Board of Directors

Bob Walder

Chair

Bob has retired from a career in Housing: working initially in Moss Side, Manchester; then the Potteries and finally across the Midlands where he was Chief Executive of the Longhurst Group for 26 years. Currently he is on the Board of the ONGO Partnership in Scunthorpe, LACE Housing in Lincoln and chair of the Council of Bishop Grosseteste University, a TEF Gold rated University based in Lincoln.

Bob is also the Chair for Saffron Housing Finance plc.

James Tully

Board Member

James is an Area Programme Manager at Royal Mail. He has extensive experience of leading teams in fast moving operational environments and has a track record of decisive and effective delivery of results, with proven capability in challenging environments.

James has a passion for ensuring people are at the heart of everything we do and is extremely proud to be Chair of the Governance and Remuneration Committee. James is also on the Board of Saffron Housing Finance Plc.

Barry Duffin

Board Member

Barry has worked in the house building industry for over 50 years.

He has worked for both local and national developers delivering up to 500 dwellings per year. His ethos has always been “It matters not whether you deliver 10 houses or 500 houses, the quality should always be the same”.

Barry is a District Councillor with South Norfolk Council (SNC), and was Vice Chair from May 2016 to May 2017 and Chairman of SNC from May 2017 until May 2018. He has also served on Ashwellthorpe and Fundenhall Parish Council for over 25 years.

Barry has been on the Board since January 2018.

Barry is also the Chair of Crocus Contractors Ltd.

Thomas Fadden

Board Member

Tom is a disability equality trainer and consultant based in Norfolk. He has been a saffron tenant since 2013. Working in the 3rd sector for a number of years focusing on disability rights and community inclusion.

Alongside his commercial experience Tom volunteers helping to set up and run independent living groups across Norfolk which are peer support groups for disabled people, their families and personal assistants. In addition, Tom is a trustee of the U.K.’s largest disabled People’s user led organisation.

Alongside this work Tom read Business Management and an MSc in Brand Leadership at the University of East Anglia with this mix of commercial and voluntary experience Tom hopes to make a positive contribution to the governance and strategic direction of saffron housing trust ultimately resulting in much needed social housing being available for many years to come.

Alison Inman

Board Member

Alison is a former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing. She is a Board Member at Colne Housing Society, in North Essex, near where she lives. Alison is also on the Board of Tpas, the engagement experts, and is a co-founder of SHOUT, the social housing campaign. Alison is a previous chair of Colchester Borough Homes and the NFA, the trade body for ALMOs.

Mike Jolly

Board Member

Mike has held a Senior Relationship Manager role with RBS and his extensive experience lies within Risk Management and comprehensive appraisal in a business environment. Mike is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Saffron.

Mike is ex-captain of Norwich RFC 2nd XV. He is also an active scout leader and trustee of the largest Sea Scout unit in the UK as well as a member of Reepham Runners running club.

Emma Rose

Board Member

Emma is a University Lecturer in multiple institutions with experience leading operations in Social Housing and Criminal Justice. She trains and advises business leaders on leadership, strategy, marketing, and digital transformation.

Emma has been an Ambassador for Female Entrepreneurship and for the Open University, where she studied for her MBA.

Emma’s focus is on the contributing to open, collaborative, and purposeful cultures where higher thinking skills and action develops organisations and teams fit to lead in a modern and complex environment.

Robert Lankey

Board Member

Rob is currently Managing Director of a specialist commercial lending business.

During a 30 year career spanning Banks, Building Societies and specialist lenders, Rob has started 3 new lending businesses and developed skills in Risk Management, operations, business growth strategies and leadership.

Rob is also a trustee of a charity providing help to Armenia and has over 16 years experience of being a Board Director of a housing association where he held senior positions in Audit and Finance and Treasury Committees.

Katrina Laud

Senior Independent Board Member

Katrina runs her own housing consultancy business and also works as a Senior Consultant with Savills. Katrina supports housing associations in governance effectiveness, business strategy, growth, partnership and merger.

Katrina is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and is joint author of publications on governance, merger and business resilience.

Neil Watts

Board Member

Neil has been nominated by Customer Voice ensuring that the Board at all times has 25 per cent of the Board with Service User Experience and Perspective.

Neil was a secondary school headteacher in Suffolk for 21 years and has also worked in both advertising regulation at the ASA and press regulation at IPSO. He was a founder member of the board of Ofqual and a lay member of the Architects Registration Board.

Neil is currently the Citizen Advocate on the Advisory Board of Cifas and Chairs the Family Carers Partnership Board in Suffolk.

Neil's son has been a Saffron tenant since 2014 and lives in a shared house in Suffolk.

James Francis

Board Member

Appointed CEO in Spring 2019, James is accountable to the Board for the overall leadership, reputation and direction of the organisation and has worked extensively with the Board, Executive Team and staff to help guide Saffron back the highest possible regulatory grades.

James grew up and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Norfolk and brings to Saffron a commitment to social housing and experience from 9 years in Board-level Finance Director positions with g15 Housing Groups.

James has served terms as Chair at the Primary School and Gymnastics Club attended by his two daughters in South Norfolk.

Duncan Scott

Board Member

Duncan has worked in the care and support sector and has been a Saffron tenant since 2009. Duncan had been involved with CAP (now known as Customer Voice) for many years, having been on the Operational Management Group and Treasurer.

As a previous proactive member of CAP Duncan gained valuable skills and knowledge that he brings to his role as a Non-Executive Director.

Duncan is also a Member of our Governance and Remuneration Committee. Duncan has been a tenant nominated Board Member since 2013.