Group Board
Our Group Board is responsible for setting the overall strategy for the group, financial planning and monitoring and taking an overview of our performance.
Our Group Board have ultimate responsibility for establishing a framework, process and timetable for the successful operation of the group. Via this framework the Group Board give direction, ensure co-ordination and appropriate planning. In addition it is responsible for group strategy development, performance management and monitoring.
Group Chair
Brian has been Chief Executive of Birmingham Voluntary Service Council since 2005. He joined the organisation after training as a personnel manager with Marks and Spencer plc, and time spent setting up and leading a Legal Aid service as managing director of a local Citizens Advice Bureau.
His current role involves strategically leading BVSC in the full range of its activities, which focus on providing advocacy and development support to charities, community groups, and volunteers, and supporting the public and private sectors to better engage with the local voluntary sector. BVSC’s aim is to help everyone to build and benefit from a fair and equitable Birmingham.
Brian is a Non-Executive Director of Birmingham Children’s Trust.
Brian is the author of two books, including the Amazon bestselling career guide, How to Find Your Vital Vocation.
Chair of People and Resources
Bal’s current role is Consultant in Public Health working for Wolverhampton City Council.
She started her career in town planning after graduating in Economic Development and Planning. She then moved into the NHS working in some of the most deprived areas of Walsall and built up her experience in a range of roles including primary care, healthcare commissioning, community development and health improvement before embarking on a career in Public Health.
Bal stepped up into role of Director of Public Health at the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic providing system leadership across Dudley to the Council, NHS, wider partners and communities. Her leadership on the mandated outbreak management plan, developing and setting up a pharmacy model to deliver covid testing at a locality level were both recognised as good practice and replicated across the region, shortlisted for a LGC award and recognised as Director of year for Dudley council.
She has also worked in a voluntary capacity contributing to the development of a number of voluntary community organisations striving to address inequalities and disadvantage, providing leadership and chairmanship to help get them established.
Bal is passionate about addressing inequalities, improving the lives of children and young people, mental health and wellbeing and working with communities to find solutions to address these.
Chair of Investment Committee
Chris has a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master of Law degree and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing. He received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2009 and in 2010 was made a Professor of Governance by Birmingham City University’s Business School. Chris previously was the Chief Executive of Accord, having been in the role some over 30 years, as well as having previously worked in other housing organisations and local government.
Chris is a published author with titles including ‘Housing Association Law’ Fifth Edition, published in January 2019 with Professor John Alder, and ‘Discrimination in Housing’. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Housing Law. Chris is a Non-Executive Director of the Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group having previously been a Board member for the Strategic Health Authority for the Midlands and East of England. He is also a Board member of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership Board, Chairing the Board during 2018-2019, leading on housing, enterprise and the green growth agendas for the region. He is also on the Board of the Black Country Consortium. Chris is also on the Board of Eurhonet, a network of housing companies working together across Europe.
Chair of Homes and Communities Committee and Board Member responsible for complaints
Paul has worked in the social housing sector since the 1990’s and has held a range of roles both operational and strategic.
Paul is an experienced housing professional who has worked at a senior level in local authorities, ALMO’s and housing associations across both the Midlands and London. Paul has expertise in income, financial inclusion, leasehold and housing management and is currently Head of Housing Income at Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Paul has a Professional Diploma in Housing Studies from the University of Birmingham.
Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Simon has worked in the social housing sector since the mid 1990s. His career has included spells at several large housing associations, and he has also worked as a regulator and lender to the sector. Simon is currently Resources Director at PA Housing based in Leicester. Simon also serves as a voluntary trustee at Linkage, a charity which provides support to people with learning disabilities throughout Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.
Aman is a Director of Operations at Aston University. Aman started her career as a finance professional, having worked in various senior finance roles as a qualified accountant. Aman has worked in the Higher Education sector over 20 years. Aman is passionate about Equality, Diversity & Inclusion having achieved the Bronze Award for the Race Equality Charter, and supporting the achievement of the Athena Swan Gold Award, at Aston University. Aman is a Non-Executive Director, as Chair for Audit and Governance at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care board. She is also the board lead for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Freedom to Speak Up. Aman is also a Governor at a local Academy Trust, and a pensions trustee for a closed pension scheme.
