THE BOARD
David Wood - Chair
David joined the Board shortly after its inception and has served as Treasurer, Vice-Chair and Chair.
He has worked in both public and private sectors in mainly accounting and financial management capacities. After several Financial Advisor roles, his latest position was as Financial Manager of a Credit Union, before retirement.
With a strong interest in housing and tenant matters David has long been involved with his local Tenant Association as well as the Scottish Tenants Organisation.
Currently David is occupied with a charitable social enterprise, which he helped to set up. It's aim is to reduce landfill through recycling household goods while providing training and employment opportunities. Major funding and asset transfer of premises have been agreed, hopefully allowing operations to begin in 2018, after essential refurbishment is undertaken.
Jenny Greener - Vice Chair
Jenny has lived in the North East for 34 years and has an adult daughter with a learning difficulty who has faced issues with finding appropriate housing.
Originally trained as a speech and language therapist, Jenny was an academic in Sociology and related health care research and teaching for 10 years at Aberdeen University. She has served as a non-executive member of Grampian Health Board for three years. Currently she is a lay representative with NHS Education Scotland. She has travelled extensively and lived for several years overseas.
She has been involved with Houseability since its inception and has serviced as Secretary and Chair. She is Chair of the Central Aberdeenshire Access Panel, and a board member of Langstane Housing Association. She is also involved with Inverurie DAYS (formerly he Harlaw Association) and is a volunteer with Cats Protection. Her hobbies include singing and exercising.
Anne Allan - Director
Anne is a Councillor for the Peterhead North and Rattray ward of Aberdeenshire Council, and is the opposition spokesperson on the Communities Committee, and a member fo the Community Planning Partnership Board.
She has a long involvement with Housing going back to her days as an active tenant before she was first elected in 1999.
In the little time she has free from council duties, Anne is a keen family historian and is secretary of the Family History Society of Buchan.
She is also a member of the Buchan Community Safety Group, the Hatton Residents Association and the Peterhead and Buchan Fairtrade Group. She joined the Board of Houseability in 2012.
Robert Smith - Director
Robert Smith is a Professor of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of the West of Scotland and was formerly a Police Constable with Grampian Police.
Robert has experience in working with Third Sector organisations.
Rob is a valued member because of his academic skills. He is married to Valery Smith.
Valery Smith - Director
Before retiring, Valery Smith was formerly a Learning Coordinator in Aberdeenshire with LEAD Scotland. Prior to that she has extensive CLD experience with Aberdeenshire Council and was also a Sports Coach.
She has a wealth of experience in the Third Sector and with working with volunteers. Val is very much a people person. She is a valued Board Member because of her practical experience.
Les Allan - Director
A Glaswegian, Les has lived in the North East for 27 years having come to the area to work for Banff & Buchan District Council as a Depute Director . At re-organisation of the local government in 1996 he became Head of Housing for North Aberdeenshire. Laterley, Les took on the role of Area Manager for the Marr area of Aberdeenshire. He retired in 2014.
As well as being a Director of Houseability, Les is also the chair of Osprey Housing Moray, a housing association and charity. Chair of Huntly and District Development Trust, a charity and social enterprise which is involved in a range of community projects.
Les is married to a very hard working Primary Headteacher, has a daughter, 4 sons, and a grandaughter. He does housework and plays golf in his spare time.
Elizabeth Chubb - Director
Liz is retired and lives in Hatton, she has been a client of Houseability in the past and after using the service and seeing the benefits, she wanted to become more involved by joining the Board. She enjoys a busy life with lots of hobbies including art, writing and music.
Brian Watson - Director
Brian has over 40 years' of experience in public sector Housing. Previous roles included senior positions in local government as Director of Housing and Property with the former Banff & Buchan District Council before becoming the First District Manager for Grampian, Highlands and Islands with the Government's former National Housing Agency, Scottish Homes, where he played a lead role in transferring SSHA housing to Cooperatives and providing development funding to Housing Associations.
After short spells in the private construction & development sector, he returned to local government with Aberdeenshire Council in 2004, initially as a Housing Manager, and latterly as Acting Head of Housing, a post he held for a year before retiring at the end of 2016.
THE STAFF
Anne Mair - Service Manager
Anne has over 20 years experience working in the Housing sector. Previously she was employed by Aberdeenshire Council Housing department and Langstane Housing Association.
In 2003, Anne joined Houseability and enjoys the busy and varied role of Service Manager. She has responsibility for the operational running of the service and reports directly to The Board on progress. Her job is wide ranging and includes client case work, sourcing funding, developing partnership working, financial management and staff supervision. She has a professional development awards in Housing Law Advice and in Leadership.
Anne enjoys walking and wild water swimming when she has free time.