Governance

Dave Livesey – Chair

Dave is currently the Director of Development & Asset Management at The Pioneer Group, which has over 2,500 homes. Dave is an Asset Management and Direct Service Delivery professional with over 20 years’ experience developing and implementing in-house, or outsourced, customer service driven solutions.

Working closely with a wide range of Stakeholders, Shareholders and Regulatory bodies, Dave is driven to deliver high quality, value for money, customer-led services. Priding himself in thinking outside of the norm, he regularly gets the best out of people through effective communication and bringing people along the journey of change.

Out of work Dave enjoys travel, walking, mountain biking and spending time with his growing family.

Joanne Easton-Spencer – Vice Chair

Jo is currently Treasury Operations Manager at Paragon Asra Housing. With over 34 years of experience in the Housing Sector, she has spent more than 25 years in senior roles related to finance, treasury, and governance.

Her primary area of expertise lies in treasury management, where she has led a diverse array of treasury activities, ranging from the execution of daily operational functions to the formulation of treasury strategies, financing transactions, ensuring regulatory compliance throughout.

Throughout her career, she has collaborated closely with various funders, investors, and leading legal and treasury advisors within the Social Housing sector.

Jo has served as a Board Member and Company Secretary for several housing associations and charities for over two decades and is presently the Company Secretary for a local Scout Group.

Catherine Brinsdon

Catherine (Cat) has worked in social housing for nearly 10 years now, starting in housing management before moving to a consultancy role for Birmingham Social Housing Partnership (BSHP) where she facilitated networks in Birmingham across HAs and the Local Authority.

After a career break to successfully complete her Postgraduate Master’s degree in Public Policy at Kings College, London. Cat now works for HACT as the Communities Network Lead, where she is responsible for leading national and local networks as spaces for collaboration, learning, and social impact. Working to deliver the Centre for Excellences strategy while identifying opportunities for partnership and innovation. to shape effective community investment practice nationally.

Cat has a passion for social housing and the role it plays in improving people’s lives, health and well-being and was pleased to return to the sector on completing her studies.

Tansy Crowley-Sweet

Tansy is the Director of Customer Experience at GreenSquareAccord (GSA). Tansy is responsible for the customer contact centre, complaints, customer engagement and ensuring excellent customer feedback and insight to help shape service delivery. Tansy also works with colleagues, customers and stakeholders to shape and develop GSA’s customer investment strategy.

Previously, Tansy was the Assistant Director of Customer Services at Walsall Housing Group and responsible for leading the housing and customer focussed services for the business. Further, Tansy also was responsible for leading the organisation on a number of key projects aimed at mitigating the impact of the financial crisis and working collaboratively in the sector with Local Authorities and DWP to ensure tenants could sustain their tenancies.

Before beginning work in the housing sector, Tansy worked in the field of supply chain at a global manufacturing brand and headed up the Customer Service Operation in the UK & Ireland.

Jon Dickin

Jon has been working in the social housing sector for more than 10 years and during this time has held operational, strategic, and senior management positions.

Jon is currently Head of Neighbourhoods and Communities for Bromford, a Housing Association with over 46,000 homes and 110,000 tenants, with responsibility for a wide range of front-facing housing and community services. Jon has previously worked in senior positions for Aspire Housing and Solihull Community Housing.

Jon has a real passion and history for putting customers first, ensuring they are involved in key decisions that affect them.

Alan Hamer

Alan Hamer is currently Director of Care, Community and Healthcare Services at the Queen Alexandra College, a national independent charity in Birmingham for young people with disabilities which provides education, registered care, respite, supported living, housing, healthcare, community support and day services.

Alan is the current Chair of Audit and Governance Committee at St Peter’s and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Ken Hazeldene

Ken Hazeldene has extensive experience in social housing management within both local authorities and housing associations. Ken is a retired Justice of the Peace but remains active in community-based projects.

He is Chair of North Worcestershire Independent Advisory Group for West Mercia Police Service and is Co-Chair of the Strategic Independent Advisory Group. Ken is also a Trustee of St Peters Urban Village Trust and was the former Chair of North Worcestershire Hate Incident Partnership.

Laura Keane

Laura is the Supporting People Services Manager at Bournville Village Trust (BVT).

Laura is an experienced Manager with over 10 years’ expertise in operational leadership within social housing. Laura’s career has spanned housing for older people, children’s services, and community services, giving a strong foundation in managing diverse services in highly regulated environments.

Laura has a proven track record of leading large staffing teams and overseeing services across wide geographical areas, ensuring high standards of care, compliance, and service delivery. Laura’s experience includes working within large housing organisations such as Optivo and Midland Heart, as well as at the heart of community-focused organisations including Witton Lodge Community Association and now at BVT.

Passionate about delivering safe, person-centred services, Laura brings a collaborative leadership style that supports staff, strengthens partnerships, and delivers positive outcomes for the people and communities she serves.