Our Board

The ateb Board is made of non-executive Board Members who collectively have the skills and experience to govern the ateb Group.

Their high-level governance responsibilities centre on:

Setting and monitoring strategic direction.
Assessing and managing risk.
Monitoring and adjusting performance.

The Board’s vision for how ateb should discharge its obligations is captured in a document called ‘Vision’. The Board monitors ateb against this document to make sure its governance is effective.

The Board operates within the Welsh Government’s ‘Regulation Framework’ and meets around 12 times a year. The ateb Board has a number of sub-committees to assist its work:

Assurance Committee – responsible for oversight and scrutiny of the Board, the Assure Framework, the Assets and Liabilities Register and internal audit functions.
People and Remuneration Committee – responsible for assessing pay and developing team working practices and conditions.

Our subsidiaries, Mill Bay Homes, West Wales Care & Repair and Effective Building Solutions all have separate Boards that report into the ateb parent Board in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Meet the ateb Board:

David Birch

Chair

David has vast experience in both the private and public sectors. David started his career as an Electrical Engineer Draughtsman and then moved to become a Facilities Manager with BT and gained a post-graduate Management Studies qualification. David joined the NHS in 1994 as the Director of Facilities in Gwent moving to a role as Head of Contract Services a few years later. In 2004 David became the Director of Support Services for Powys Teaching Health Board and retired in 2010. David has experience in the housing sector having served as a Vice-Chair and then Chair of a Housing Association in Cardiff for 6 years prior to joining ateb.

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Hugh Watchman

Vice Chair

Hugh is an experienced Board level Manager working at a strategic level on an international basis with major blue chip FTSE 100 companies in the key areas of Sales, Marketing, IT, Procurement and Logistics.Hugh is educated to post graduate level and was a Commissioned Army officer having served in both the Australian and British Army.

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Anthony James

Anthony James is a Senior Finance Manager with Welsh Government. He has over 15 years financial experience, having held positions within the construction industry and prior to this practice experience of corporate, audit, sole traders, partnerships, business development and tax. Anthony is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants.

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Elaine Lorton

Elaine is Service Director for MH&LD with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and has over 20 years’ experience in the health, social and not-for-profit sector. Elaine has a passion for staff, stakeholder and public engagement to empower and develop sustainable and continuous improvement in quality and productivity.

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Jackie Leonard

Jackie is a Consultant and has worked within the housing sector for over 20 years at a Director level. Jackie’s expertise and skills have been used in various service roles across the sector with a focus on planning, budgetary management, contract management and service delivery.

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Jade Francis

Jade is the Independent Mortgage Broker/Manager at Willcox Financial Limited and has worked at a senior level within the banking sector for the majority of her career. Jade has extensive experience in providing financial advice to clients and has a Diploma in Retail Banking Conduct of Business.

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Julia Ashley

Julia is a Business Development Director for the Aster Group, a housing association and care provider in the south of England. Julia has many years of experience in housing, development and care at operational and strategic levels and was formerly Chief Executive of Central & Cecil Housing Association who merged with the Aster Group in 2022. Julia is currently leading on developing the group Ageing Strategy, and is responsible for developing new business opportunities, across the group. Julia is a Board Steering Group Member for the Technology for an Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) phase 2 report, and has a special interest in ageing. Julia has a Masters in Business Administration degree

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Neil Edwards

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Nick Hampshire

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Nisha Harichandran

Nisha is a writer and coach. She has over 15 years’ legal experience providing operational and strategic solutions for stakeholders globally, building relationships through collaboration. Nisha is educated to post graduate diploma level and is a Master NLP Practitioner.

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Owen Jones

Owen is a Director of an independent town planning consultancy that operates within England and Wales. Owen has extensive experience of planning and development and is a Chartered Town Planner and a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Owen’s current work comprises of working with private developers and landowners on a range of strategic development schemes which includes major mixed use development sites, development plan promotion, planning applications, EIA and public enquires.Owen is educated to Masters Level and holds an MSc in Residential Development.

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Sharron Lusher

Sharron has vast experience of working at a strategic level for Pembrokeshire’s largest provider of post-16 education. Sharron was Principal of Pembrokeshire College from 2012 to 2018. Since her retirement, she has remained actively involved in education and training in Wales, and currently chairs the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body, and the Vocational Review of Qualifications in Wales.

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