Making a difference by providing quality homes for people in housing need
Circle VHA is a legally incorporated company limited by guarantee and is required to have a board of directors. The Circle VHA board consists of eight members, who each have considerable expertise and experience in areas such as housing policy and development, organisational management, financial management and legal expertise.
The directors are volunteers who are not directly responsible for the delivery of our housing services. They do have ultimate responsibility for the good governance of the organisation, company policies, strategy and the achievement of our mission. They are paid no fees or other earnings by Circle VHA.
The Board meets on average eight times per year. It also has three sub-committees – Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, Development Committee and Remuneration and Nominations Committee. These committees review policies, proposed acquisitions and Circle VHA’s services and management and report to the Board.
Aoife Watters is Chief Executive Officer for Glasnevin Trust. She is an accountant by profession and has worked previously in the private sector.
Jerome Casey is an economist by profession. He has provided economic analysis for the construction and transport industries over the past 40 years.
Fr Pat Carolan is an Oblate Father in Dublin. He was formerly director of Conway House in London - a hostel and accommodation centre for Irish emigrants in London. He has established and developed the Oblate Basketball Club in Inchicore, which provides a range of sporting and community activity for the Inchicore area.
Jane Doyle is a town planner by profession. She has previously worked in that role with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and was a board member of An Bord Pleaneala. She is currently a planning consultant.
Chris Ellison is a consultant to housing associations. He was a senior manager in the Circle Housing Group in England. He has extensive experience of managing and developing both general needs and supported housing schemes.
Jim Murphy is an architect by profession. He has extensive experience in both Ireland and abroad as a practicing architect and has lectured in the School of Architecture in University College Dublin.
Brian Shefflin is a director with KPMG Corporate Finance. While his primary focus is on property and financial services transactions, he also delivers transactions across a wide range of sectors, including medical, food and beverage, services and manufacturing. He works with a range of finance providers and increasingly international non-bank lenders on new development / acquisition projects, debt re-financings, debt buy backs, NAMA exits, and debt / hedging strategies. Brian has also advised on the sale, recapitalisation, transfers to asset relief schemes and restructuring of banks in Ireland, the UK and Southern Europe. His previous experience is in audit.
Gráinne Ní Dhubhghaill is a solicitor and senior legal advisor with Sodexo Ireland Limited (part of the Sodexo Group, an international integrated service provider). She has previously worked in private practice, as well as in-house in financial services, asset finance and on infrastructure projects, including social housing projects in the UK.
Circle VHA Director of Finance & Corporate Services, Anne O’Meara is company secretary.
The Board is assisted by three committees that are authorised to make recommendations:
(Chair, Brian Shefflin)
The committee members are Brian Shefflin, Jerome Casey and Larry Tuomey, who is an external member. Their role is to review the internal control systems and reporting, review the external audit and risk management policies. They also meet with our auditors and review the financial statements for the auditing of our accounts.
(Chair, Jim Murphy)
The committee members are Jim Murphy, Jerome Casey and David Williams, who is an external member. The role of the committee is to review the proposed strategic and business plans, examine budgets for each calendar year and proposed acquisitions via loan finance.
(Chair, Jane Doyle)
The committee members are Jane Doyle, Fr Pat Carolan and Aoife Watters. The role of the committee is to review the company’s human resources policies, staffing levels and remuneration of staff.