Welcome to WISH North West

Nicola Brown has over twenty five years commercial experience in providing IT solutions to the Social Housing Sector. 
Nicola is Head of Account Management for Voicescape. Using a unique combination of automation technology, behavioural insights and data science, Voicescape creates bespoke communication solutions that drive substantial operational efficiencies and service level improvements to improve customer engagement for public sector organisations. Voicescape allows housing associations and local authorities to connect with their communities – at scale – across the major customer touchpoints. These include collections and arrears, gathering instant feedback to drive meaningful action and improve satisfaction, scheduling and managing building safety appointments and daily welfare checks for sheltered housing residents. 

Voicescape offers an evidence-based approach to digital transformation, allowing valuable resources to be redeployed to areas where a ‘human touch’ is required to support those with the greatest need and creating meaningful interactions that residents truly value.

A key leader in business development in her field, Nicola feels passionately it is strong customer relationships and partnership working that is at the forefront of successful implementations. 
Nicola believes that WISH is a forum for personal growth and for women to help other women succeed in the sector. 
Nicola has complemented her IT career with diverse roles in the voluntary and charity sectors including roles with HMP Leeds, IMB, and NCT Cheshire.

Sarah Davies has spent nearly two decades working with organisations across the public and not-for-profit sector, leading and delivering transformational technology-led change. 

Starting her career with the Audit Commission before moving into strategic leadership roles in Police, Fire and Social Housing; Sarah’s passion is service delivery with the customer at its core. 

Sarah believes in keeping it simple, understanding purpose and not being afraid to fail. ‘Be clear about where you want to get to and why; have a plan but don’t worry if things go wrong, keep control, learn, adjust and deliver. And make sure you listen; always.’

Her professional qualifications include a Master’s degree in Business (MBA) and the International Certificate of Enterprise Risk Management.

Outside of work, Sarah is a Mum and enjoys running; completing her first London Marathon in 2019.

Claire is an indirect tax advisor who specialises in VAT.  She has over 11 years’ experience working in VAT, and is ATT and CTA qualified. 

She works with a variety of not-for-profit clients, including housing associations and care providers, as well as commercial clients.  Claire spends over half of her time working with housing groups to advise on a variety of matters, including complex property transactions.

Claire is keen to be part of the refresh of the North West region of WISH and to expand its reach to a variety of women across the region.

Emma strives to challenge herself, make a difference in the sector and smash through the barriers of being a woman in construction. Having started as a trainee bid writer, she now works as Business Development Manager for Casey.

As Chair, Emma wants to share best practise within the industry and help others to develop their career through interactive, thought provoking workshops. Collaboration is hugely important to Emma and she wants to bring together all those who work within housing to develop new ideas and innovation.

Having graduated from Leeds Metropolitan with a Marketing degree, she wants to encourage the next generation to consider housing and construction as a choice, not an accident. Emma is an Enterprise Advisor for a local school in Rochdale and works to connect employers to students.

Emma is also a committee member of G4C North West, who are on a mission to improve performance, drive best practise and encourage, promote and engage with the next generation.

Emma is also a committee member of G4C North West, who are on a mission to improve performance, drive best practise and encourage, promote and engage with the next future generation.

Liz Brown is a Project Manager, working for RPS Group Plc, delivering property developments of varying sizes and across multiple sectors in and around the north of England.

With a background in architecture Liz has significant experience across a wide-range of public sector projects in the Residential, Education and Leisure sectors, spanning 12 years as a qualified Architect. In addition to being a board member at WISH NW, Liz is a member of Women in Property, an organisation focusing on the promotion of the construction industry as an equal platform and seeking to enable opportunities for all.

Liz is a highly-organised and enthusiastic individual, who brings to the table a pragmatic and down-to-earth sensibility, who is using her background in managing various CPD programmes to continue the delivery of the WISH learning event programme.

In her spare time, she is an avid reader, paints and is training to compete in her first marathon.

Gemma has worked in housing development and regeneration for 15 years, taking up roles in Registered Providers, Private consultancy and a Local Authority. She is currently Head of Development and Regeneration at RBH in Rochdale, leading a team delivering an ambitious programme of new home delivery and a large scale regeneration project in Rochdale Town Centre.

Qualifications include a BA (Hons) in Economic and Social Studies and a MA in Real Estate Development. She was nominated for Young Achiever in Housing Development at the Women in Housing Awards in 2015.

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

Outside of work, Gemma has a baby daughter who keeps her very busy! She enjoys walks with her family and baking sweet treats!

Having worked in policing for 9 years I made the transition to Social Housing in 2018. I’ve worked to deliver transformational change in public sector and social housing in all of my roles. I am currently working as Group Head of Programme at Torus. 

