Simon Mountford

Mr Mountford has said SBHA has been transformed over the past five years and is well-placed to meet the challenges of the future.

Mr Mountford is succeeded by Robin Hill, a board member since 2016 and previously convenor of SBHA’s audit & compliance sub-committee.

Thanking Mr Mountford, the association’s chief executive, Julia Mulloy, said he had helped to steer SBHA through many changes and successes.

He leaves a legacy of warmer homes and increased investment in homes; an expansion on tenant engagement with many more ways for tenants to get involved in SBHA’s decision making; the growth of the Association’s new-build development programme and innovative partnerships – the formation of which is helping SBHA to meet the varied needs of Tenants and communities in the Scottish Borders. This includes the recent ground-breaking partnership with Aberlour Children’s Charity, Scottish Borders Council and the Robertson Trust, which will benefit children and young people with complex needs.

The past five years have also seen a decisive shift in service provision, with a dramatic expansion in the ways that Tenants can contact SBHA digitally, including via the interactive ‘My SBHA’ app.

This expansion in digital access was demonstrated at the AGM on 30th September, which was the first that the Association had held entirely online – as a result of the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 – with attendees from across the Borders and beyond joining via a live video link.

Mr Mountford said: “It has been an enormous privilege to chair the Association for the past five years and to work with Julia and her first-class team. It has undoubtedly been the most satisfying job I’ve ever done.”

“I am confident that as SBHA looks to the future, we will remain guided by our past, fully able to meet the challenges ahead and seize the opportunities they will inevitably offer.”

Julia Mulloy added: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Simon for all that he has done over the last five years. He has steered the Board through some real dilemmas and changes, from how we govern to our investment priorities, always bringing the focus back to what it means for Tenants. During these most recent challenging times for us and our community, his guidance and support to us has made an enormous difference.”

“As a great chair, he has facilitated leadership within the Association, ensuring that we have been able to realise our vision and helping us to define how this will develop in the years to come. We know there are exciting times ahead.”

Mr Mountford first joined the SBHA board in 2012, becoming chair in 2015. As confirmed at the AGM, he will remain a board member for the next 12 months as an elected member. Other board members to be re-elected on the night were Allen Tills and Ian MacDonald.