Welcome to WISH North Wales

For the past 20 years Nikki, a marketing and business development specialist, has worked extensively with a diverse range of public and private sector clients across England and Wales.   Working in the social housing sector is her most rewarding role to date and she is a firm believer that decent housing shouldn’t just be a wish but a human right.

Whilst Nikki sees her role as only a small part of the place making process, she is a huge advocate in bringing all involved parties together to share best practice, develop new ideas and ensure the maximum positive impact is achieved in helping people within the communities where she works. Recent projects include Hindley Towns Yard, a new build development delivered in partnership with the local community and the Homes and Communities Agency. This collaborative project will deliver a truly accessible and affordable housing offer addressing financial inclusion and supporting the Affordable Warmth agenda made possible by affordable levels of rent and providing homes that are energy efficient with a communal heating system ensuring low fuel bills.

As well as leading the development of the Seddon office in Wales, Nikki is a board member of Care and Repair North East Wales, a not for profit organisation (funded by the Welsh Government, Flintshire County Council, Wrexham County Borough Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wales and West Housing Association, North Wales Fire & Rescue Service and The Big lottery) which helps the elderly and disabled live independently in their own homes for longer.

Nikki Waud – Cadeirydd

Ers 20 mlynedd bellach mae Nikki, sy’n arbenigwr marchnata a datblygu busnes, wedi gweithio’n helaeth gydag amrediad eang o gleientiaid y sector cyhoeddus a phreifat ar hyd a lled Cymru a Lloegr.  Gweithio yn y sector tai cymdeithasol yw’r rôl sydd wedi rhoi’r pleser mwyaf iddi hyd yma ac mae’n credu’n gryf y dylai tai gweddus fod yn hawl dynol yn hytrach na dim ond dymuniad.

Er bod Nikki yn credu mai rôl fach sydd ganddi yn y broses greu, mae’n eiriolwr blaenllaw wrth ddod â phartïon ynghyd i rannu arfer gorau, datblygu syniadau newydd a sicrhau’r effaith fwyaf cadarnhaol bosibl wrth helpu pobl yn y cymunedau y mae’n gweithio ynddynt.  Ymhlith y prosiectau diweddar mae Hindley Towns Yard, datblygiad adeiladu newydd mewn partneriaeth â’r gymuned leol a’r Asiantaeth Cartrefi a Chymunedau.  Bydd y prosiect cydweithredol hwn yn creu cynnig tai hygyrch a fforddiadwy, sy’n mynd i’r afael â chynhwysiant ariannol a chefnogi’r agenda Cynhesrwydd Fforddiadwy, sy’n cael ei chyflawni drwy lefelau rhent fforddiadwy a darparu cartrefi sy’n effeithlon o ran ynni a system wresogi gymunol sy’n sicrhau biliau tanwydd isel.

Yn ogystal ag arwain y datblygiad o swyddfa Seddon yng Nghymru, mae Nikki yn aelod o Fwrdd Gofal a Thrwsio Gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, sefydliad dielw (sy’n cael ei ariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru, Cyngor Sir y Fflint, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam, Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, Cymdeithas Tai Wales and West, Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru a’r Gronfa Loteri Fawr sy’n helpu’r henoed a phobl anabl i fyw’n annibynnol yn eu cartrefi eu hunain am gyfnod hwy.

Cafodd Nikki ei geni a’i magu yng Ngogledd Cymru, ac mae’n parhau i fyw yno yn magu dau o blant yn eu harddegau.  Yn ei hamser hamdden mae’n hoffi beicio ac mae’n credu mai’r ffordd orau o fwynhau golygfeydd godidog Cymru yw ar ddwy olwyn.

Helena joined North Wales HA as their Chief Executive in October 2016. With a move to North Wales Helena wanted to be part of the WISH North Wales region Board, having been on the Board of WISH Yorkshire and Humber.

Helena started her career in housing over 35 years ago in a front line customer service role. She is involved in WISH to try to support and enhance the career progression of younger housing professionals.