I’m passionate about development and support for women in the workplace - for access to opportunities, mentoring and breaking down the barriers we may face. I am really looking forward to being part of the WISH NW board and the wider community and being part of a positive network for women in housing. 

Outside of work, I’m a mum of 2 and avid festival goer.

Maya is an ACA qualified accountant and works as an external audit manager at Beever and Struthers; she works with a wide range of housing associations to support their finance functions and deliver a high quality external audit.

Maya has worked in audit for over 6 years, training at a Big 4 Firm before making the move to Beever and Struthers to work with not-for-profit clients, such as social housing clients that are more aligned to her personal values of making a positive and authentic impact.

Since beginning her career within finance at 18, she has been proud when looking up to women in leadership positions and seeing trailblazing women in a typically male dominated sector. As Maya moves forward in her career, she is striving to encourage more diversity both within Finance and the Housing Sector by bringing her ideas for events to WISH NW and promoting the brilliant work the organisation does.

Maya’s perfect weekend is going on a long walk with her dachshund then curling up on the sofa with a book!

Fiona has worked in social housing since 2008 and held various roles including transformation, projects, audit, business improvement and asset management. Her current role is as the Transformation Director at Magenta Living, a role which is dedicated to transformation of culture and customer experience. She manages the teams responsible for transformation, customer experience, the contact centre and complaints. Her background is in leading strategic change and developing strategies that will change organisations for the better. Her current transformation programme includes culture, technology, service improvement and sustainability. Fiona is passionate about people development so spends a lot of her time mentoring, coaching and encouraging talented people to grow within the sector.

As someone committed to personal and professional development, Fiona is a qualified project manager, coach and OKR Master. She is completing an MBA at Durham University and will graduate in 2022.

Outside of work Fiona has two young children and is a DIY and interior design enthusiast. She is slowly working her way through her house and changing everything! She also enjoys camping, walking, playing with her dog on the beach and generally spending loads of time outside.

Claire Bailey-Jones, Head of Business Development at Novus Property Solutions is a senior leader with nearly 20-years’ experience of working in the Social Housing Sector.

A qualified building surveyor with a specific interest in Zero Carbon, Claire has taken a pivotal role in providing technical solutions for clients’ as well as leading on the Novus ‘Sustain’ centre of excellence to bring to the market a tangible solution to help RSLs retrofit their housing stock.

Claire is passionate about everyone being able to bring their ‘whole self to work’ regardless of age, race, sexual orientation or gender. As well as the WISH board, Claire is an active member of the WiN (Women in Novus) Network that empowers women and under-represented groups help shape the way forward for the business and the industry as a whole; to make the workplace more inclusive. As one of only three female representatives on her degree cohort she understands first-hand the importance of unlocking opportunities for women in the sector. Through WISH she wants to encourage, mentor and support other women into leadership roles.

Volunteering her time to support the ‘Bereavement Café’ a charity set up via Widowed and Young, to help those who have unexpectedly faced tragedy; Claire has provided CV creation, interview techniques, advice and support. She has been trained in ‘grief and loss language’ to enable her to volunteer at pop-up cafes and assist others who are grieving.

Outside of work Claire is married, has two daughters and is an avid equestrian. She spends most of her spare time with their horses and travelling to support her eldest daughter in her Show Jumping training and competitions.

Jenny Neville is a senior executive with over 17 years’ management experience, including 11 years as a board director.

With 12 years commercial experience working across professional services and contracting organisations, where she led significant growth and diversifications programmes, as well as five years management consulting experience  to social housing providers, Jenny understands the diverse challenges faced by housing organisations and contractors and the respective business models and approaches required. 

A group director at ForViva since September 2019, Jenny feels strongly about equal opportunities and inclusion, and unlocking and developing potential across the housing and contracting sectors. Through her involvement with WISH North West, she wants to encourage and support more women into leadership roles.  

Qualifications include MBA, BA (Hons) Politics and History, Diploma in Marketing, ILM leadership and Management and various coaching/mentoring courses.

Outside of work, Jenny has two young children and loves a sporting challenge! Her last challenge was Tough Mudder and the next is her first marathon since having children.

Amy is an Associate Solicitor at MSB Solicitors and has over 16 years experience dealing specifically with social housing litigation acting for both Registered Social Landlords and Tenants. Amy has a passion for all aspects housing litigation.

Amy completed the Bar Vocational Course in 2005 and Cross Qualified as a Solicitor in 2008. Her expertise is in all aspects of Housing Management including Possession and Injunction Proceedings, Compliance and Disrepair. Her current role comprises of conducting litigation, advocacy, reviewing and policies and procedures.

Amy is passionate about empowering women and helping break down the barriers which prevent women from achieving success.

She is also a mum to two young children and in her spare time loves baking and running.