Circle Voluntary Housing Association has announced the appointment of Chris Ellison as chair of its Board of Directors. Mr Ellison, who is Executive Director of Operations at B3 Living Limited in the UK, brings 25 years’ experience in the housing sector. He is a long-serving member of the Board of Circle VHA. He succeeds Aoife Watters, who stood down as chair at the end of 2020, following a successful four years leading the board, and seven years as a board member of Circle VHA.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Ellison said: “I am delighted to have been appointed chair of Circle Voluntary Housing Association and I am strongly committed to ensuring the organisation continues to achieve its mission, whilst maintaining strong governance oversight and regulatory compliance. In these challenging times, it is vitally important that Circle continues to demonstrate its core values of ‘We hear’, and I will strive to ensure a positive and inclusive impact on tenants over the coming years. One of my first tasks as chair is leading on the development of Circle’s strategy 2021 – 2023, which is currently underway, and represents opportunity for further growth and excellence in service provision for our tenants, customers and partners.”
Welcoming the appointment, chief executive of Circle VHA, John Hannigan said: “I am pleased to welcome Chris as the new chair of Circle VHA’s Board of Directors. Chris brings to the role a wealth of experience in the housing and care support sectors, with specialist knowledge in strategy, compliance, governance, and risk management. I look forward to working with Chris at this very exciting time in Circle’s development.”
Mr Hannigan also paid tribute to outgoing chair, Aoife Watters. He said: “I would like to thank Aoife Watters for her dedication to Circle VHA and her leadership as chair. Under her chairpersonship, the organisation has grown significantly, more than doubling its pipeline of housing, and substantially increasing staff numbers. Aoife has left an enduring legacy, including her work on the modernisation of Circle VHA’s governance and reporting systems, and leaves an organisation that is ready and capable of future growth and continued excellence in delivery of services to our tenants.”
An experienced board member, Chris Ellison has been a member of the board of Circle VHA since 2010. Prior to his appointment as chair of the board, he chaired the organisation’s Strategic Purpose Group. He currently serves as Executive Director of B3Living Housing Association in the UK, which is an extensively regulated sector. He was previously a consultant to housing associations and served on a number of boards and sub-committees as a non-executive director. He has extensive experience of managing and developing both general needs and supported housing schemes.
