The Board

Lesley Beddie BSc, CEng
Lesley joined the University of Durham in October 2003 as the Director of Information Technology Services.  She was previously Director of Communications at the Scottish Parliament where she was responsible for all IT and broadcasting. Lesley joined the Board in August 2003.

Lizanne Burton
Lizanne is a disabled tenant living in an Association development in Edinburgh. She has been involved in various voluntary posts relating to children with special needs and their parents. More recently she has returned to education attending a college course in psychology. Lizanne joined the board in June 2005.

Grant Carson BSc (Hons), MSc - Chair
Grant was an MBHA tenant for over 10 years and has been disabled since early childhood. He has a longstanding interest in housing for disabled people and is currently Manager, Housing and Employment Services within The Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL). Grant is also a member of the Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board and a member of the Scottish Accessible Information Forum (SAIF) which promotes the provision of accessible information in Scotland. Additionally, he is an experienced Disability Equality Trainer who has trained thousands of staff for many local authorities and other agencies. Grant joined the Board in December 1998 and was appointed Chair in February 2007.

Ron Carthy MA (Hons), MSc, MIPD 
Ron is the Culture & Community Services Manager with Clackmannanshire Council. He has extensive management experience in the fields of general management, Human Resources and Information Technology within the housing association, health board and government sectors. Ron joined the Board in July 2002.

Andy Drane LLB (Hons), LLM, Dip LP, NP
Andy is a partner with Davidson Chalmers Commercial Lawyers specialising in property development and construction law. He acts for a wide variety of clients involved in all aspects of both the residential and commercial property sectors. He also has specialist expertise and interest in advising parties operating in the health sector and is currently the principal legal adviser to The Financial Health Centre which is a web based service providing legal, accounting and financial advice to GP's. Andy joined the Board in June 2004.
 

Alex Duncan
Alex has been a tenant of MBHA for 17 years. He is a qualified engineer and has spent a long time designing robot systems for heavy industry and the aircraft industry. An ex-Board member, he spent 19 years caring for his disabled wife. He had to resign in July 2004 to provide 24-hour care for her; his return to the Board brings valuable experience and knowledge of the care industry from a practical prospective.

Stephen Gallagher MA
Stephen is Head of Improvement and Support for the NHS in Scotland and Leads National Improvement Programmes and Support as part of the Delivery Group. Prior to that he was an Associate Director and Programme Manager with the Centre for Change and Innovation. He was a key contributor to the development and implementation of the Joint Future agenda - bringing together health, housing and social work services to deliver joint and person centred community care services. Stephen joined the Board in April 2003.

Ian Gerono MA, MBA
Ian has 30 years’ service in local government having worked in various roles with the London Borough of Ealing, Dundee City Council and Perth and Kinross Council. Latterly, as Head of Housing Strategy at Perth and Kinross he was Supporting People Lead Officer, led production and implementation of the Council’s first Housing Business Plan, Local Housing Strategy and Standard Delivery Plan and chaired the Local Housing Forum. He also led the P&K Community Planning Partnership’s Local Regeneration Strategy. A constant theme throughout his career has been joint working between housing and community care to foster independent living and sustainable communities. Ian was appointed to the Board as a co-opted member in October 2008.

Bill Grant MCIBS
Bill is a Management Consultant specialising in Change Management, Finance and Technology consulting, largely for local government and the voluntary sector. His background includes senior appointments in the banking and voluntary sectors, as well as founder of one of Scotland’s most successful Internet businesses. Bill has also held a number of respected public appointments including past president of a Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of several small businesses. He is a current member of the Scottish Parliament’s cross party group on the Scottish Economy. Bill joined the Board in October 2006.

Marian Jacobs BA (Econ), Dip TP
Since initially volunteering with the Assist project in Govan, Marian has had more than 30 years experience in the housing association movement in Glasgow and was director of Thenew Housing Association until 2004. After retirement she and her husband have undertaken voluntary work in a training college for orthopaedic technology in Tanzania and became directors of a primary school there. Other experience has included non-executive roles in community and voluntary organisations and as trustee of Greater Glasgow Primary Care Trust. Marian was appointed to the Board as a co-opted member in October 2008.

Bob Millar CA
Bob is Chief Executive of New City Vision, an organisation involved in large scale housing-led urban renewal and regeneration projects. He was also formerly Chief Executive of Scottish Homes/Communities Scotland and a director of Miller Homes. Bob joined the Board in July 2004.

Dr Sam Wamuziri MBA
Sam is a chartered civil engineer and has over 20 years’ experience in teaching, research and practice in this area. He is currently Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Napier University, Edinburgh and has additional administrative responsibilities as Director of Postgraduate Studies in the School. Sam is active in research and consultancy and has authored over 30 technical research papers. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA) and a member of the Editorial Board of an International Journal – Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law. Sam joined the Board in October 2006.