My RHA
New Chair of Board
1st August 2016 | posted in News
Berni Whitaker is the first female Chair of the Board in the 97-year history of Railway Housing Association.
The 54-year-old married mother of three, who currently works for Sunderland City Council as Enterprise Manager, has taken over from Geoff Proudlock, who has stoo down as Chair after completing the maximum term of office for Board members.
Berni has spent most of her professional career working in economic development and regeneration. She also has significant housing board member experience.
She said: “I am delighted to have been appointed and am very proud to know I am the first female Chair in Railway Housing Association’s history.
“I have been very impressed with the good condition of the Association's stock and am looking forward to this new challenge and to leading the Association into its 100th year in 2019.”
Railway Housing Association Chief Executive Anne Rowlands said: “We are delighted to have been able to secure someone of Berni’s calibre and I am looking forward to working with her in the coming years.
“These are very challenging times for the social housing sector and our residents, with welfare benefit reforms, rent decreases, reduction in the grants available to build new homes for rent and the planned Right to Buy scheme all having an impact.
“But we are confident that by having a Chair like Berni, supported by an excellent board and staff team, we will be able to meet these challenges whilst at the same time improving our services and providing new homes during the current difficult economic times.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Geoff Proudlock for the significant contribution he has made to the continued success of the Association.”