Prior to North Wales Housing Helena has worked for Shoreline Housing Partnership as their Operations Director and for HouseMark as Director of Consultancy. Helena has also held the positions of Director of Operations at Herefordshire Housing and Director of Housing at Midland Area Housing Association in Birmingham, now part of Midland Heart. Earlier in her career Helena gained valuable experience working for Riverside Housing Group in the North West for seven years and prior to that worked in Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire.

Helena is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has an MBA.

Fe ymunodd Helena â Chymdeithas Tai Gogledd Cymru fel eu Prif Weithredwr yn Hydref 2016.  Ar ôl symud i Ogledd Cymru roedd Helena yn dymuno bod yn rhan o Fwrdd rhanbarth Gogledd Cymru WISH, ar ôl bod yn aelod o Fwrdd WISH Swydd Efrog a’r Humber.

Dechreuodd Helena ei gyrfa ym maes tai fwy na 35 o flynyddoedd yn ôl, mewn rôl gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid rheng flaen.  Mae wedi ymuno â WISH er mwyn ceisio cefnogi a gwella cynnydd gyrfa gweithwyr proffesiynol iau ym maes tai.

Cyn dechrau gweithio i Gymdeithas Tai Gogledd Cymru, mae Helena wedi gweithio i Bartneriaeth Tai Shoreline fel eu Cyfarwyddwr Gweithrediadau ac i HouseMark fel eu Cyfarwyddwr Ymgynghoriaeth.  Mae Helena hefyd wedi gweithio fel Cyfarwyddwr Gweithrediadau yn Herefordshire Housing a Chyfarwyddwr Tai yn Midland Area Housing Association yn Birmingham, sydd bellach yn rhan o Midland Heart.  Yn gynharach yn ei gyrfa cafodd Helena brofiad amhrisiadwy yn gweithio i Grŵp Tai Riverside yng Ngogledd Cymru am saith mlynedd a chyn hynny bu’n gweithio yn Swydd Gaergrawnt a Swydd Efrog.

Mae Helena yn aelod o’r Sefydliad Tai Siartredig ac mae ganddi MBA.

Sarah has over 10 years’ experience in the construction industry and is Associate Director at Ellis Williams Architects, one of the UK’s top award-winning architects where she leads the business development, marketing and communications throughout the UK. Sarah has an extensive network and has been involved in winning some of the practice’s best-known buildings across a range of sectors including education, arts, culture, leisure and residential.

Sarah has a background working in the housing sector with one of the North West & North Wales & North West leading contracting developer and house builders. Working in partnership with registered providers, local authorities and landowners generating new business opportunities to deliver a full turnkey land acquisition and delivery process to increase the supply and construction of new homes.

Sarah Commented

“I joined WISH North Wales as a corporate member and it quickly became apparent that this this network was different to any other I had previously been a member of. It has a unique combination of professional development, high calibre speakers and industry specialists, best practice and support from the wider community. Another major success has been the mentoring programme which was launched to support members to achieve their true potential and its fantastic to be part of the board that continues to support and help more women into positions of influence and promote housing as a sector full of opportunity and career of choice.

Mae gan Sarah dros 10 mlynedd o brofiad yn y diwydiant adeiladu ac mae'n Gyfarwyddwr Cyswllt ym Mhenseiri Ellis Williams, un o benseiri mwyaf blaenllaw'r DU lle mae'n arwain datblygu busnes, marchnata a chyfathrebu ledled y DU. Mae gan Sarah rwydwaith helaeth ac mae wedi bod yn rhan o ennill rhai o adeiladau mwyaf adnabyddus y practis ar draws ystod o sectorau gan gynnwys addysg, y celfyddydau, diwylliant, hamdden a phreswyl.

