All Board members – each one a volunteer – bring with them the expertise of their day-to-day profession or background. Together they determine MHA’s strategy and vision for meeting the needs of older people and ensure that the management team and staff deliver the service. MHA has four Boards. MHA Care Group is the parent body, responsible for the overarching strategy, mission and values of MHA. Methodist Homes for the Aged is a charitable subsidiary, responsible for all care homes and live at home operations. Methodist Homes Housing Association is a housing subsidiary, responsible for all housing operations. MHA Auchlochan is a charitable subsidiary, responsible for Auchlochan Retirement Village in Scotland which provides a range of care homes and independent living properties.
Brian Coldwell - (Chair of MHA Care Group)
Brian Coldwell, OBE, currently holds a number of voluntary posts, the two principles ones being Chair of the Board for Cleveland Accredited Training Centre and Secretary to the Trustees of Churches Regional Commission in the North East. Prior to this, he was Chair of the Executive of the Methodist Council from 1993 to 2000. Before his retirement from full-time employment, his career included Personnel and Services Manager with ICI plc and setting up a company dealing with business leadership.
Shelagh Morgan - (Chair of Methodist Homes Housing Association)
Currently Chief Executive of Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society. Formerly Resource Manager of Sx3 Ltd providing housing software to housing organisations and is involved in business planning/policies. Professional experience in housing and local authorities. Former roles include Client Services Manager, Director of Consumer Services and Area Housing Manager. Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Local Preacher.
Rev Peter Mortlock - (Chair of MHA Auchlochan)
Peter is currently the Superintendent Minister of the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Circuit of the Methodist Church. He is the Deputy Chair of the Bristol District of the Methodist Church and also serves as both District Policy & Lay Employment Secretary for the Bristol District . Peter has devoted over 25 years to being a Board Member, and latterly Chair of Methodist Homes for the Aged, before standing down in July 2008. During his time with MHA, he instigated the development of the Live at Home initiative and brought a wealth of experience in terms of an understanding of the issues of older people, housing and care services and the role of the Church in society. Previous experience in the voluntary sector includes the roles of Chair of St Chad’s Housing Association and Vice Chair of Prime Focus – Social Investment Agency and Focus Housing Association in the West Midlands.
Keith Salsbury - (Chair of Methodist Homes for the Aged)
Keith Salsbury retired from the National Health Service in 2002 having served in a number of senior management positions including 11 years as Chief Executive of Wakefield Health Authority. Keith has worked at all levels of the NHS and acquired a vast experience of health care. He has also served as a Trustee of a hospice and Chair of a local cancer charity. Keith is a former Board Member of MHA and has been a member of the Methodist Church for over 40 years where he has served as Church Secretary, Treasurer and Steward at different times.
Dr David Hall - MHA Care Group
Dr David Hall’s career includes a 20 year period as a senior executive in the metal industry, followed by the role of Chief Executive of County Durham Training and Enterprise Council. His experience includes strategic planning and development, finance and HR. Dr Hall held a number of voluntary roles including Chair of the Board sub group for Equality and Diversity for his local NHS Trust, and Chair of Darlington Mind which provides care and housing support. His current appointments include Board Member of two Colleges in the University of Durham and Trustee of Darlington Council for Voluntary Services. Dr Hall is an active member of the Methodist Church and has first-hand experience of MHA.
Rev Anne Gibson – MHA Care Group
Anne is the Superintendent Minister of the Leek Circuit of the Methodist Church and is currently Deputy Chair of the Chester and Stoke-on-Trent Methodist District. Anne has a broad experience of working with older people, primarily from when she worked in Social Services and latterly through providing pastoral care. Anne was previously a Board Member for Methodist Homes for the Aged and she was also involved in setting up the Victoria Live at Home Scheme in Sheffield
David Hobbs - MHA Care Group
Director of own companies, Droftarts Investments Ltd and Northriver Ltd, managing and dealing in property assets since leaving McDowalls, Chartered Surveyors, in 1995. David had been with that firm for over 25 years, joining as Assistant Surveyor in the late 1960s, and eventually becoming a Partner. Amongst other voluntary commitments, David is a Methodist Local Preacher in the London (Forest) Circuit, a coach and athletics official with Loughton Athletic Club, and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Real Estate Auction Group.
