Board & Committee Members

Arcon Housing Association Board

Michael Feely—Chairman—Joined 2000: Michael managed the Manchester branch of the Bank of Ireland for 14 years until his retirement in 2000. He now acts as a property and financial consultant. Michael was appointed Chairman in 2009.

Dora Blake—Vice-Chairman & Chairman of Housing Management Committee—Joined 2006: Dora recently moved as Housing Officer from Tung Sing to Arawak Walton and has extensive experience in dealing with tenant issues. Dora was appointed Vice-Chairman in 2009. Dora also acts as Value for Money champion for the board.

John Connolly—Joined 1991: John is a qualified jeweller and gemmologist who formerly owned a chain of jewellery shops. He now specialises in antique jewellery, silver and all forms of valuations and runs a jewellery business based in Alderley Edge. John was Chairman from 2006 to 2009.

Hilda Bullock—Board member responsible for Tenant Participation—Joined 1991: Served as Secretary from 1994 to 1999. A former Civil Servant working at the Bolton County Court, Hilda was employed until her retirement as a Social Worker for Catholic Children’s Rescue Society, working with children and families. Hilda was Vice-Chairman from 2006 to 2009 and is a member of the Housing Management Committee.

Tony Murray—Board member responsible for Race Equality and Diversity—Joined 1991: A Qualified Accountant whose career has been spent mainly in Local Authority social work. As Chief Executive for Catholic Welfare Societies in the Diocese of Salford, he is involved in the spheres of work in the care and community support of older people, people with learning difficulties and younger homeless people. Tony is also involved in a wide range of voluntary welfare organisations and is an Associate Non-Executive Director of a local NHS Trust. Tony is a member of the Finance and Business Development and Audit and Risk Management committees.

William Godfrey—Joined 1994: After joining Manchester City Council’s Housing Department in 1971, William was initially responsible for setting up one of the first Housing Aid Centres in the country. Later, in his role as Assistant Director, he had responsibility for the homeless, the council’s Tenant Participation Strategy and also housing research. As Principal Housing Officer in 1982, he had housing management responsibilities for Hulme and Moss Side and then the North of the City including its overspill estates. Left the council in 1994 to act as Business Manager for Manchester Language School.William is a member of the Housing Management Committee.

Trevor Brown—Joined 2005: Trevor has worked in the commercial lending departments of both the Chelsea and Cheshire Building Societies and has extensive experience of lending to the Social Housing sector. Trevor is a member of the Finance and Business Development Committees.

Richard Baker—Chairman of Finance Committee—Joined 2007: Richard is a qualified accountant who worked as Group Management Accountant for the Cooperative Group as well as running a family retail furniture business. Richard is also a member of the Business Development Committee.

Helen Whittingham—Joined 2007: Helen is a qualified accountant who is Director of Business Services at Gedling Homes and previously worked as Deputy Director of Finance for a large north west Housing Association. Helen is a member of the Finance and Business Development and Audit and Risk Management Committees.

Brett Nield—Joined 2008: Brett formerly ran a building and maintenance company in Manchester before moving to Wales where he has property interests. Brett is a member of the Finance and Business Development Committees.

Leslin Simmons—Joined 2005: Leslin has been a tenant of the Association since 1998 and is Chair of the Residents Scrutiny Committee which has evolved from the Tenant Committee. Leslin is also a member of the Housing Management Committee.

Peter O’Hare: Peter is a Chartered Surveyor involved in public and private sector housing for 35 years. He was a founder member of the Housing Corporation’s North of England office and Chief Executive of Northern Counties Housing Association for twelve year. Subsequently he went into private practice as a Valuation Surveyor and Consultant to Urban Developers and Housing Associations before retiring in 1994. Peter is also Chairman of the Association’s Business Development Committee.

Tony Murray: A Qualified Accountant whose career has been spent mainly in Local Authority social work. As Chief Executive for Catholic Welfare Societies in the Diocese of Salford, he is involved in the spheres of work in the care and community support of older people, people with learning difficulties and younger homeless people. Tony is also involved in a wide range of voluntary welfare organisations and is an Associate Non-Executive Director of a local NHS Trust.

Trevor Brown: Trevor has worked in the commercial lending departments of both the Chelsea and Cheshire Building Societies and has extensive experience of lending to the Social Housing sector.

Peter Schilizzi: Peter is the Chief Executive and Company Secretary of Arcon Housing Association and was appointed to the Board of Arcon Developments Ltd in 2008.