About us

Ian is Chair of the Board and has been a Board member since 2009.  Previously he served for more than thirty years for the Fire and Rescue Service, holding board level responsibility for risk and resilience, learning and development, HR, health and safety, information and communication technology, research and development and diversity as well as sharing the corporate responsibility for the overall performance and budgetary status of the service.  

Having attended many incidents in people’s homes, this unrivalled experience taught Ian the importance of the relationship between community safety, social housing provision and the community well-being.

Through this experience and expertise, Ian is able to play a positive role in helping to lead livin to its continued future success. Ian is also a Master of Business Administration and holds professional qualifications in Human Resource Management and Health and Safety Audit as well as being a past member of the board of the National Tenants Voice.

Alan has been a Board member with livin since 2012 and is Vice-Chair of the Board.  He is a member of the Human Resources and Remuneration, Housing and Communities and Assets and Development committees and sits on the Board of the new homes subsidiary.

Most of Alan’s working life has been in transport and distribution in a variety of operational and management roles. Since retiring he has trained and worked in the voluntary sector, with a particular interest in welfare rights and benefits.

Values of social justice, decency, a strong Christian background and belief in the strength of the family are key drivers in Alan’s approach.  Alan is committed to making a meaningful contribution to livin’s success as a housing provider, which benefits tenants, their families and communities.

Adele has been a Board member since 2014 and previously chaired the HR & Remuneration Committee.  She is currently a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Human Resources and Remuneration Committee and is Chair of the Housing and Communities Committee.

A graduate of sociology, Adele has worked in health and social care for over 14 years in local government and voluntary organisations, and has managed an information service providing advice to disabled people and carers about a variety of issues including housing and employment.

Adele believes in quality service provision having worked for Durham County Council Children and Adults Services with responsibility for the Services Quality Assurance Programme and Policy Framework. Currently Community Events Manager for Darlington Elim church she is responsible for the development and delivery of community outreach events, and is passionate about building strong community links. 

David has been a member of the Board since September 2016.  He is currently a member of the Audit and Risk and Assets and Development committees and sits on the Board of the new homes subsidiary.  

Masters qualified, David, has worked as an independent environmental consultant since 2013 and brings experience and knowledge of planning, project management and the environment after a career in local government and both the private and public sector.

David believes the natural environment can dramatically affect the quality of the places where people live and views achieving a balance between maximising the use of assets and delivering social value as key to being a successful housing provider. 

Oliver has been a Board member with livin since 2015 and is currently Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.  He is also a member of the Assets and Development Committee and sits on the Board of the new homes subsidiary. 

A Durham University graduate, Oliver has built three successful businesses and is a qualified accountant.  With over 25 years’ experience Oliver runs a management consultancy business and has helped a broad range of organisations and individuals reach their full potential through strategic business advice and enabling them to ‘do things better’. 

Oliver’s business and finance skills bring commercial acumen to livin’s Board, underpinned by his belief that everyone deserves a decent home regardless of their background.

Norman has been a Board member since November 2016.  He is currently Chair of the Human Resources and Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

With a professional career in human resources and management consultancy, Norman has also, in previous roles been responsible for developing community services and providing excellent customer support. 

Brought up in a council house, Norman, is proud of what good social housing can offer to tenants and the respect and self-worth it can bring to those it supports.  He is committed to ensuring livin’s tenants receive great services delivered with care, courtesy fairness and respect.

Dennis has been a Board member since November 2016 and prior to that he was Chair of livin’s Scrutiny Group.  He is currently Chair of the Assets and Development Committee and sits on the new homes subsidiary Board.  He is also a member of the Housing and Communities and the Human Resources and Remuneration committees. 

With two master’s degrees, Dennis has over 40 years’ experience in the public sector. Driven by a strong social conscience and experience of the workings of large, complex organisations Dennis spends his time since retiring assisting as a Chair of Governors as well as his work with livin.  

Dennis believes that a secure, affordable home is a necessity for all and is committed to bringing his experience and skills to help support the Board.

Charlotte has been a Board member since February 2017.  She is currently on the Assets and Development and Housing and Communities committees and sits on the new homes subsidiary Board. 

With over 20 years’ experience in the housing sector across a variety of housing organisations, Charlotte began her career in London working for a Latin American Housing Co-operative which was part of a wider network of agencies working with the Latin American community.  Since then Charlotte worked in the South West and North East before joining the Northern Housing Consortium where she led the policy and public affairs service for 12 years.

Charlotte is passionate about the role housing can play in supporting opportunity for both individuals and communities and is committed to bringing her experience and knowledge to the Board.

Mark has been a member of the new homes subsidiary Board since September 2016.      

Holding a Bachelor of Science degree, Mark’s career has seen him perform multiple roles in building surveying, construction and maintenance.

With the lifelong belief that social housing really can make a difference to the vulnerable Mark brings with him 26 years of helping disabled people access good housing.   Mark has a broad understanding of housing matters and a wealth of property and asset management knowledge and during his career has established relationships with key stakeholders to represent local issues in the community.