Graham Smith - MHA Care Group
Graham Smith was MD of BUPA Care Services until 2000, providing services to over 30,000 older people. He had previously set up Goldsborough Healthcare PLC which was acquired by BUPA Care Services in 1997 and formed the core of BUPA’s care services. Graham has extensive experience of the long term care sector, providing a range of services (nursing, residential home care and sheltered housing) over the last 25 years. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with previous experience with PriceWaterhouse. Graham is currently a non-executive director of businesses involved in operating care homes in Spain, and childcare and dental care facilities in the UK and is a former Board Member of MHA.
Rev Wes Blakey – Charity Board
Wes studied Theology at Manchester University before entering his first Circuit appointment for the Methodist Church in Wigan. After appointments as Circuit Minister in Circuits in different areas of Lancashire and Newcastle upon Tyne he became District Chair of the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District in September 2000.
Peter Boggis – Charity Board
Peter’s principal experience is as a strategy consultant, helping companies and other organisations develop a vision and a plan for getting there. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he spent some 10 years in Africa in Management Consulting before returning to Europe in 1989. Since then he has operated at a senior level with two international strategy consultancies and now operates as an independent consultant, business advisor and strategist. He and his wife, Margaret, are active members of Kirkby Lonsdale Methodist Church in Cumbria
Nwabueze Nwokolo - Charity Board
Nwabueze is dual qualified: in England and Wales 1995 and in another Commonwealth jurisdiction (barrister and solicitor, Supreme Court of Nigeria 1978). She is one of two Council members representing ethnic minority concerns. Nwabueze is Chair of the Black Solicitors Network (BSN) Midlands and is also a director of the parent BSN with responsibility for pastoral care. She is a family mediator and a solicitor member of Resolution. A qualified Mortgage Specialist (CeMap) with a diploma in Mortgage Lending, she is a member of the institutes of Financial Services and Leadership and Management respectively. Nwabueze chairs the Equality and Diversity Committee which covers the Law Society. The Solicitors Regulation Authority and The Legal Complaints Service. She is the Racial Justice council member of the British Methodist Church and a governor of the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. Nwabueze has been married to Chuka since 1982 and they have two daughters.
Andrew Robinson - Charity Board
Since 1997 Andrew has been Chief Executive of Homezone Housing Ltd. Homezone Housing Ltd. owns and manages 4500 homes including 1100 homes for older people, and is currently converting to charitable status. He has held a number of roles in local authority including more recently Director of Housing & Environmental Development for Lichfield District Council where he led the transfer of the housing stock to Homezone. Andrew is a member of the Regional Executive of the National Housing Federation (West Midlands).
Jo Summers - Charity Board
Jo is a resident at our care home Queenswood in Nottingham and has lived there since January 2005. Before retiring Jo worked in an Accounts Department as an Accounts Assistant. During her time at Queenwood, Jo has been participated in staff/residents interview panels and she has been on the Chaplain’s Selection Committee.
Rev Dr Betty Bell - Housing Association Board
Betty Bell commenced her career as a Chemistry Teacher prior to holding positions as Senior Tutor and College Vice Principal. Whilst at the college Betty undertook ministerial training, later serving as a Superintendent Minister and Minister for almost 10 years. Betty has been a supporter of MHA for over 20 years involved in Hinton Court, sheltered housing scheme in Guisborough, in its early years. Additionally, through her ministry, Betty has worked extensively with older people. She also has a particular interest and personal experience of issues surrounding dementia care.
John Bowler - Housing Association Board
John Bowler is an Architect by profession. With a career with local authorities, heading up property services, his responsibilities included social housing, new build, refurbishment and maintenance. He has also worked in the private sector and development corporations. Following retirement, John served on two separate committees of Hanover Housing Association. Current interests include archaeological excavation. He has a commitment to making a contribution to society.
