LINK GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- West Highland HA As Its New Chief Executive
Brett joined West Highland HA as its new Chief Executive in July 2022. Prior to this, he held several senior housing roles across North Wales.
Brett is responsible for providing leadership and guidance for West Highland HA, to ensure the highest levels of service are provided to customers. This includes partnership working with community organisations to provide much needed housing in rural and island communities.
I am a partner in one of Scotland's largest law firms, specialising in Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance. I have acted for registered social landlord clients for almost 15 years, advising them on a wide range of requirements, primarily finance and related issues. I am dual-qualified in both Scotland and England and Wales; and hold the Securities and Investments Institute's Certificate in Corporate Finance. In addition to the Link Group voluntary board, I sit on the voluntary board of a charity which operates a wide range of sports and fitness centres throughout the Perth and Kinross area. I joined the board in October 2016.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Group Leadership Team
- Senior Reporting Officer to the C
Colin joined Link in 2007 and is the Group Commercial Director. His role covers three management areas responsible for property development, management and maintenance and is supported by over 360 staff.
As C urb Managing Director, Colin is the senior reporting officer to the C urb Board and provides direct reporting to Link's Group Board on all matters of commercial activity.
David is Link Housing's managing director, having previously held a variety of senior roles across the housing sector.
His role involves ensuring tenants and customers receive the highest standard of service in the management of Link's properties, tenancies and estates.
He is also responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of housing services and advice teams, leading cross-group working on housing issues and working with local and national government to develop housing services.
I am a Lecturer and Chancellor's Fellow in Net-Zero Buildings at the Institute of Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) part of the School of Engineering (SoE) at the University of Edinburgh. My research interests are the impact of climate change, housing energy efficiency and building envelope performance. I am an Architect, with 15 years of industry and academic experience and holds an MSc in Energy Efficient Building and a PhD in Building Energy Performance. In 2010 I became a Director and Board member of the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) and became its Treasurer from 2015 to 2018. I have a passion for healthy and low-carbon housing and hope to contribute to the discussions for reaching net-zero performance of housing stock in Scotland. I joined the Board in May 2023
Job Titles:
- Is Director of Property Development
Elinor is Director of Property Development within Link's subsidiary C urb. Elinor leads the Development team who deliver Link's new build development programme. In addition, the team provide Development Services to a number of other Registered Social Landlords who buy in Development Services from C urb Property Development. Elinor joined Link in 2014 and is a qualified Project Manager with over 30 years' experience working in the affordable housing sector in Development.
Job Titles:
- I Am a Chartered Accountant, With 30 Years Experience in Personal Financial Services
I am a Chartered Accountant, with 30 years experience in Personal Financial Services. I have been responsible for significant change in financial services aimed at making consumers lives better, marrying better products and services with improved operational efficiency and effectiveness. I had a brief diversion working with the charity sector to manage their surplus book donations, turning that into a successful e-commerce book selling business. Most recently I have been working for a Fintech trade association to drive through the adoption of Smart Data Economies, seeking to benefit citizens through access to information and tools to better manage their finances, health and impact in the environment. I joined the Board in August 2024.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of West Highland Housing Association 's Board of Management
Gerry is a retired primary school headteacher. He started his teaching career in the east end of Glasgow and moved to North Lorn in Argyll and Bute in 1983 to take over as headteacher of Strath of Appin Primary School.
During his time in Argyll and Bute, he was able to experience a wider role with secondments covering ICT, Co-ordinating Education Development across schools and management of the Education Capital Building programme.
He is the Chair of Appin Community Sports and Leisure Association, a charity set up to promote health and well-being in the Appin area, which built and manages the all-weather sports field in the school grounds.
Gerry is the current Chair of West Highland Housing Association's board of management.
Grant is Link Group's Head of Community Wellbeing.
Job Titles:
- Director of People and Communities
Link Group Director of People and Communities Helen started with Link in 2007 as the director of human resources. Her post also encompasses governance, assurance and learning and development.
Helen's key areas of responsibility are to ensure Link's HR strategy services are delivered in line with good practice and deliver a range of strategy and business support activities.
Helen currently chairs the equality, diversity and inclusion group and health and safety committee as part of her remit.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Horizon
- I Joined the Board in September 2024
I am an Occupational Therapist specialising in Housing issues & also a Workplace Change Consultant supporting the transition to Smarter Hybrid Working. After over 30 years in local government, I moved to the Joint Improvement Team in Scottish Government & subsequently continued supporting Health, Housing & Social Care partnerships via the iHub within Healthcare Improvement Scotland. I now work independently, supporting improvements in the delivery of adaptations, housing solutions & place based interventions at operational & strategic levels within local partnerships, promoting best use of Occupational Therapy & wider staffing resources to produce better outcomes for people. I was on the steering group for the revised ‘Adaptations without Delay' guidance, and I am passionate about mainstreaming inclusive design and inclusive living. I am currently the Scotland rep for the RCOT Specialist Section in Housing and also the Housing LIN Scotland Coordinator. In October 2024 I became the Chair of Horizon. I joined the Board in September 2024.
Jon was appointed Chief Executive of Link Group Ltd in January 2019. He was previously Group Director of Treasury at Wheatley Group.
Jon has extensive housing experience in both Scotland and wider in the UK having held roles ranging from financial advisory services through to bank and equity investments. Jon has also worked with a number of central and local government bodies who have been involved in large scale infrastructure programmes.
Jon is responsible for leading the delivery of Link's strategic vision through a range of innovative services across the Link group of companies. He recently led on the attainment of the imug certificate, Sustainable Housing Label.
