The Melin Board

There is no doubt that the social housing sector has a big impact on the lives of thousands of people across the country, every day. There is also no doubt the people on the boards of these organisations make decisions which have a long-lasting positive impact for future generations.

Chair – Martin Reed

Martin is a retired finance director of Brains Brewery. He had worked there for 17 years before he retired in June 2019. He is also a non-executive director of Welsh Whisky.

Vice Chair – Anthony Hearn

Anthony is Director of Housing & Communities at Merthyr Valley Homes.

Wendy Bowler

Following a career in the civil service and then public health, Wendy is now a professional genealogist.

Lisa Howells

Lisa is a Sales & Marketing Director for Curo Group with over 20 years’ of property experience within the housing sector; member of the Housebuilding Federation and the National Housing Federation.

Sarah Tipping

Sarah has a health and social care background, an MSc in Public Relations, and is passionate about resident engagement.

She is Head of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Sarah is the Chair of our Quality and Engagement Committee and helps us with our Independent Living team portfolio.

John Jackson

With over 25 years’ marketing experience, John is a strategic marketing consultant. His private practice specialises in brand development, innovation strategy and marketing communications.

Sanni Salisu

Sanni is a Gas Compliance Officer at CCHA, with over a decade of work experience in the housing sector. He has excelled through the ranks from an apprentice role to making an impact in an Asset and Compliance Team.

Sanni has great communication skills and understanding of the heating industry. He specialises in gas compliance and is currently studying asset and building management compliance.

Naomii Thomas

Naomii is a Voids Manager for Cardiff Council who has worked within the Housing Sector since 2009. Naomii passed a Masters Degree in Advanced Housing with Distinction in 2021. She is Qualified in P405 Management of Asbestos in Buildings and currently studying NEBOSH Health and Safety.

Naomii has a passion for achieving a more diverse housing sector and is a member of the Deeds Not Words panel.

Barry Thompson

Barry brings 27 years’ experience of working in the housing sector. 21 of which were working as a Finance Director and has worked on the Board of several housing associations since 2009. Barry has a comprehensive understanding of the operation of all areas of housing, with specific skill and expertise in relation to the business planning, accounting and control, risk, risk management and audit, as well as strategic management.

Claire Marshall

Claire joined our Melin Board in September 2023. She has a passion for social housing and was Chair of Newydd’s Housing Associations Board since 2017. Claire is a qualified chartered accountant, working at Cardiff accounting firm Azets, and specialises in corporate finance. She has expertise in mergers and acquisition and helping companies to grow, and has previous housing association experience gained at Coastal, Valleys to Coast and Pobl.

Paula Kennedy & Peter Crockett

As part of the Senior Management Team, Paula and Peter hold executive team Board positions. You can read more about them on our Senior Management Team page.