Berwickshire Housing Association appoints new operations director
Dan Blake has been appointed as the new operations director at Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA) with responsibility for the strategic delivery of all housing services and wider community initiatives.
Working alongside customers, staff and Trustees, Dan will ensure BHA delivers integrated housing and social care services to all it serves.
He began his career in Glasgow’s East End with Milnbank Housing Association, progressing to West Lothian Housing Partnership, Barony Housing Association and latterly Loretto Housing Association, all part of Wheatley Group.
Dan said: “Wheatley Group has been a fantastic organisation to be part of and I wish to thank the many colleagues who have supported me in my time there.”
A proud member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), Dan formerly sat on its Board over a two-year term. He has been involved in work with Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum for Housing Associations (GWSF) and more recently he has been an active contributor to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations ‘Innovation and Future Thinking’ programme.
Dan added: “I am delighted to be joining Helen Forsyth and her team at Berwickshire Housing Association. I’ve long admired and observed BHA as a sector leader and feel very privileged to be joining this high performing team.
“BHA are well renowned throughout the housing sector for their innovative, outward facing and collaborative approaches to service delivery. It’s clear BHA have excellent foundations upon which I intend to lead, learn and grow our collective ambitions further. I take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, Jean Gray, and wish her the very best in her new challenge as CEO of Viewpoint HA.
“It’s a great time to be joining this outstanding organisation and I look forward to delivering on our strategic aims and objectives to create thriving rural communities across Berwickshire.”
BHA’s chief executive Helen Forsyth said: “I am absolutely delighted with the appointment of Dan as operations director. He has a fantastic track record within the housing sector and joins us with a broad range of experience which will help the association to continue to meet the needs of our tenants and our aims to support the local community.”