Welcome to WISH North Wales.

Born and raised in North Wales, Caroline Stubbs has been qualified as a solicitor since 2010. She specialised early on in her career in property law, with a focus on social housing. Since 2012, she has worked in house for providers of social housing, firstly for Weaver Vale Housing Trust in Cheshire currently for Pobl Group in Newport, where she is Director of Legal Services. Working in-house has placed Caroline in the unique position of interacting with colleagues, customers and external stakeholders in relation to all aspects of social housing, from new developments to housing management. Caroline has a strong sense of the pressures across the sector, from the commercial to the political, and provides advice and support which helps her colleagues face these head on. As Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee at WVHT, she was a keen supporter of rights for women. Caroline has been a member of WISH for several years and took part in the WISH mentoring scheme. She believes WISH is a forum to encourage mutual support between women and to help each other succeed.

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!

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.

Born and raised on Anglesey, North Wales, Paula Hanks-Jones is a Senior Project Surveyor within Contract Administration and Employers Agent roles covering North Wales. Paula embarked upon a change of career in 2009 when she was left with 2 young daughters to raise and got accepted on a Construction Management Foundation degree at Liverpool John Moores University. She relocated with her daughters to Liverpool and completed a Quantity Surveying BSc degree and returned home to the island in 2014 where a varied background in both Contractor and Client led environments have provided varied Public and Private sector works experiences, including working alongside various local Councils and North Wales Housing Associations. Paula completed her Construction Law & Practice Master’s Degree in 2019 and has a strong interest in sustainability within the industry, and in particular how whole house retrofits will take shape to support the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Although obtaining three degrees Paula does not consider herself a natural academic and continues to support young people with advice and support via school career days to ensure they are aware of the varied opportunities within Construction, along with the many routes available.

Paula is extremally passionate about supporting North Wales in becoming a place where people will continue to live, study and work and considers the WISH board an excellent platform to support the network of strong professional females continuing to develop and create an empowering support for all our valued members.

Born and raised in North Wales, Claire has a career rooted in the housing sector, from leaving university to securing her first role working in the Supported Housing sector. Claire has worked for Housing Associations and a Local authority in North Wales in a range of leadership roles developing herself professionally and personally along the journey. Between 2018 and 2021 Claire left the housing sector for a new and unique challenge to work for North Wales Police, taking part in the National Inspector Direct Entry scheme to become a qualified Police Inspector, however soon realised her heart and passion remained in the housing sector. Claire returned to the sector in 2021 and currently works for North Wales Housing Association as Operations Director.

Claire was a founding member of WISH North Wales in 2016 and is excited to return to the board in 2023 to continue to develop the North Wales region to provide the best possible opportunities for women working in the North Wales housing sector. Claire is also a CIH Cymru Board Member and a Board Member of Care and Repair Conwy and Denbighshire.

Lauren has worked in planning and development roles for 22 years. She started out in the public sector working for a local authority before trying her hand in the private sector and has now settled with a Registered Social Landlord. Lauren joined North Wales Housing in the summer of 2021 making the leap from town planning to the housing sector and hasn’t looked back. She leads a team who are delivering an ambitious programme of new home delivery across the six counties of North Wales.

Lauren is a qualified planner with a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning. She has also studied, and continues to study, with the Institute of Leadership and Management with the desire to continuously improve herself.

Lauren attended WISH events for a number of years prior to becoming a Board Member and is committed to supporting and encouraging women to achieve their potential and personal ambition and to overcome the barriers to do this. She is looking forward to helping to shape the direction of WISH North Wales and in developing an exciting programme of events for members.

Outside of work Lauren has two children who keep her very busy with all of their sports and activities. On the rare occasion that Lauren has some free time she is likely to be found with good friends and a wine glass in her hand!

Penny’s career journey in the property and development industry spans over 25 years – from working in the private and public sector to working in the social housing sector, where she has spent the last 10 years.

As Head of Development and Growth for ClwydAlyn Housing, Penny is leading a large team and helping to deliver ClwydAlyn’s ambitious development programme, to deliver energy efficient, affordable homes across the 7 counties of North Wales.

Penny has been a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) for over 10 years and is on the Land and Property Programme for North Wales Ambition Board. She is passionate about all things housing and is genuinely committed to help beat poverty here in North Wales, believing everyone is entitled to good quality homes; helping to bring much needed, modern, efficient, affordable homes that will meet the needs of local people.

As a frequent attendee of WISH events, she now thinks it’s the right time to become a board member. Penny is committed to encouraging women to progress their careers and feels WISH is a great place for women to support each other and is excited to be part of the board.

Sarah is Director of Customers and Communities at Adra, where she has worked for over 6 years. Sarah joined the housing sector when she started working for Adra.  Previous roles included Customer Service Officer, Environmental Health Officer and Team Leader at Tameside Council, Head of Streetscene at Burnley Council and Assistant Director Neighbourhood and Regulatory Services at Bolton Council.

Sarah commented:

I started University after I had my son in 1990.  These were the days when childcare was non existent, Nurseries were places only doctors could afford and schools certainly didn’t have before and after school clubs. However, I was lucky enough to have a grant funded university education and family support for childcare. Going to university opened a lot of doors for me but I don’t think it should be necessary to do that and get into a lot of debt to work in housing.  I believe people skills are the main criteria for working with customers and tenants.  No matter where you are in your career you do need a support network.  WISH has been a godsend for me moving from England back to north Wales and being able to make friends and colleagues across the region.  I hope others benefit from it as much as I have.  Feel free to contact me via Linkedin or Twitter if you need any support along the way.

Jayne settled in north Wales some 26 years ago. Whilst working in hospitality as an Events Organiser. In 2009 Jayne embarked on a law degree at Bangor University. After completing her LPC with combined Masters, she worked for a high street solicitors in Holywell, as a solicitor in the property and family departments and then Chester, solely within property.

In 2022 Jayne Joined ClwydAlyn Housing within the Governance Department as part of the inhouse property legal team. The role spans many departments within ClywdAlyn which enriches her day to day work. Jayne comments 'working for an organisation whose values include trust, hope and kindness' instils my own personal values to be kind, support others and to believe in empowerment.

Jayne adds 'I am delighted in becoming a Board member for WISH. I hope to bring a mix of hospitality, legal and moreover an extra-large pinch of 'can do' in supporting women across North Wales.'

Jayne loves to garden with a passion, plus has 2 cats and 4 chickens who she loves, even when they are destroying…sorry helping with the borders!