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.
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.
Yasmin has worked in social housing for over 30 years for national housing regeneration agencies in both investment and regulation roles. She believes everyone has a right to a decent, affordable home in a safe environment.
Yasmin has worked with both housing associations and local authorities to deliver affordable housing projects in the North West and delivered national programmes including Decent Homes.
Most recently, Yasmin led on the design and delivery of the Social Sector Cladding Remediation Fund for Homes England providing support to government departments on policy delivery. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and currently carries out a number of Non-Executive Board roles.
Stephen currently works as an Executive Director of Communities and People at Oxford City Council, having previously worked as a Director of Head of Housing and Communities for Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils. He has specific responsibility for the Strategic Housing, Homelessness, Private Sector Housing, Community Safety, Community Development, Health Improvement, Arts, Sports and Culture.
He has worked in local government for 30 years and has held a range of roles, from both operational and strategic perspectives. Stephen has worked in Housing, Economic Development, Equalities, Education and Regulatory Services. Stephen has gained extensive knowledge in housing, regeneration and community development.
Stephen has a PGD in Urban and Regional Studies from Birmingham University and studied Law at the University of Central England obtaining a Law degree as well as having acquired British Sign Language Level 2.
Stephen has held a number of Non-Executive positions such as:
• Chairman of Communities Committee at the Accord Group
• Board member at the Accord Group
• Chairman and Independent Board member with Ashram Moseley Housing Association
• Independent Board member of Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT)
• Chairman of BDHT New Business and Development Committee
Patrick is a qualified accountant (CIMA and CIPFA) whose career has spanned across private, public and third sectors. He has over 35 years’ experience of social housing with local authorities and housing associations. Patrick’s experience covers treasury management, loan finance and development. He is also a mentor to aspiring first-time board directors.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.