Our Boards hold us to account; they ask the right questions around performance and delivery, to ensure we are meeting their expectations – and those of our customers.
We want to deliver results that have a lasting, positive impact and with authentic leaders who supporting our staff as they adapt to change, and encourage continual learning and development as an essential part of our organisational culture.
Our Group Board Members
The non-executive members on our Group Board play an important role in setting the direction of travel for our organisation, as well as ensuring the highest standards of governance and integrity underpin our work.
Phil Watson CBE - Chair of the Board
Phil, an architect and housing professional, brings over five decades of industry knowledge to the board. Having successfully delivered several thousand new and improved council homes with Blackburn with Darwen Council during his career, Phil is passionate about improving life chances and living conditions for people in the north west. As recognition for all this great work, he was awarded a CBE for his wider national role in local government.
Bill Lacey
Bill has experience of working in the social housing sector that spans over 45 years. Not only that, but he also brings with him more than 30 years’ experience as a board member with many organisations. This experience gives Bill a vast understating of issues such as homelessness, wellbeing services for vulnerable people, community development and tenant engagement.
David Gooda
David specialises in providing communications and recruitment support to organisations within local government, housing, and charities. He has served as Chair of a range of civic organisations, including leading a housing association in Cheshire for nine years. He has also been a member of boards in education, arts and heritage in the North West, and is a Fellow of the RSA.
Sarah Roberts
As passionate about social housing as she is about Manchester City FC, Sarah brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to the board. Committed to making a real difference to people’s lives through her role, Sarah champions her financial expertise and risk assessment skills. Above all that, she values the health and happiness of her family.
Penny Aspden
Penny has worked in and led the people function throughout her career in retail, manufacturing and later, senior leadership in social housing. She now works as an executive coach and mentor and is passionate about supporting people. Whilst not a Burnley-native, Penny’s parents grew up in neighbouring Accrington, driving her to support the great work going on in the area.
Richard Jones CBE
Bringing experience of local government and the NHS to the board, Richard has a strong set of values about fairness and equality. He’s passionate about people and joined the Calico Group to support communities and people to be the best they can be. As well as the Group board, Richard also brings his wealth of knowledge to Syncora as their board’s Chair.
Chris Bithell
Chris was a Divisional Commander for Lancashire Police in the Pennine, East and South Divisions until 2017 and was also the Chief Superintendent of the Blue Light Collaboration Project. Chris is also a local counsellor in Padiham.
Collective EDI summary of our Group boards
By focusing on the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of our Group boards, we can ensure we treat people fairly, enable equality and gain a better understanding of our customer needs accessing services.
From the board members who shared data, we found:
- Age: 5% of board members are in the age range 25-34, 14% 35-44, 18% 45-54 and 55% are 55 or over.
- Gender: 66% identify as male, the remainder, female.
- Ethnicity: 10% considered themselves to be from an ethnic minority background.
- Disability: 5% of board members who disclosed this information have some form of disability.
- Nationality: 73% of board members who disclosed this information identified as British
- Religion: 59% are Christian, 5% are Hindu, 5% are Muslim and 5% are atheist.
- Sexual Orientation: None of the board members identified as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Marital Status: 77% are married or cohabiting, 14% are single and 5% are divorced.
To contact a member of our Board or to view their Declaration of Interest please contact the Governance team – governanceteam@calico.org.uk