Ken was appointed as Digital Director of Link Group Ltd in August 2016. Ken has extensive experience in the defense, local government, and housing sectors, having held several senior technology roles ranging from Digital Director to Programme Manager for the Pathfinder North consortium.
Ken's early career was in the Army where he served as a Major completing several operation tours including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Northern Ireland. Ken was awarded the British Empire Medal.
Ken is responsible for all aspects of business technology, data, and digital service provision, with overall remit for end-to-end performance of the digital estate and data architecture. Leading the delivery of Link's strategic vision through a range of innovative services across the Link group of companies.
Lee joined LinkLiving in 2007, managing the Edinburgh Young Persons' Service for 12 years before progressing to Head of Services and Development in 2019 and most recently, to Director in 2023. Lee holds operational responsibility for LinkLiving, the group's health and wellbeing charity.
Lee works closely with the Chief Executive to ensure the ongoing development and delivery of high quality care, support and employability services designed to support people to overcome the negative impacts of trauma and disadvantage.
Job Titles:
- Is Director of Property Management
Lorna is Director of Property Management.
Lorna Dunsmore is Director of Property Management within Link's subsidiary C urb. Lorna leads teams managing the Shared Equity Scotland service delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government; and a range of other services including factoring, mid market rent, shared ownership, commercial leases, and Private Sector Leasing letting agency services on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Lorna is a Chartered Member of the CIH with over 20 years' experience in the sector plus an MSc in Housing Studies, Letwell and ILM qualifications
Job Titles:
- Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing
Lynne joined Larkfield Housing Association in 1997 and held various housing management roles prior to becoming area manager in 2007.
She is responsible for Larkfield's strategy and business plan and the development and effective delivery of Larkfield's housing management and maintenance services.
Lynne is also a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
I am a Chartered Accountant (ICAS) with over 25 years' experience in mid-market corporate finance and financial risk. Since 2008, I have worked for leading global treasury and financial risk consultancy Chatham Financial. I specialise in debt advisory, debt-related hedging and derivatives, advising a wide range of clients but primarily covering the real estate and social infrastructure sectors. Chatham is employed-owned and our values align with social and community impact. Prior to this role I worked in M&A advisory and Transaction Services with Ernst & Young and Deloitte. I hold an Executive MBA from the University of Edinburgh Business School. I have worked extensively in an advisory capacity within the social housing sector throughout the UK. This includes debt raising and restructuring in the banking and capital markets (both private placements and public bonds); derivatives and risk management; mergers and amalgamations; and treasury strategy and governance. I have also undertaken treasury reviews on behalf of, and prepared derivatives guidance for, the Scottish Housing Regulator. I bring current knowledge and experience of the financial and capital markets as they impact both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. I joined the Board in May 2023.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Business Services
Link Group Director of Finance and Business Services Nick Pollard is responsible for Link's financial affairs, raising funding for our development programme and managing the group's finance function, ICT&D and corporate services teams.
Nick has substantial finance and housing association experience with 14 years of banking knowledge, combined with a further 14 years of work in social housing as a consultant, regulator and finance director.
I am Chair of the Link Group Board and have worked in senior leadership roles in both strategic and operational roles in non-executive and executive positions. During my career I have held high ranking positions in several sectors including in housing, economic development, and international development as well in higher education.
I have significant governance experience gained over the last 25 years including being chair of a housing association, Home Scotland and served on its parent Board, the Home Group and more recently as a Board member of the charity, LAR Housing Trust. Outside of housing I am currently Chair of the Court of Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and have worked internationally to support social enterprises.
Earlier in my career I was Senior Director with the Government Agency, Scottish Enterprise and prior to that worked for Scottish Homes.
I joined the Board in May 2022.
I am a vice chair of the Link Group Board and also Chair Link's commercial subsidiary C urb, (pronounced curb) who harness Link's highly successful development, management, and maintenance activities to deliver commercial success while creating sustainable communities.
I am a chartered Chemical Engineer with over 33 years' experience in Scotland's water industry including international assignments, as per Scottish Government's hydronation strategic ambitions.
During that time, I have worked across many areas such as Asset Management, Customer Service, Business & Digital Transformation, Operations, Capital Investment & Procurement and Commercial services.
I am currently the Managing Director of Scottish Water Horizons, the commercial arm of Scottish Water, responsible for identifying, developing, and delivering innovative, profitable, and sustainable opportunities from Scottish Water's assets.
I joined the Board in May 2021.
Rab is Director of Property Maintenance.
Rab joined Link in 2012 as Trade Operations Manager and became Director of Property Maintenance in April 2023.
Rab manages C urb Property Maintenance who carry out all Reactive Repairs, Gas Servicing, Planned Maintenance and Cyclical activities for Link Group and is supported by over 250 staff/operatives.
Job Titles:
- in 2014 As Chief Executive
Sarah joined Link in 2014 as Chief Executive of the group's health and wellbeing charity, LinkLiving. In 2021 she was appointed Group Director of Communities where she is responsible for ensuring the development and delivery of high-quality housing, care, support and employability services.
Sarah has led the development of Link's Sustainable Communities strategy, which aims to reduce inequalities and improve wellbeing by creating opportunities designed to mitigate the impact of poverty on individuals, families and communities.
I am a tenant from central Falkirk and Chairperson of the Grahamston Link Tenants and Residents Association, one of Link's registered tenant organisations. The group works with Link to improve the local area, hold community events and encourage local people to respond to housing policy consultations. In addition, I was previously a member of Link's Tenant Scrutiny Panel, which has a formal role to play in measuring Link's performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter outcomes and making recommendations for improving housing services. I am a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and affiliate member of the Royal College of Organists and I work on a self-employed basis as a deputy organist playing at various churches. I also attend various classes at Link Academy. I joined the Board in January 2021