Mae gan Sarah gefndir yn gweithio yn y sector tai gydag un o ddatblygwyr contractio ac adeiladwyr tai mwyaf blaenllaw Gogledd Cymru a Gogledd Orllewin Lloegr. Gan weithio mewn partneriaeth â darparwyr cofrestredig, awdurdodau lleol a thirfeddianwyr i greu cyfleoedd busnes newydd er mwyn cyflenwi proses gaffael a chyflenwi tir cyflawn i gynyddu cyflenwad ac adeiladu cartrefi newydd.

Meddai Sarah

“Ymunais â WISH Gogledd Cymru fel aelod corfforaethol ac fe ddaeth yn amlwg yn fuan bod y rhwydwaith hwn yn wahanol i unrhyw un arall yr oeddwn wedi bod yn aelod ohono o'r blaen. Mae ganddo gyfuniad unigryw o ddatblygiad proffesiynol, siaradwyr o safon uchel ac arbenigwyr yn y diwydiant, arfer gorau a chefnogaeth gan y gymuned ehangach. Llwyddiant mawr arall fu'r rhaglen fentora a lansiwyd er mwyn cefnogi aelodau i wireddu eu gwir botensial ac mae’n wych i fod yn rhan o'r bwrdd sy'n parhau i gefnogi a helpu mwy o ferched i gael swyddi dylanwadol a hyrwyddo tai fel sector sy'n llawn cyfleoedd a gyrfa o ddewis.

Chief Executive Officer at Grŵp Cynefin Housing Association

Joined Grŵp Cynefin as their new Chief Executive Officer in February 2018 and really enjoying my new role.  My current focus is on leading the organisation through the next few years of change by developing and leading on delivery of our new Growth Strategy and Corporate Plan, responding innovatively to future housing needs identified by partners including Local Authorities, National Park and Local Health Boards.

Previously, I was the Head of Housing Services for Isle of Anglesey County Council, a stock retained authority.  In that post, Shan also led on the tackling poverty programmes within the Authority and internal accommodation workstreams in preparation for the possible Wylfa Newydd nuclear new build.  Shan is an active Board member of Chartered Institute for Housing Wales.  Shan has spent much of her professional career in Housing and management and has established many services from new and has a track record of transforming services to work more effectively and get better outcomes for customers, whilst also taking time out for self-development and maximising opportunities for development of staff.
Passionate about social housing and reducing health inequalities which exist, innovative solutions for tackling homelessness and also for finding solutions to increase affordable housing solutions especially where the needs exist in rural areas.

Part-time farmer - great relaxation in her spare time!

Fe ymunais â Grŵp Cynefin fel eu Prif Weithredwr newydd ym mis Chwefror 2018 ac rwy’n mwynhau fy rôl newydd yn fawr iawn.  Fy mlaenoriaeth ar hyn o bryd yw arwain y sefydliad drwy’r ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf o newid drwy ddatblygu ac arwain y gwaith o gyflawni ein Strategaeth Twf a’n Cynllun Corfforaethol newydd, ymateb mewn ffordd arloesol i anghenion tai yn y dyfodol a nodwyd gan ein partneriaid, sy’n cynnwys Awdurdodau Lleol, Parciau Cenedlaethol a Byrddau Iechyd Lleol.

Yn y gorffennol bûm yn gweithio fel Pennaeth Gwasanaethau Tai i Gyngor Sir Ynys Môn, awdurdod â stoc wedi’i gadw.  Yn y swydd honno, bu Shan hefyd yn arwain y rhaglenni trechu tlodi yn yr Awdurdod a llifoedd gwaith llety mewnol wrth baratoi ar gyfer gwaith adeiladu newydd posibl ar gyfer Wylfa Newydd.  Mae Shan yn aelod o Fwrdd y Sefydliad Tai Siartredig yng Nghymru ac mae wedi sefydlu nifer o wasanaethau ac mae ganddi brofiad blaenorol o drawsnewid gwasanaethau i weithio’n fwy effeithlon a sicrhau canlyniadau gwell i gwsmeriaid, a threulio amser hefyd yn datblygu ei hun a sicrhau’r cyfleoedd gorau ar gyfer datblygu staff.

