Housing and care provider Bield has appointed a new chair who has revealed her desire to keep the charity “caring, innovative and strong” into the future.

Susan Napier has a 37 year career working in the housing sector, most recently as a freelance housing consultant and prior to that as director of business development at Dunedin Canmore Group.

Susan said: “I have always been committed to the non-profit model of housing provision. I look forward to playing a bigger part in helping Bield to continue to provide better places to live and better quality person-centred services.”

Having been elected to Bield’s Board in September 2014, Susan will look to bring her past experience and knowledge to the fore in both representing and promoting the aims of Bield and the housing and care sector more generally.

She replaces Gerry O’Sullivan who became chair in 2011, and who has been praised for greatly contributing to the work of the organisation over his tenure.

Susan added: “There are many challenges facing Bield, and the sector as a whole, over the coming months and years.

“I hope to bring my experience to bear so that the organisation can meet these challenges and continue to make things better for everyone involved.

“It will become ever more important to keep a close eye on the issues facing the sector as well as our financial situation as we look to make the most of the fantastic team at Bield and continue to instil the independent ‘Free to Be’ ethos at all our services and housing developments”

Born and bred in Edinburgh, Susan graduated from Edinburgh University before joining Hanover where she gained qualifications as a chartered surveyor.

She has since gone on to hold roles in development and maintenance providing her with a varied and in depth knowledge of the issues facing different facets of the sector.

Brian Logan, Bield’s chief executive, said: “Appointing someone of Susan’s acumen and experience to such a key position is excellent news for Bield.

“We know what she is capable of achieving and look forward to working with her over the next five years to secure a bright future for Bield.”

Bield’s housing is designed especially with the older person in mind with different levels of service available to suit people with varying needs. It provides a wide range of housing and services for around 20,000 older people across 23 local authority areas.