Gwalia Staff
Chief Executive Michael Williams LLM BA (Hons) PGCE PGDipFE FCMI FIOD
Michael joined Gwalia as its Chief Executive on January 1st 1982, when the association managed 350 homes. Since then it has grown substantially not only in terms of homes, but also by offering a vast array of diverse housing and care services throughout Wales.
Michael is now the Group’s Chief Executive of Gwalia’s five charitable housing associations, its non-charitable housing association and a joint not-for-profit company formed with the University of Glamorgan. Gwalia is now Wales’ largest association in relation to its turnover of £36.5 million and the number of staff it employs; it is the only Welsh association in the UK Top 100 associations and is set to expand even more in coming years.
In addition to housing, Michael is interested in health, education and the voluntary sector and the links between them. In April 2007 he was appointed Vice Chair and Non-Executive Director of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust [ABMUT]. In ABMUT he chairs the Audit and Capital Assets Committees, as well as being a member of the Trust’s Mental Health and Clinical Governance Committees. In 1999 he was appointed non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of the Swansea NHS Trust and has twice served as Acting Chair in 2001 and 2007/08. As a Director of the Swansea Trust he chaired the Clinical Governance and Mental Health Committees and served on the Audit and Performance Committees. He is a Hospital Manager for mental health detained patients since his appointment in 2000.
Michael is a special advisor to the Welsh Assembly Government’s Minister of Health and Social Science, Edwina Hart MBE. In November 2007 the minister published his “Review of Public Consultation in Blaenau Ffestiniog undertaken by the Gwynedd Local Health Board in 2005, and a Review of Public Consultation in Prestatyn undertaken by the Denbighshire Local Health Board in 2005/06”. In May 2008 the Assembly published Michael’s advisory report on mental health entitled “Iechyd Meddwl Cymru – IMC – A mental health and well being service for Wales”.
He was appointed a member of the Wales Assembly Government's Panel of Advisors for Appointments to Public Office in 1996.
Michael is Deputy Chair of Housing Securities Ltd and Housing Securities 40 Ltd. He is a member of the Board of the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action [WCVA] and Chair their Audit Committee.
Michael has also been recognised for his contribution to housing by the University of Glamorgan and is a visiting Professor of Social Housing and Care in the Faculty of Health, Sport and Science. He occasionally lectures on law and management.
Michael is determined that Gwalia will continue to grow and improve: “The work being done by Gwalia and other associations is of vital importance to the people of Wales”, he says. “I have always believed that associations have a broader responsibility than the supply and management of rented housing.
“Gwalia has, for a long time, promoted home ownership that’s affordable to low wage earners. We have developed innovative housing and support services for older people.
“I strongly believe in the strength of our group structure and the economies that can be achieved by the centralisation of corporate support services. The Group has invested in many areas that will improve its efficiency; it has ongoing programmes to improve and maximise the benefits gained through information technology and advanced procurement systems.
“Gwalia’s contribution to the local communities and national economy of Wales is important and significant, both in terms of employment and in terms of financial investment in housing and in Wales’ Universities.
“However, the real importance of the Group lies in its main purpose, which is to provide a five star service to everyone it works for or with. Whether our service is being provided to Gwalia’s 4500 tenants and leaseholders, its 4000 students, or over 1000 supported service users we are always trying to improve it.
“I believe we have to consult, listen to our tenants and others in order to continually improve our service. We will not stop trying to be better.” - July 2008
Executive Director of Housing and Community Welfare - Lesley Penn
Lesley joined Gwalia in September 1987 and was appointed to her present post in March 2002. Lesley is a highly experienced housing management practitioner. She is active in supporting the development of sensible strategies to tackle poverty and disadvantage, in order to achieve sustainable and viable communities. Lesley sits on and supports numerous forums, advisory panels and working groups that share the same objective.
Executive Director of Social Care - Richard Davies BSc Econ (Jt Hons) MSc PGDip.
Richard is Gwalia’s Executive Director of Social Care. He joined Gwalia in March 2008 from Scottish Borders Council where he had worked for the last 10 years, latterly as Head of Housing and Social Work Strategy. Richard has a wide ranging knowledge and experience of social care, housing and health. He previously worked in the NHS in London and Bristol and has experience of managing services for adults and older people. Richard has an MSc in Health Care Policy and Management, Post Graduate Diploma in Public Service Leadership, BSc (Econ) in Politics and History and is a part qualified accountant. Richard is a local boy, born and brought up in Swansea. He is committed to ensuring values are at the heart of Gwalia Care & Support services and support of staff.
Executive Director of Governance and Legal Services - Karen Oliver LLB (Hons)
Karen joined Gwalia in June 1996 having worked previously in both private practice and a local authority setting. She has responsibility for all matters relating to governance, audit, commissioning compliance, data and personal protection, criminal record checks; health and safety as well as the provision of legal services and provides advice and guidance through Board and Senior Management level to Junior Officer level. She is a school Governor and a Council member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Cymru. She is also a Welsh language learner.
Executive Director of Finance and Information Technology - Hugh Jones BA (Hons) Econ. MIMIS AMCT FCCA
Hugh has worked for Gwalia since 1987, initially as Financial Controller and more recently as Group Director of Finance. He has previous experience as an audit manager and is one of the authors for the CIPFA/NHF's Manual of Housing Finance. He is also a member of the Social Housing Pension Scheme Committee, which has a membership of over 45,000 from more than 700 employers.
Executive Director of Business Management - Tracey Healey MBA
Tracey is Director of Procurement & Business Management, responsible for the group’s strategic procurement activity and business management functions. She is also Director of Gwalia Housing Trust, the fundraising arm of the group. Born and educated in Swansea she holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She started her career in the public sector before spending a 12 month period promoting Wales and its culture all over the world. Returning to Swansea in 1987 she took up a Company Secretary post in the private sector before moving to Gwalia as the Chief Executive’s assistant in 1990.
Executive Director of Property Development and Management - Stuart Davies BSC (Hons) MCIEH
Stuart joined Gwalia in 2007, having previously spent 17 years in local government where he specialised in housing regulation. His directorate has responsibility for delivering the organisation's social and affordable housing development programme and for the management and maintenance services for all Gwalia properties. When not tied up on Gwalia matters he is often seen in his other guise as a pundit on BBC Wales’ Scrum V rugby programme.