Mae’n teimlo’n angerddol am dai cymdeithasol a lleihau anghydraddoldebau iechyd sy’n bodoli, canfod atebion arloesol ar gyfer trechu digartrefedd a chanfod atebion hefyd er mwyn cynyddu atebion tai fforddiadwy, yn arbennig pan fydd yr anghenion yn bodoli mewn ardaloedd gwledig.

Ffermwr rhan amser – ffordd wych i ymlacio yn ei hamser hamdden!

Elliw has worked within both Housing Association and Council Housing Services, which includes strategy, service improvement and policy. Working within a Welsh context is important to Elliw as well as contributing to movements such as WISH North Wales, in ensuring that opportunities are promoted locally.

Mae Elliw wedi gweithio o fewn Gwasanaethau Tai y Cyngor a Chymdeithas Tai, gan gynnwys strategaeth, gwella gwasanaethau a pholisi. Mae gweithio o fewn cyd-destun Cymreig yn bwysig i Elliw yn ogystal â chyfrannu at symudiadau fel WISH Gogledd Cymru, wrth sicrhau bod cyfleoedd yn cael eu hyrwyddo'n lleol.

I came into the construction industry because an opportunity came along in the family business, Davies Partnership, and I held a desire to have a technical / management role and build my career.

Over the past years I have successfully developed through a CAD role and as a Sustainability / Renewable Energy Technician to become the Associate Director of Business and Finance. Our practice has grown considerably over the years and now employs over 25 people. I am proud to have played a major role in this development and have enjoyed not only the technical aspect but also seeing the business flourish.

In recent years we have seen a marked increase of business within the Social Housing sector; I am part of the Management Team and we have targeted this exciting sector for growth. Women in Social Housing (WISH) is a key part of our continued activity in this sector and I was delighted to be asked to join the North Wales team as an Ambassador, meeting new people, understanding more about social housing and keeping at the forefront of technical and legislative developments. I have found the whole experience really enjoyable and have increased my network of like-minded women in just a few months.

In terms of my interests away from the practice – I spend a lot of time around horses and classic cars which are a real passion of mine.

I am pleased to be playing a role in WISH and would highly recommend every woman who has a career in this sector to come along and get involved.

Welsh Translation:

Fe ymunais â’r diwydiant adeiladu drwy gyfle ym musnes y teulu, Partneriaeth Davies, ac roedd gennyf ddyhead i gael rôl dechnegol / rheoli a datblygu fy ngyrfa.  Yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf rwyf wedi datblygu’n llwyddiannus drwy rôl CAD ac fel Technegydd Cynaliadwyedd / Ynni Adnewyddadwy i ddod yn Gyfarwyddwr Cyswllt Busnes a Chyllid.  Mae ein practis wedi cynyddu’n sylweddol dros y blynyddoedd ac rydym bellach yn cyflogi mwy na 25 o bobl.  Rwy’n falch fy mod wedi gallu chwarae rhan amlwg yn y datblygiad hwn ac rwyf wedi mwynhau’r agwedd dechnegol yn ogystal â gweld y busnes yn ffynnu.  Yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf rydym wedi gweld cynnydd mawr mewn busnes yn y sector Tai Cymdeithasol; rwy’n rhan o’r Tîm Rheoli ac rydym wedi targedu’r sector cyffrous hwn fel maes twf i ni.  Mae WISH yn rhan allweddol o’n gweithgarwch yn y sector hwn yn y dyfodol, ac roeddwn yn falch iawn o dderbyn gwahoddiad i ymuno â thîm Gogledd Cymru fel Llysgennad, yn cwrdd â phobl newydd, yn deall mwy am dai cymdeithasol a sicrhau ein bod yn ymwybodol o’r datblygiadau technegol a deddfwriaethol diweddaraf.  Mae’r profiad cyfan wedi bod yn un pleserus iawn i mi ac rwyf wedi cynyddu fy rhwydwaith o ferched o’r un anian â mi mewn ychydig fisoedd.  O ran fy niddordebau y tu allan i’r gwaith, nid ydynt yn gysylltiedig â thai o gwbl - rwy’n treulio llawer o amser gyda cheffylau a hen geir clasurol, rhywbeth sydd wirioneddol o ddiddordeb i mi.

Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at fy rôl gyda WISH a byddwn yn argymell i bob merch sydd â gyrfa yn y sector hwn i ddod draw a chymryd rhan.

For me, working in the Social Housing sector has so much to offer; it’s rapidly evolving and it’s massively rewarding. I’m passionate about developing the perception of working within the housing sector and sharing all that is great about it, so that it becomes a career of choice.

As part of ClwydAlyn’s Leadership Team, my role is all about the people, values and culture. Specialising in Organisation Development, my key accountability is facilitating positive organisation wide change.

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked for some inspiring managers and leaders who I’ve had the opportunity to learn from. When I started out in my career, a manager shared the following quote with me:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou

It’s still resonates with me and I feel that it summarises the work that I do and what the housing sector is all about – making people feel valued and safe.

I’m excited to join the WISH North Wales Board and my ambition is to support women across the sector, and beyond, to achieve their goals.

Amy is Customer Service Manager at Cartrefi Conwy, where she has worked for over 10 years.  Amy joined the Housing sector in 2005 as a Business Manager Trainee and then spent time managing complaints and performance data.  In 2015 the opportunity came for Amy to follow her passion for customer services and lead a team.

Customer service is an area that Amy is hugely passionate about and believes that improving the customer experience makes a real and positive difference to both the customer and the business. The not for profit sector isn’t traditionally known for focusing on customer service however Cartrefi Conwy is a people focused business always striving to make improvements and develop approaches to customer service.

Amy commented

I’ve attended quite a few WISH events and it’s been great to see the positivity that comes from the Board and the benefits for members. WISH offers great opportunities to develop both professionally and personally, and women empowering other women is something I’m excited to be a part of.

Outside of work my favourite thing to do is spend time with my amazing little girl.  I also like to keep myself fit, through running and I like to relax with a good book...and the occasional spa day!

Mae Amy yn Rheolwr Gwasanaeth Cwsmeriaid yn Cartrefi Conwy, lle mae wedi gweithio ers dros 10 mlynedd. Ymunodd Amy â'r sector Tai yn 2005 fel Rheolwr Busnes dan Hyfforddiant ac yna treuliodd amser yn rheoli cwynion a data perfformiad. Yn 2015 daeth cyfle i Amy ddilyn ei diddordeb brwd mewn gwasanaethau cwsmeriaid ac arwain tîm.

Mae gwasanaethau cwsmeriaid yn faes y mae Amy yn teimlo’n angerddol amdano ac mae’n credu bod gwella profiad y cwsmer yn gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn a chadarnhaol i'r cwsmer a'r busnes. Nid yw'r sector di-elw fel arfer yn enwog am ganolbwyntio ar wasanaethau cwsmeriaid ond mae Cartrefi Conwy yn fusnes sy'n canolbwyntio ar bobl gan geisio ymdrechu i wneud gwelliannau a datblygu dulliau gweithredu gwasanaethau cwsmeriaid ar hyd yr adeg.

Dywedodd Amy

Rwyf wedi mynychu nifer o ddigwyddiadau WISH ac mae wedi bod yn wych gweld y positifrwydd sy’n dod o'r Bwrdd a'r manteision i'r aelodau. Mae WISH yn cynnig cyfleoedd ardderchog i ddatblygu'n broffesiynol ac yn bersonol, ac mae merched sy'n ymrymuso merched eraill yn rhywbeth rwy'n teimlo'n gyffrous iawn i gael bod yn rhan ohono.

Y tu allan i'r gwaith fy hoff beth i'w wneud yw treulio amser gyda fy merch fach anhygoel. Rwyf hefyd yn hoffi cadw fy hun yn ffit, trwy redeg ac rwy’n mwynhau ymlacio efo llyfr da... ac ambell i ddiwrnod sba!