Executive team and Board members

Chief Executive

Jas joined Hafod in July 2017 from the Accord Group and brings substantial experience having worked in the Housing Association Sector in England for 15 years as Chief Executive overseeing the Group’s subsidiary companies across Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull.

Executive Director of Operations 

Tracey has worked in the social housing sector in Wales for 25+ years in various senior roles and leads our Governance, Compliance, Risk, Business Continuity and Data Protection teams.

Executive Director of People

Karen has previously worked in the private sector with Compass and previously with Comet Group plc and Castleoak Group where she has led on HR as well as leading on various successful organisation change programmes. An experienced coach leader, Karen’s industry experience spans retail, construction, hospitality, catering and the social care sector.

Chief Financial Officer

Sara joined Hafod as CFO in August 2024 following roles as Finance Director in both Housing and Education sectors. She is an experienced finance professional with skills in change management, systems implementation, business planning and treasury. Sara trained at PricewaterhouseCoopers and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Executive Director of Communities and Integration

Elke joined Hafod in 2019 after 15 years within the banking industry, followed by 15 years in local government. She has extensive experience of working in Social Care and Housing, and amongst other roles has led on the strategic housing function alongside statutory and other responsibilities associated with landlord, housing renewal and commissioning functions.

Director of Innovation and Partnerships

Jamie has worked in research and analysis roles in the public sector since 2002, following completion of his PhD. Prior to joining Hafod in 2018, he worked for the Welsh Government as Head of Public Services Research, where he worked primarily on evaluation of policies and programmes and in building capacity around the use of evidence across public services.

Director of Care

Sherri was appointed Director of Care in 2021 and leads the strategic delivery and direction of our residential, nursing and domiciliary care services. With 24 years leadership and management experience, Sherri has worked with a number of private, public and third sector organisations to analyse and identify service improvements, devising focused strategic plans to execute transformations on delivery, optimising service provision.

Responsible Individual (RI)

Since joining Hafod in 2005, Marc has worked in various health and social care roles in the organisation. Most recently, he was a Regional Lead for Care where he has further developed strong working relationships with local authority and health board partners and commissioners. Prior to Hafod, he worked in a legal compliance role for a merchant bank.

Board Chair

Neil has been a Board member since 2018 and was appointed as Chair of the Hendre Board in May 2023. He previously chaired the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee from 2019 to 2023. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and then spent over 16 years in the South Wales steel industry with Tata Steel. From 2017 Neil was a Finance Director with Stemcor Global Holdings Group based at its HQ in London, before joining UK Windows & Doors Group Limited in May 2020 as Chief Financial Officer. In May 2023 he joined Premier Forest Products Limited, one of the UK’s top timber companies, as Chief Financial Officer.

Board Vice Chair

A qualified nurse since 1991, Teresa has extensive nursing, management and leadership experience across public, private and voluntary sectors in a range of disciplines. CEO of a specialist healthcare company for individuals with complex needs and Acquired Brain Injury until 2016, Teresa moved on to join Hafod as a Board member in 2019, becoming Vice Chair of the Hendre Board in 2022. Prior to moving from Wales to England, Teresa was also Chair of Newport Mind and continues to work in Cardiff as well-being lead for a corporate finance company.

Board Member

Moawia has a wealth of senior experience in housing, investments, social care, criminal justice and education spanning nearly 20 years. Currently, he is an Investments Director and is also a Regional Co-ordinator (Wales) for Care after Combat. Moawia also holds a number of non-executive director and public appointment roles including Senior Independent Panel Member for Welsh Government and Council member for the Community Health Council South Glamorgan.

Board Member

Ceri is an experienced senior manager with a track record of achievement in senior roles in national government, health and other public services. He retired as a senior civil servant in 2017 and currently works as a freelance consultant whilst also holding voluntary roles as Vice Chair of Shelter Cymru. Ceri is passionate about preventing and ending homelessness, tackling health inequalities, and helping vulnerable people to live as independently as possible. In the past, he has led in the development and implementation of primary and secondary legislation, including the development of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, which was Wales’ first ever Housing Act. Ceri is the Chair of our Remuneration, Appointments and Governance Committee.

Board Member

Tina Donnelly, CBE, TD, DL, was the Director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales and a member of RCN UK Executive team between 2004 and 2018. During her career she has held management posts in the NHS, senior academic posts in higher education across the UK. Tina also worked as a civil servant in the Chief Nursing Office advising on health, nursing policy, regulation, human resources, research and education.

Board Member

Michael was appointed as the Chair of the  Hafod Housing Board in May 2023. He has worked at a senior level in the Housing Sector for over 30 years, and has a wide range of experience. He is a specialist in Asset Management, and has significant experience of dealing with issues, including investment planning, service delivery, DLOs, procurement, strategic contract management, acquisitions and disposals / stock rationalisation and development. His roles have included working at director level in both Asset Management and Development within the Housing Sector and also as a Consultant. Michael also chairs our Schedule 1 Committee.

Board Member

David Michael has recently retired from his role of Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Resources) for the National Library of Wales, having worked there since 1999 when he was appointed as the Director of Finance. He qualified as an accountant in 1991 as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and was elected a Fellow in 2018. He is also a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply in 2012. David is a fluent Welsh speaker. David is Chair of our Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.