Jaffer is a Policy Lead within the Children and Young People Transformation Programme at NHS England. As a qualified dentist from Birmingham, he undertook several Leadership Fellowship roles within the NHS, working on a variety of transformation programmes across several healthcare settings including prisons and community dental services. He is currently a non-executive director for a social enterprise providing dental care to vulnerable population groups, as well as part of the British Transport Police Independent Advisory Group and an Independent Panel Member to a fostering agency.
Jamie is a qualified accountant (ACA) who worked in the private sector before joining Sanctuary Group in 2011, where he is currently Director – Financial Planning and Analysis.
Nick is an experienced housing professional, committed to providing decent, safe and affordable homes. He has a strong commitment to supporting tenants and working with communities.
Nick was a Chief Executive of a group of housing companies and is also a Trustee of a charity, identifying and supporting solutions which address homelessness internationally. He has both local government experience and experience of developing national housing policy in the senior Civil Service. Nick is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, sitting on their national Policy Advisory Committee.
Alongside our Group Board, we also have committee members who add additional insight to our committee groups and work with our board members. These include two of our residents who are sat on the Housing and Community Committee.
David is an experienced Board & Executive Director for estates and infrastructure portfolios.
David’s 30-year career has spanned private sector companies, two Civil Service departments and two arm’s length Government bodies. David has extensive experience in the construction and maintenance of quality, safe, and cost-effective estates, accommodation and infrastructure. His experience also includes purchasing, commercial management, and business improvement in several private sector businesses across aerospace, automotive and FMCG packaging sectors.
David lives in Birmingham, he has four grown-up children and one grandchild living around the UK. He is a keen road cyclist and has completed many long-distance rides and organised charity rides to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and Stroke Association. David is a regular mountain walker, a qualified yacht day skipper, a rugby coach, a Warwickshire County Cricket Club member, and owns a VW Campervan with his wife Stephanie.
Housing and Community Committee Member
“Over the last 30 years as a resident living on Trident’s estate in Oldbury, I’ve been a proactive member of various Trident initiatives in resident engagement.
I feel it’s important to engage and influence the shape of the organisation to ensure at the heart of every decision made by the board benefits our residents ,tenants and leaseholders .
Getting involved with the new group Homes & Communities is a great opportunity and I feel the next step towards taking resident engagement to the next level and look forward to being actively involved.”
Investment Committee Member
Kumar is a Qualified Architect with over 20 years of experience in managing complex architectural and construction projects from initial concept design to completion, including planning and client/contractor management.
Currently heading up and growing an architectural practice in Birmingham, Kumar leads a design team to deliver, design and develop strategic plans for all groups.
Kumar has worked in both private and public housing sectors and won various awards.
He is currently involved in a CE Midland Leadership role in which he advises on housing matters.
Housing and Community Committee Member
“I have been a resident of Trident since 2009.
I have a History Degree (Hon) having graduated from The University of York in 1993. I am a former Store Manager of a Major Food Retailer . I am also a Former West Midlands Police Officer spent mostly in service as a Force Detective working for The Major Investigation Unit. I acted as a Company Director of two Mental Health Service Providers based in Birmingham My Time CiC and Shared Voices Charity both of whom were founder members of and affiliated to The Birmingham ( Third Sector ) Mental Health Consortium. For a number of years I was also an Official Advisor to The APPG Westminster advising on Government Mental Health Strategy and Policy in respect of both The House of Commons and Lords. I was also a long term advisor to The Centre for Social Justice contributing significantly to their policy papers on Mental Health and Domestic Violence. I have also generated significant sums from national funders for services and acted on numerous occasions as a Project Manager as a result.
I have a wealth of experience professional and personal to bring to the Committee including acting long term as a Director on Company Boards also having served on numerous committees. I have a particular interest in the meaningful engagement of customers / residents in the management of social companies . A main emphasis of my work in the mental health field focussed on the engagement of service users in the management and delivery of their service provision as well as meaningful contribution to Central and Local Government Strategy and Policy . I also have experience of dealing and helping with vulnerable people across a wide spectrum. I am also a Member of Tridents Customer Voice Standing Group. I would hope that my knowledge and experience would add significantly to the workings of The Committee. I am enthusiastic to engage and engage further in terms of community engagement with Trident more widely moving forward.”
Board and Committee Structures
