NHC welcomes new Board Members
The NHC welcomes new non-exec directors to our member-led board. Appointed at our AGM at the end of 2022, the new Board appointments bring a range of experience across housing, local and central government:
Pam Smith is Chief Executive at Newcastle City Council. Pam Smith joined Newcastle City Council as chief executive in January 2022, having been chief executive at Stockport Council since 2017. In her previous role she was also Greater Manchester’s lead CEO for the Age Friendly Greater Manchester partnership and she continues to be the Solace network’s lead spokesperson for housing. Pam was previously chief executive at Burnley Council and has also worked for the Audit Commission.
Jane Everton joins us as a co-opted director. Jane was previously Deputy Director of the Social Housing Division at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing Communities. Jane was responsible for national policy on social housing, including development and implementation of the Social Housing White Paper and the Social Housing Regulation Bill until April 2022. She has held senior roles in government on the private rented sector & leasehold, planning, community cohesion and faith, and in supported housing and homelessness. She is a Board member of Newlon Housing Trust and Chair of Outward, a care and support charity within the Newlon Group. Jane was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours.
Liz Cook is Director of Housing at Bury Council. Liz joined Bury Council in May 2022 as the Director of Housing .She has worked in public sector housing for over 30 years as Service Director of Housing at Chesterfield Borough Council, has been the CEO of an ALMO, Chief Housing Officer at Leeds Council, Programme Director for Vulnerable People at Sheffield Council and Assistant Director of Housing at Barnsley Council, gaining extensive experience delivering strategic and operational leadership in a range of different organisations. Liz started her career delivering housing management and regeneration in East London. Liz is currently Board Director at Unity HA and Chair’s their HR & Governance Committee and has been a Director on ONGO Homes Board.
Naz Parkar is Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods at Kirklees Metropolitan Council. Naz Parkar has worked in the housing sector for over 30 years and was chief operating officer at Anchor Trust between 1995 and 2005. Naz worked at the Homes and Communities Agency from its creation in 2008 and became the agency’s Executive Director for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber in 2014. Naz became a director at Kirklees Council in 2017.
Dave Richmond is Chief Executive at St Leger Homes of Doncaster. Dave Richmond became chief executive of St Leger Homes in 2020, having spent over 30 years working in local government, the last ten of which were in charge of Rotherham and then Hull’s housing departments, turning both into highly performing well regarded services.
Commenting on the new appointments, NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:
“We’re fortunate to have such a talented and respected Board of Management at the NHC and I feel very privileged to welcome such high calibre additions to the Board in our latest intake. They bring a diverse range of perspectives, complementing our existing Board members, and I’m looking forward to working with the refreshed Board to deliver on our mission to bring together housing in the north to develop insight, influence and solutions for our members.”
NHC Board Chair Paul Fiddaman (CEO Karbon Homes) was confirmed in post for a further year, with Charlie Norman (CEO MSV Housing) continuing her role as Vice-Chair of the Board.
The NHC’s Board meets on a quarterly basis to set the strategic direction of the organisation. Directors are appointed from Full member organisations and nominations are reviewed against a skills matrix of existing Directors to ensure that they are suitable to fill any vacancies as well as fully reflecting the sectoral geographical diversity of our membership, and across equality measures.
