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.

Corporate Director - Assets, Customer Strategy and Assurance

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.

Corporate Director - People, Communications and IT

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.

Interim Corporate Director - Finance, Investments and Development

Chris is an experienced Finance and Resources Director and Company Secretary and has been involved with the social housing sector for 30 years. He gained extensive experience in social housing having delivered projects across a range of housing providers including Midland Heart, Regenda, Plus Dane and Housing Plus as well as some of the largest local authority landlords.

Corporate Director - Housing and Support

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 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

Teresa has worked in a nursing and managerial capacity for over 30 years, with experience across all care sectors. Since retiring as Managing Director of her own specialist residential healthcare company in late 2016, she now works as an Independent Management Consultant, supporting both new entrepreneurs and established businesses.

Teresa is also the Chair of Newport Mind Board, and has recently completed a qualification in advanced Investigation Practice.

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 and as a mentor to young people with The Prince’s Trust Cymru.

Board Member

Tina Donnelly 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

Mike 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. 

Board Member

David Michael is the 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.

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, Airbus Endeavr, Cardiff Metropolitan University as well as several technology businesses, David also represents Welsh Government’s interests in the Alacrity Foundation.
 

Board Member

Dawn has a wide range of board experience, is recognised as a Growth Coach to companies as part of the Accelerated Growth Programme in Wales and heads up a progressive and successful menopause Clinic.

A natural strategic thinker recognised as a pragmatic and inspiring leader with wide industry sector experience and a proven track record in taking concepts to market; ensuring organisations have the infrastructures, people, systems and processes in place to develop or assist in turning around under-performing businesses and teams into profitable, happy and sustainable entitles.

Board Chair

Mike 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. 

Board Vice Chair

Teresa has worked in a nursing and managerial capacity for over 30 years, with experience across all care sectors. Since retiring as Managing Director of her own specialist residential healthcare company in late 2016, she now works as an Independent Management Consultant, supporting both new entrepreneurs and established businesses.

Teresa is also the Chair of Newport Mind Board, and has recently completed a qualification in advanced Investigation Practice.

Board Member

Helen is the National Head of Business Development and Industry Engagement at Technology Enabled Care Cymru, heading up development and engagement for the programme supporting the transformation of health and care services in Wales through implementing new technology.

Helen has twenty years of experience in business development, political advocacy, commercial partnerships, stakeholder engagement, policy development and media relations.

Board Member

David Michael is the 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.

Board Member

Katherine joined the Hafod Board in January 2015. She chaired the Landlord and Community Services Committee and sat on the Hafod Resources Board. Katherine has an MSc in Housing and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

She has worked in social housing for 17 years, within the housing association and local authority sectors. Her areas of responsibility have included both housing operations and strategy. 
 

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

Mutale was the founding Chief Executive of Bawso in 1995 until recently standing down from the position after 28 years.

Throughout her career, Mutale has given her time to a number of Board and Committee roles, often acting as the chair person, including Ministerial Commissions, government task and finish groups and working groups. Mutale was the first independent Chair of the Board of Community Health Councils for Wales between 2015-18. She has also held trusteeships for various third sector organisations. 

Mutale is a strong advocate for tenant participation in the delivery of housing services, having lived experience of social housing herself. She has a particular interest in issues surrounding the provision of housing to asylum seekers, and the sharing of survival stories of those living on the margins.
 

Board Member

Stacey is Neighbourhood Housing Manager at Cadwyn Housing Association and is a Hafan Cymru Board member, chairing the Governance and Risk Committee.

Stacey holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Housing Policy and has a comprehensive knowledge and understanding gained from 14 years industry experience across the private rented sector, local authority and social housing. 

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

Farida is a Senior Neighbourhood Manager for the Vale of Glamorgan Council and has worked in social housing for over 15 years which has given her a wealth of knowledge and understanding about all aspects of housing management including strategic experience.

Farida has a sound understanding of the regulatory nature of social care work through being a Member and Fitness to Practice Chair with Social Care Wales.

She has an MSc in Public Administration, and  is committed to volunteering on a range of boards, such as TPAS and CIH Cymru.