The Board of Management
We are governed by a voluntary Board including tenants and professionals in various fields. Our Board oversees our strategic direction, reviews progress, and advises senior management. Meet our Board Members:
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. She has also undertaken a college course in psychology. Lizanne joined the board in June 2005.
Grant Carson BSc (Hons), MSc - Chair
Grant was a Blackwood tenant for over 10 years and has been disabled since early childhood. He worked for MBHA as a Welfare Rights Officer for three years and has a longstanding interest in housing and equality issues for disabled people. Grant is currently Director, Employment & Housing Services within the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL) and currently holds two public appointments as a Non Executive Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board and a Tribunal Member for the Ministry of Justice. Grant joined the Board in December 1998 and was appointed Chair in February 2007.
Ron Carthy MA (Hons), MSc, MIPD
Ron is the Manager at Community Ability Network. 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.
Alex Duncan
Alex has been a Blackwood tenant 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. Alex was appointed to the Board in May 2009.
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 in October 2008 and has been Chair of the Quality Committee since November 2009.
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 currently a voluntary Trustee of Grand Central Savings Bank, a registered charity providing banking to homeless people. Bill was appointed to the Board in September 2006 and has been Chair of the Audit Committee since June 2007.
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 in October 2008.
Eileen McDade BSc(Hons), CQSW, Dip Counselling and Supervision
Eileen has worked in the field of Social Care and Housing across various voluntary sector organisations for over 30 years. She worked as a Senior Manager at Queens Cross Housing Association and more recently at Glasgow Simon Community. Eileen is now working as a Counselling Team Leader with the NHS, based at the Sandyford Counselling Service in Glasgow. She is both a volunteer and a Board member for Maryhill Credit Union and a Board member for Queens Cross Workspace and Glasgow Homelessness Network.
Bob Millar CA
Bob is a Director 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 and was appointed Chair of the Board of Margaret Blackwood Technical Consultants (MBTC) in January 2005.
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.
