Our Board

Mark Sydney

I was first taught to meditate at school in 1980, although at the time I didn’t actually know it was meditation! One of the teachers would sometimes ask us to focus on our breath or physical sensations. I found it calming and used the technique from time to time when feeling stressed. I went off to university and nobody else seemed to do it – certainly no one talked about it. So for the next thirty years I was an occasional secretive meditator. I qualified with a degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Leeds in 1987.
When I returned to Newcastle in 1987 I began volunteering with the probation service and occasional sessional work at a probation hostel. I the worked as a support worker for Haven Tyneside before moving to Carr Gomm Tyneside, now Tyne Housing. I progressed to a senior management position and developed a number of new projects including the North East’s first purpose built ‘wet’ hostel. I was also instrumental in developing the citywide drugs management protocol with Northumbria Police and the City Council. In 2003 I joined Tyneside Cyrenians (now Changing Lives. As Director of Operations. During that time I led the modernisation of the organisation and established it as a leading regional homelessness provider. During that time I secured funding for numerous projects and initiatives. I was chair of Homeless Links National Advisory Council and chaired SITRA’s national homelessness conference. I took voluntary redundancy in 2010 and gained an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Performance Coaching from Northumbria University. I then took on the role of registered manager at a drug and alcohol residential project for Phoenix Futures. After redundancy in 2012, I changed career and established a video production company making marketing videos for company websites. During this time I was asked to help Home Group tender for homelessness provision in Newcastle and I also set up a charity called Space for Peace. The tender was successful and I was asked to manage the new partnership consortium which included Haven Tyneside.
In 2015 I suffered a period of illness and was diagnosed with a Crohn’s Disease. I decided at this time to again change direction and focus on mindfulness.
In 2016 I trained as a mindfulness teacher to bring the benefits I have received from practicing mindfulness, to others.
Along with my business partner, Rachel Jones-Wild I now run a not for profit Social Enterprise, Mindfulness Based Therapies. We published our first book, Mindfulness with Attitude in November 2022. Our mission is to bring the benefits of mindfulness to as many people as possible, particularly to those that face financial barriers. We also deliver mindfulness into workplaces to support staff wellbeing and business performance. I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2020.
I am, and have been happily married to a local artist, Alison, since 1993 and we are parents to two wonderful children, Lydia and Isaac. We live near the coast in the North East of England. I have been a season ticket holder at Newcastle United since 1989. I also make probably the best salted caramel chocolate brownies in the world.

Russell Hewitson

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.

Ian Mackintosh

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.

Nitin Shukla

Nitin is Policy, Performance and Scrutiny Officer at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria and is currently seconded to Northumbria Police to focus on workforce development. He has worked in the public sector for over 30 years and has experience of equality and diversity. Nitin gained invaluable knowledge of housing whilst serving as a Board member of Your Homes Newcastle and always endeavours to put tenants and staff at the heart of all that he does.

Nitin is Chair of Governors at Bridgewater Primary School; Development Board Member of Marie Curie Hospice and member of the ITV Tyne Tees Diversity Panel. Nitin is also a member of Newcastle University Council and Secretary of the North East Gujarati Association. He is a passionate Rotarian, Past President of Newcastle West Rotary Club.

Patrick Rice DipLM FCMI CIHM MICS AICCM

A Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Institute of Community Safety, and the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, Patrick has many years experience at Board level in the Housing Sector. He has previously served as the National Chair of the ‘Tenants and Residents Executive’ of one of the UK’s largest Social and Supported Housing Providers, as well as served on it’s national Neighbourhood Services Board.

In addition he has previously been a Board Member of ‘The Gateshead Housing Company’, sat on the Board of the then ‘Bridging NewcastleGateshead Partnership’, and is now currently the Chair of the ‘Tyne Valley Rail Users’ Group’, as well as a Director and Board Member of the DfT/CRN Accredited ‘Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership’.

With a career background in Community Safety and Neighbourhood Protection, Law and Order, and Anti-Social Behaviour, he therefore also holds the specific Properties & Accommodation Director portfolio with Haven Tyneside.

He has a keen interest in ensuring Haven continues to provide first-class supported accommodation and services, for some of the most vulnerable in the Community.

Sally Trueman

My name is Sally Trueman, I was very pleased to be invited to join the Board of Tyneside Haven in June 2019.

Before my disability stopped my career path I had many years in Education and Health. This lead me into volunteering roles within the Church Youth Work programme, Red Cross and supporting families alongside Social services to reach their potential.

I am hoping to bring the housing knowledge which I have gained over the last five years sitting on the board of a major northern Housing association. I am excited to engage with staff and tenants to help future proof this important housing association.

Margaret Ferguson

Margaret Ferguson has over twenty five years experience working with charities and in heritage. As a Funding and Development Consultant she brings a wealth of experiences in project planning and development, securing diverse funding streams, partnership and communications.

Margaret has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Haven (Tyneside ) Ltd since October 2015. Prior to this Margaret was a Committee member of the Institute of Fundraising North East (May 2009 – April 2016) and a Trustee of Tyneside and Northumberland Mind (Nov 2013 – Aug 2015).

She has a MBA from Durham University (specialising in Arts and Charity Management) and BA Hons. in English Literature and History form Northumbria University.

Shaun Cannell

My name is Shaun Cannell. I was very pleased to be invited to join the Board of Haven Tyneside in the summer of 2022.

My current experience is working with conveyancing and property related services and I would like to bring my knowledge to support Haven to achive our 5 year strategy. I have previously volunteered with the People’s Kitchen in Newcastle and feel strongly about supporting charities and communities within the North East.

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