Who are the Board members?
Listed below are the names and short personal statements from the 15 board members. Between them the board members bring different skills and expertise to the board to make sure that Tai Ceredigion would be able to deliver the promises made within the Offer document.
Gay McFee, Llandysul (Vice chair)
Gay McFee
Gay has had a strong involvement in tenant issues since 1996, including management roles in the Welsh Tenants Federation and South Teifi Residents and Tenants Association (STRATA), as well as being a trustee for Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations (CAVO).
“Now that Tai Ceredigion has become our new landlord, tenants will soon be able to see £40 million being spent over five years to bring homes into the 21st century, with up-to-date kitchens, bathrooms, heating and environmental improvements. As a tenant board member I fully embrace the opportunity to represent tenants, and the opportunity to influence key decisions that will be beneficial to tenants and the wider community.”
Michael Jones, Aberystwyth
Michael Jones
Actively engaged in working with young and old people in the community, Michael has a background in the building industry and in training.
“I’m looking forward to seeing many more tenants getting involved and really taking advantage of the opportunities for tenant participation.”
Nesta Williams, Llandysul
Nesta Williams
Nesta volunteers for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and is a trustee of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Building Fund and of Ceredigion Fergusson Heritage.
“Tai Ceredigion will bring much-needed improvements to homes and the prospect of real benefits to the wider community. The amount of work that will go into improving homes and services can only be good news for the local economy and, in turn, whole communities.”
Gareth Lewis, Aberystwyth
Gareth Lewis
Gareth, a retired ex-serviceman, is a director and Vice Chairman of the Rhoserchan project, which is a treatment centre for drug and alcohol. Gareth is also the Vice Chairman of the Aberystwyth War Memorial trust, a committee member of Aberystwyth Sea Cadets and Chairman of the Aberystwyth Branch of the Royal Naval Association.
“I wanted to get involved because, as a tenant myself, I’m concerned that all tenants should have decent homes and access to the best housing service possible. I feel that a new not-for-profit landlord with tenants on the board and the ability to invest more money in our homes is a much better way forward for tenants.”
Dorothy James, Newcastle Emlyn
Dorothy James
Having started out working in hotels, Dorothy worked latterly as a dress shop assistant, also modelling to raise funds for a range of good causes.
“I think it’s very important that tenants get the chance to see the improvements that they really need being made to their homes. I’m looking forward to fulfilling the promises that we have made to tenants.”
Councillor Hag Harris (Chair)
Hag Harris
Hag has represented Lampeter on the County Council since 1981, and is currently Cabinet member responsible for social services. A graduate of the University of Wales, Lampeter, Hag is a qualified social worker who has worked for neighbouring Carmarthenshire County Council as a fostering officer. He currently runs his own music and film shop in Lampeter. A father of three, Hag is an active member of many outside organisations and is a governor of both Lampeter schools and a past mayor of the town.
“Tai Ceredigion offers an unprecedented opportunity to deliver real and tangible improvements for tenants across Ceredigion and also protect, and indeed, grow the jobs of those that work in housing. I am extremely keen to see the whole County benefit from the investment that the Welsh Housing Quality Standard will bring.”
Councillor Ceredig Davies
Ceredig Davies
Now in his fifth year as Councillor for Aberystwyth Central, Ceredig is cabinet member for Education and Community Services. Along with his wife he runs a family shop in Aberystwyth and is also involved with Communities First, an organisation that helps deprived areas across Wales.
“I want to see opportunities for local people to have good quality housing, now and in the future. I’m aware of the difficulty in getting good quality homes across Ceredigion and the property market in the north of the County is particularly bad. I firmly believe that Tai Ceredigion is the right organisation to tackle these problems.”
Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn
Ellen ap Gwynn
Ellen has been Councillor for the Ceulanamaesmawr ward for nine years. With a background in arts management, including a spell as general manager of Radio Ceredigion, she has served on many statutory and voluntary boards and committees including the Arts Council of Wales.
“I want to see Tai Ceredigion deliver housing that is fit for the 21st century and operate in a way that is fair to all tenants.”
Councillor Alun Williams
Alun Williams
Alun has been Councillor for the Bronglais ward in Aberystwyth for seven years and has worked locally in community mental health nursing since 1988. With a keen interest in both social inclusion and environmental sustainability, Alun wants to see Tai Ceredigion develop policies that benefit both tenants and the environment.
“I want to help improve housing conditions for all tenants, but especially for the poorest members of society. Tai Ceredigion has a great opportunity to make a real difference and provide the best possible homes for those in Ceredigion who rely on social housing.”
Councillor Dafydd Edwards
Dafydd Edwards
Dafydd lives in Bethania with his wife Llinos. He became a Ceredigion County Councillor in 2008, serving the Llansantffraid ward. He is actively involved as a board member of various groups supporting communities, local theatre, and the arts.
His background is civil engineering and he currently works in the field providing civil engineering, quantity surveying and management consultancy services – all skills and experience that are very valuable in his role on the Board of Tai Ceredigion.
“I see my role as a Board Member as an extension of my work as a councillor – ensuring that local communities are looked after and provided with good quality and value for money services. I want Tai Ceredigion to serve the local community by reducing bureaucracy, putting tenants first and adopting a common sense for the common good philosophy.”
Independent Representatives
Stephen Cripps
Stephen Cripps
Now retired, Stephen brings a great deal of housing experience to the Tai Ceredigion board. With over 30 years in local authority housing roles, Stephen most recently served as Chief Officer with responsibility for Housing, Technical Services and Leisure at an English Council. Stephen is an independent member of Ceredigion County Council’s Standards Committee.
“I am keen to give something back to the community and I want to try to help give people the best quality of life possible. I believe that decent housing is essential for good health, for a sound local community and for a good quality of life generally and that Tai Ceredigion is the right organisation to deliver this role locally.”
Geraldine Delaney
Geraldine Delaney
Geraldine, who lives in Ceredigion, has over 25 years experience in construction management, including extensive knowledge of social housing as well as rural and urban regeneration.
“Tai Ceredigion offers a unique opportunity to invest in, and improve, the housing stock. This will ultimately mean warmer and more efficient homes, maintained to a high standard. As an independent member of the board I hope to use my construction, housing and regeneration experience to help Tai Ceredigion tackle the intensive challenges that it faces over the next few years.”
Dick Evans
Dick Evans
Independent board member Dick Evans is a retired architect who practised in Cardiff and Sydney. He brings over forty years of experience to the Board.
Dick is well versed in the role of a housing association board member having sat on and chaired the Board of Cardiff based Taff Housing.
He lives near Cardigan, has 3 children and enjoys painting and gardening.
“I have always felt that it is important that people give something back to their community. In the past I have done voluntary work in Sri Lanka and with the prison service. The work of Tai Ceredigion is the ideal way to use my skills and experience to help our community and deliver a much improved standard of homes for tenants across the County.”
Mererid Jones
Mererid Jones
Mererid – who works and lives in Aberystwyth – is currently Director of Finance for Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin.
She is a chartered accountant by profession and has been auditor for a range of clients in the voluntary and charitable sectors. Mererid is proud of her roots and passionate about the Welsh language.
“I feel it is very important that Tai Ceredigion is a bi-lingual organisation and that it is based locally and serves its communities well. We need to ensure that its finances are closely monitored and that the tenants can be confident that their rents are kept affordable and used in a responsible manner”.