My Bookings

Diane, the current Vice Chair, has been a Trustee since Jan 2016. She brings over 30 years experience in Social Housing through various roles working in Homelessness and Advice, Housing Management, Service Development, Policy and Performance, Strategy and Business Development, Governance and Communication as well as Project Management of Welfare Reform.

Diane has a track record of working with people from many different backgrounds and in often challenging and continually changing environments. She is committed to the region, its people and its culture. Diane has other experience as a Board member with a small Mediation Project and a local health service provider.

Russell Hewitson initially qualified as a solicitor and practised with Ward Hadaway before moving to Northumbria University where he is an Associate Professor of Law. Russell is a magistrate on the South Northumbria Bench. He is Chair of Law Society’ Conveyancing and Land Law Committee and a centre fellow of the Cambridge Centre for Property Law at the University of Cambridge. Russell is also a trustee of Netherton Park Trust.

I have over 40 years of experience in Local Government finance having worked in a variety of roles in local authorities across the North East. There are not many areas of finance that I have not been involved in at one time or another but my specialism is in regeneration finance.

My major role was that of Head of Finance at Bridging NewcastleGateshead. This was the cross-authority Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder programme with a principal focus on housing market renewal and growth. BNG was classified by The Audit Commission as ‘performing strongly’ overall for three years in succession and particular comment was made in terms of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Partnership. This is an area of work that I took the lead on and encompassed programme and performance management, efficiency planning, business planning, financial modelling, risk management and all things ‘value for money’.

I have spent many years working with and advising a range of management teams, regeneration boards, council committees, boards of governors and trustee boards and I fully understand the difference between governance and management.
Since taking early retirement in 2015 I have utilised my skills in the charity sector initially working with the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust in a voluntary capacity. I currently work with The Lawnmowers Independent Theatre Company, a small charity run by and for adults with learning difficulties, providing financial support.

I am a Trustee and Vice Chair of Citizens Advice Newcastle where I have been helping to develop financial management, business planning and fundraising strategies to help improve the lives of vulnerable people in Newcastle.

Clare has been a member of the board since January 2016 and has specific Director responsibility for Residents.

Clare has a strong background as a qualified Social Worker, having worked in various settings in both adult and young people’s services,  but predominantly in Adult Mental Health Services. She is experienced in supporting adults with enduring mental health difficulties both in community and acute psychiatric settings. Clare also worked for many years as an Approved Mental Health Professional (formally Approved Social Worker).

More recently Clare has moved away from Social Work and now runs her own training business, delivering mental health and wellbeing training into various businesses, across many settings. Clare is an Associate, and is also on the National Training Team, for Mental Health First Aid England CIC.

Clare is passionate about ensuring that Haven Tyneside Ltd should keep the Residents at the very heart of everything they do.