Hilary Cocker – Housing Assoication Board
Hilary is a chartered accountant and has worked in both the not for profit and private sector. She has a broad range of skills including leadership, managing change, risk management, financial strategy and audit. Hilary decided to leave full time employment at the end of 2008 to create time for public service and to set up her own consultancy and interim management business. Hilary has been a member of the Methodist Church for over 40 years.
Norman Mann - Housing Association Board
Before retiring, Norman’s business experience was latterly with Cadbury Schweppes plc where he was involved in business planning, finance, and systems. He is currently involved in education matters as a lay member of QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority), he sits on the Audit Committee, is Church Treasurer (LEP) and a member of Church Council. He is the Chair of the Methodist Church Audit Committee and observer at Methodist Council.
Christine Paley - Housing Association Board
Christine Paley currently provides consultancy services covering organisational change; policy development; strategic reviews and performance improvement for local authorities, the independent and voluntary sectors. Christine is a former Director of Adult Social Care and has held successful leadership roles at local and national level including as Advisor for Better Government for Older People. Christine has significant experience of residential, day-care and homecare services for older people and is a qualified Social Worker. She has held non-executive roles for the WRVS Board and HomeCare Europe, chairing the Older People's Committee of Association of Directors of Social Services for six years.
Hazel Watson - Housing Association Board
Hazel has been a tenant at Tranquility Court, Leeds for the last 2 years. For almost 22 years she worked as a teacher in Zimbabwe and for 15 of those years she was the Head of the Middle School responsible for 12 different classes. She then moved to Canada for 2 years to be close to her daughter. Hazel is currently a School Governor and also leads the Junior Church at her local church.
Professor Moira Brown - MHA Auchlochan
During her career as a Virologist, Moira Brown was employed by the Medical Research Council and the University of Glasgow as Professor in Clinical Neurosciences. She is currently a Director of Crusade Laboratories Limited, the company she founded to develop new treatments for cancer. She is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of The Royal College of Pathologists and Professor Emeritus at the University of Glasgow. In addition, she is Chairman of Medical Research Scotland, Scotland’s largest healthcare charity. In 2007, Moira was awarded an OBE for services to healthcare.
Suzanne Flynn - MHA Auchlochan
Suzanne has an upper second class honours degree in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London and she undertook a Postgraduate course in Computing Science. She is a Chartered Electrical Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, a Member of the Chartered Quality Institute and a Member of the Women’s Engineering Society. She was a founding Director of Cygnet Solutions Limited for which she is currently the Technical Director, Principal Consultant and Quality Manager. Suzanne has been invited to speak at various conferences and lectures.
Lawrence Park - MHA Auchlochan
Lawrence Park’s background stems from study of Medical Sciences with particular emphasis in Microbiology. Following service within Health Service moved into sales and marketing with a number of blue chip organisations. Glaxo Group, Johnson & Johnson Companies as International Business Director. Further appointments followed with Ansell Medical, Stille Werner and Aladan Corporation as International Sales and Marketing Director. Lawrence has been a church elder and lay preacher for over 40 years, and is currently secretary to a county evangelical outreach group.
Dennis Steele - MHA Auchlochan
Dennis is currently Chairman of the Auchlochan Trust, and is a resident on the Auchlochan estate. He was a Senior executive with City of London Companies active in International Trading and Commodities. He was a former Marketing executive of the Tesco Group. His latter years before retirement were spent in Nairobi, Kenya as Regional General Manager for the whole of East Africa, working for a major European Company involved in commodity trading, industrial planning development, investment and the training of local people for management. After retirement to Essex, he became Company Secretary and Director of Private Nursing Home, and Chairman of the Local Housing Association. A committed Christian for many years and served as church elder and secretary. While in Nairobi, he was Vice Chairman of the Emmaus Bible School.