Board Member

David is a senior digital leader with experience across the public and private sectors. Having most recently led a public - private consortium on a major 5G mobile technology programme, David was previously Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Point Limited, a wholly owned Welsh Government agency charged with driving the digital innovation agenda in Wales. Prior to this David held senior roles in Welsh Government driving the digital agenda as Director of Digital Wales and Director of Relationship Management & Innovation. Currently serving on the Boards of Hendre/Hafod, Cardiff Metropolitan University as well as several technology businesses.

Board Chair

Michael was appointed as the Chair of the  Hafod Housing Board in May 2023. He has worked at a senior level in the Housing Sector for over 30 years, and has a wide range of experience. He is a specialist in Asset Management, and has significant experience of dealing with issues, including investment planning, service delivery, DLOs, procurement, strategic contract management, acquisitions and disposals / stock rationalisation and development. His roles have included working at director level in both Asset Management and Development within the Housing Sector and also as a Consultant. Michael also chairs our Schedule 1 Committee.

Board Member

Helen is the Market Engagement Lead at the UK Health Security Agency, leading transformation projects to improve commercial processes and ensure UKHSA has the right partners in place to deliver the right products and services to protect the public’s health security. Helen has twenty years of experience in business development, political advocacy, commercial partnerships, stakeholder engagement, policy development and media relations.

Board Member

David Michael has recently retired from his role of Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Resources) for the National Library of Wales, having worked there since 1999 when he was appointed as the Director of Finance. He qualified as an accountant in 1991 as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and was elected a Fellow in 2018. He is also a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply in 2012. David is a fluent Welsh speaker. David is Chair of our Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.

Board Member

Stacey is Neighbourhood Housing Manager at Cadwyn Housing Association and a former board member and Chair of Governance and Risk at Stori Cymru. Stacey holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Housing Policy and has 18 years comprehensive housing sector experience, including as a national advisor to central government on matters of Welfare Reform. She has a history of introducing and maintaining a culture of continual improvement embedded in a strong moral compass. Passionate about people and communities Stacey believes in providing support and opportunities that bring about a sense of pride and betterment to oneself and our communities.

Board Member

Hugh is the Chief Executive of Children in Wales, an organisation dedicated to ensuring that children living in Wales can access their rights and have their voices heard in decisions made about them. Prior to joining Children in Wales, Hugh worked in a variety of different areas of housing and homelessness prevention. He has spent considerable time campaigning on behalf of homeless young people, working across a number of roles at Llamau, and is Chair of the Project Board of Tai Ffres, an innovative, youth focused housing provider. He has also recently led on work to empower communities to take control of the delivery of their own housing, aa manager of the Communities Creating Homes programme at Cwmpas. 

Board Member

Moawia has a wealth of senior experience in housing, investments, social care, criminal justice and education spanning nearly 20 years. Currently, he is an Investments Director and is also a Regional Co-ordinator (Wales) for Care after Combat. Moawia also holds a number of non-executive director and public appointment roles including Senior Independent Panel Member for Welsh Government and Council member for the Community Health Council South Glamorgan.

Board Member

Farida is a Senior Manager in the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Housing Directorate and has worked in social housing for over 17 years. Farida has a wealth of knowledge in policy development and strategy implementation in areas related to housing management, community development/investment income maximisation/recovery and Tenant Participation and inclusion. Farida also had a keen interest in Social Care, and Chair’s Fitness to practice panels for Social Care Wales so understands the regulatory nature of social care work. Farida also holds a master’s degree in public administration and, is committed to serving the public/voluntary sector with active participation on a range of boards, such as TPAS and CIH Cymru.

Board Member

Caroline is a housing professional currently working as a Senior Consultant in the Housing and Health team at Building Research Establishment (BRE). She works with local authorities to help them understand the present condition of their housing stock and identify potential improvements in relation to improving housing quality, reducing fuel poverty, and enhancing the health and well-being of their residents. Caroline has a strong academic background which includes a BSc (Hons) degree in Building Surveying, an MSt (Cantab) in Building History, and a Housing and Health PHd. Caroline has a particular interest and experience in housing quality, healthcare, fuel poverty and achieving net zero carbon targets.
 

Board Member

Tina Donnelly, CBE, TD, DL, was the Director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales and a member of RCN UK Executive team between 2004 and 2018. During her career she has held management posts in the NHS, senior academic posts in higher education across the UK. Tina also worked as a civil servant in the Chief Nursing Office advising on health, nursing policy, regulation, human resources, research and education.

Board Member

Peter qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and has dedicated much of his career to advising on construction and development schemes across sectors. His expertise includes significant collaborations with social housing providers, the public sector and national contractors. Having worked across construction and procurement law, Peter has extensive experience of advising on commercial contracts and different infrastructure funding. Working at a senior level in the Welsh Government, Peter spearheads the infrastructure investment strategy and oversees the successful delivery of a large public infrastructure programme. Peter holds voluntary roles as Chair of a Finance and Buildings Committee for a Church in Wales charity, Ministry Area Council member and Charity Trustee.