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Berneslai Homes Board Members
Our Board comprise of ten members: a Chair; three Councillors, three Tenants; and three Independents.
The Board was appointed on the 1st December 2007 and coincides with a new contract between Berneslai Homes and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to run as an ALMO for a further five years. This will allow us to continue to focus on delivering first class services to our customers.
You can read more about our Board members below.
Berneslai Homes Chair, Suzy Brain England holds senior positions in public sector organisations. She is Chair of the Department of Work and Pensions Decision-making Standards Committee; a Non-Executive Director of the Mid-Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust and of Avanta, Enterprise and Welfare to Work specialists; a Director of Bradford and Airedale Care Partnerships, Hull Citycare, Doncaster Community Solutions and Barnsley Community Solutions. She mentors senior business people, is the former Chair of Connexions West Yorkshire and of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for England. She is a former Non-Executive Director with the Melton Mowbray Building Society. She was a finalist in the Yorkshire Director of the Year Awards 2008.
Phil Chambers is an independent member and runs a countryside and heritage consultancy promoting inclusive design in the outdoors. He formerly worked in education in Barnsley and also has experience as a Director of a national environmental charity. He is a Trustee of the Safe Anchor Trust, which enables everyone to enjoy and learn from having access to inland waterways and canal boating experiences. His main interests are sport, natural history and enabling everyone to enjoy the British countryside. Phil is the Chair of the Berneslai Homes Human Resources Committee.
Clair Wright is an independent member and has worked in housing for over ten years, in five different organisations, in a range of different roles. Until recently she worked for Sheffield Homes, specialising in customer service, and equality and diversity. Currently she is a full time mum to her one year old son, William, and lives in Denby Dale with her husband Richard. In her spare time Clair enjoys reading and is a member of two local reading groups and has recently completed a Masters Degree in English Literature with the Open University. She also enjoys walking in the countryside. Clair is the Chair of the Berneslai Homes Customer Services Committee and is the Equality and Diversity Champion.
Melvyn Lunn is an independent member and is a lifelong resident of Barnsley. He was educated at Barnsley Holgate Grammar School and is a Chartered Accountant with experience in both the public and private sector. Melvyn spent 17 years as a Finance Director in clothing manufacture and retailing and now runs his own accountancy practice. He is also a non-executive director of Barnsley Primary Care Trust and Chair of the Audit Committee, a co-opted member of Barnsley MBC Audit Committee, Treasurer of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Scouts and Treasurer and Trustee of Silverwood Scout Camp. Melvyn is the Chair of the Berneslai Homes Audit Committee.
Councillor Trevor Smith is one of three Independent Councillors for the Darfield Ward. He has been married to Maureen for 41 years and they have two children and four grand children. Trevor is the Secretary for the Royal British Legion, Darfield Branch, an honorary Poppy Appeal Organiser, a LEA representative for the Federated Governor of the Catholic Schools in the area and a governor of the new Valley J & I School in the Darfield Ward. He passed an Msc in Building and Building Development and Procurement at Nottingham University together with a teaching qualification Postgraduate Further Education at Huddersfield University. He also has qualifications in Health & Safety Risk Management. He enjoys reading history and listens to music of any type and loves to see films. Finally, he is a Beekeeper and Gardener. Trevor is on the Berneslai Homes Audit Committee.
Councillor Denise Wilde has been a Councillor for the Wombwell ward since 2003 and has worked hard to see improvements and investment into both Wombwell and Barnsley. She is the Deputy Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s’ Services and Adult Health and Social Care Services and recognises the need for well-maintained, affordable housing in a pleasant and safe environment in all housing sectors. Denise’s previous job was Property and Estate Manager with Royal Mail where she was responsible for large commercial buildings in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Hull. Prior to this she was a Customer Services Manager with Royal Mail dealing with complaints enquiries. She worked for many years on the post office counter at Barnsley and Wombwell when she transferred from the Department of Employment. At the Department of Employment she worked finding jobs for both able bodied and disabled people which she found very rewarding. Denise studied as a mature student at Barnsley college and gained A level passes in Psychology, Economics, Sociology and Politics and at Sheffield Business School and Open University for business qualifications. Denise is on the Berneslai Homes Customer Services Committee.
Councillor Joe Hayward has been a Councillor in the Cudworth Ward since 1999. Joe retired from Rexam Glass works in 1998 after 33 years, working in various engineering departments. He had the honour to be the Mayor of Barnsley 2005/6. He is currently attending part time at Birmingham University to study for a Masters Degree, having completed a Postgraduate Diploma. When taking time out Joe’s hobbies include: playing chess; walking and has recently completed a 42 mile walk over the North Yorkshire Moors raising money for different charities; fishing for Ardagh Glass works fishing club, where he is also Chairman. Joe is on the Berneslai Homes Human Resources Committee.
Amelia Lofts is a tenant member. She is currently working at Darton High School as the Study Support Team Leader, teaching all subjects to all year groups within the Higher Level Teaching Assistants Department. She studied for five years at University and obtained a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters in Communications with Media and Public Relations. Mel also works as a fitness and gym instructor for Barnsley Premier Leisure, based at the Metrodome where she teaches a range of classes. Her hobbies include: reading; dancing; keeping fit; going to the cinema and theatre; and travelling whenever possible. She loves music and often attends gigs and festivals across the country. She is an artistic individual and enjoys viewing exhibitions, investing in arts and crafts and creating pieces of her own. Amelia is on the Berneslai Homes Marketing and Communications Committee and the Human Resources Committee.
Joan Whittaker is a tenant member. She was born and raised in London and began her working life as a junior secretary and progressed to being General Manager of an association representing the legal profession in dealings with Government. Joan moved to Barnsley in 2001 and with support from her husband and the tenants who elected her she has served on the Board of Berneslai Homes since 2004. Her interests are in music (preferably 60’s and 70’s); reading; and embroidery. Joan is currently studying at Northern College for the National Certificate in Tenant Participation and Neighbourhood Renewal. Joan is on the Berneslai Homes Customer Services Committee and is also the Customer Champion.
Tony Alcock is a tenant member. He has been a member of the Board since the inception in 2002, and was a member of the team that assisted Barnsley Council to set up the ALMO. Tony has served as Vice Chair for two years, chaired many Committees and Board meetings, and has represented Berneslai Homes on many occasions. He sits as a Magistrate on the Barnsley Bench and also serves on the Bench Committee. Tony is also the Chair of his local Neighbourhood Association, an associate member of Yorkshire and Humberside Tenants and Residents Association and an independent member of TAROE.
Tony is formerly a member of the South Yorkshire Police Authority Standards Committee and also sat on the Yorkshire and Humberside Independent Members’ Forum. He is married and has a son and a daughter. Tony is self employed and enjoys most sports and has supported Barnsley Football Club for many years. Tony is on the Berneslai Homes Audit Committee.
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