, performance management and community care development which have been relevant to the work of the Association Committee.
I am also a director of HI-Scot Credit Union, a ‘community bank’ which promotes responsible saving and borrowing by its members.
I enjoy spending my free time with my family, including three grandchildren and being out of doors.
I joined the Association management Committee in 2012 and was elected as Vice Chair in 2014. My previous career in the Northern Constabulary gave me a good understanding of the matters faced by social landlords. I enjoy using my skills to benefit the wider community in which we operate. Currently I am Reverend at the Episcopal Church and Elected member for Kirkwall East. In my spare time I enjoy hill walking, climbing and wildlife watching.
I have spent my career in Accountancy in the private sector managing all aspects of financial reporting and forecasting.
I am dedicated to working with the committee colleagues to achieve our aims whilst helping to ensure that the Association is well governed and exercises prudent financial management.
I enjoy keeping active by playing badminton.
I began my career in teaching in 1978 working at both Primary Schools in Kirkwall. Before becoming Head teacher of Stromness Primary School until1988. I became an Assistant Director of Education here in Orkney with responsibility for pupils with additional support needs. I remained in this post until 2005 when I became Assistant Chief Executive, again here in Orkney. I left this post and the Council I 2011 and am now happily classed as “retired”!
I was appointed to the role of Depute Lord Lieutenant in January 2018 and spend my time supporting a variety of local charities (Voluntary Action Orkney, Orkney Folk Festival, Pier Arts Centre, St Magnus International Festival). I also spend time touring the UK as half of a singer-songwriter folk roots duo.
My professional career has been spent as a Chartered Surveyor and I ran my own business in Orkney for many years. My experience of the local housing market and building procurement process provides a balance to the skills of other members. I believe that the provision of good quality housing is essential to the well-being of our communities and I am delighted to be involved with the Association helping to achieve this aim.
In my free time I can be found in my garden, out walking and following my local football and rugby teams.
I first met the Association Committee on a visit to Stromness Community Garden, of which I was Treasurer. OHAL had been very supportive of the group and leased the site to the Community Garden. On meeting the other members their enthusiasm encouraged me to join the Committee when a vacancy was advertised.
Good housing is fundamental to everyone’s well-being and having an opportunity to support the local housing association and its tenants, current and future, in any way I can, is important to me.
I was first co-opted onto the Management Committee in 2014, having been introduced by two Members; John Stockan & Fr Dave Dawson.
My interest was piqued to become more involved with island life having moved to Orkney in 2011, following my career in Management in the Chemical Industry.
I am passionate about supporting the provision for social housing in our local community. The role enables me to promote good governance in organisations that are responsible for spending public/taxpayers money.
I was one of the founder members, even being involved in a Steering Committee prior to OHAL being formed over 30 years ago. In this time I have watched the Association grow from the first properties to completing the 1000th home in 2017.
I’m just a person who cares and thinks people deserve good quality housing in Orkney. One of the good things about a Housing Association Committee is that you see tangible outputs from your efforts - you see houses going up, and people moving in, which is rewarding.
I first joined the Management Committee at the start of 2016, having retired from my career working in the textile industry based at West Yorkshire. After moving to Orkney and finding out about the Association I thought that my management skills would make a helpful contribution to the Committee.
In my spare time I enjoy travelling, and can speak French, German & Italian. I am enjoying learning about the rich Orkney Culture & Heritage.
