AMANDA LAWRENCE

Amanda is a tenant with Newydd HA, and is part of their award winning tenant scrutiny team, helping to create better policies and structure within. She is passionate about the rights of all tenants, private, council and association; believing that all tenants should have equal and fair protection, while also considering landlords and current legislation. Amanda is usually the one asking the awkward questions because someone has to! Amanda is a Disability Champion for Newydd, and is often seen racing around in her wheelchair at events, proving that being disabled doesn’t mean being slow or quiet.

A keen crafter, it is guaranteed Amanda will usually have a ball of wool and a project in her bag, which will appear during quiet times.

Twitter: @1stpoisondwarf

EMMA BARWICK

Emma is a tenant of Valleys to Coast and is an award-winning champion of making a difference to people's lives in her community. Emma has successfully helped enhance her local area and is excited to increase her knowledge and be a part of a bigger community. Emma has a passion for helping people and has been instrumental in getting people involved in community initiatives. She enjoys helping to promote Natural Play space with Marlas Greenspace and is a Tree Ambassador for Llais y Goedwig and Community Litter Champion for Keep Wales Tidy.

Twitter: @emxsmiler

FARIDA ASLAM

Farida started her career in Welsh housing 15 years ago with a Housing Association initially leading Tenant Engagement & Participation work before leading the development of the Money Advice Service and Employment & Skills Service. This award-winning work featured in CIH’s Good Practice and in the first Welsh Housing Anti-Poverty summit. Farida was appointed by the Minister of Housing & Communities in Wales to sit on the Welsh Financial Inclusion group, after which Farida moved to a role within a Local Authority in London to lead their Financial Inclusion Strategy and Welfare Reform work.

Farida currently works as a Senior Manager within a Local Authority in Wales and her role currently involves managing the Housing Management functions, leading on Community Investment, Involvement and Service to Older People.

Farida was formerly a Board Member of CIH Wales and a Director of Communities that Work She is currently a Public Appointee for Social Care Wales Fitness to Practice Panels and an Inside Housing BAME Panel Member.

Twitter: @faridaaslam
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farida-aslam-310b8249/

HELEN WHITE

Helen is Chief Executive for Taff Housing and brings a wealth of knowledge, passion and experience to the TPAS Cymru Board. Having started her housing career working in tenant participation she remains passionate about making sure the needs of tenants and communities are central to how services are designed and delivered. Many will know Helen from her time as Chair of the Regulatory Board for Wales where she was regularly involved in events listening and engaging tenants. Helen spends her spare time paddle boarding or watching her two young sons trying out new tricks at various local skate parks.

Twitter: @taff_Helen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-white-52a57031/

LIZ GIBBONS

Liz is the Head of Social Housing at Capital Law and a Senior Associate in the firm’s Real Estate team. Liz has over 15 years’ experience working in the legal sector, most of which have been spent dealing with social housing. She was previously appointed Solicitor for Wales at the Leasehold Advisory Service and led a residential property department at a L500 Bristol firm. With tenants at the heart of all Housing Association’s objectives and values, Liz is keen to ensure that their views are heard and taken into account, in order to achieve better homes for all. She joins the TPAS Cymru Board to further understand the tenant experience and learn and share best practice within the sector. In her spare time, Liz enjoys spending time with, and entertaining, her eight-year-old daughter.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-gibbons-25541014a/

MARTIN FORD

Martin has worked in the housing sector for over 10 years. Having begun his housing career in Bristol with other RSL’s, he moved to Cadwyn Housing Association 7 years ago. Martin is the Head of Property and Maintenance Services, in which he works as part of the Leadership Team with a strong focus on building communities and getting the most out of services for tenants. Having been homeless himself over 20 years ago, Martin wants to make a difference for all tenants and is the reason he wanted to join TPAS with his lived and professional experiences of the sector. As well as housing being one of his priorities, he also focuses on mental health where he has become a Time to Change Champion. Martin’s lived in Wales for a total of 20 years and enjoys spending his time travelling and with family and friends.

Twitter: @Martin_CadwynHA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-ford-a215b235/

VICKI SHENTON

Vicki is the Customer Engagement and Marketing Manager for Denbighshire Housing, in Denbighshire County Council, as well as a Chartered Marketer. Over the past 16 years, Vicki has championed the customer in settings as diverse as manufacturing, fine food, education, leisure, tourism, conferencing, events and social housing. She is always looking into new techniques, improving customer experiences and the future of marketing. Vicki is looking forward to being able to bring her experience and skills to help support shaping policies across Wales and the UK, improve and develop tenant participation, as well as support the hard working TPAS Cymru team in delivering the support for landlords and tenants to shape services. In her spare time. Vicki enjoys outdoor activities that challenge her ability and skills, this includes gorge walking, coasteering and mountain walking.

Twitter: @VickiShenton
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-s-01220957/