Southdown Welcomes New Board Members and Service Quality Committee Co-optee

After an extensive recruitment process, we are thrilled to announce the appointment of three new members to our Board, alongside the addition of a new Co-optee to our Service Quality Committee.

Among the new Board members, two bring prior boardroom experience, while one is embarking on their first Board role, reflecting our commitment to developing new talent and building leadership expertise for the future. These appointments bring the total number of Board members to 12, including Neil Blanchard, our Chief Executive, who joined in September 2024.

Meet Our New Board Members:

Cheryl Bannerman

A passionate advocate for community resilience and affordable housing, Cheryl brings a wealth of public sector experience. Her dedication to improving lives through strategic planning, collaboration, and addressing systemic inequalities will be invaluable to our mission. Read more here.

Jonathan Senker

Jonathan is deeply committed to championing people’s rights and voices. As the founding Chief Executive of VoiceAbility, he transformed it into one of the UK’s leading advocacy and social care organisations. He also brings expertise in governance and leadership. Read more here.

Jane Lodge

With 24 years in the NHS, Jane has focused on amplifying the voices of service users and carers in service design, delivery, and improvement. Her experience includes working to reduce health inequalities and ensuring inclusive participation. Read more here.

Welcoming Abbey Darling to the Service Quality Committee

We are equally pleased to welcome Abbey Darling as the new Co-optee to our Service Quality Committee, which was established in 2024 to ensure our services continue to meet rigorous regulatory and quality standards.

Abbey brings extensive experience from her role as Director of Operations and Women’s Projects in the criminal justice sector, working with both prisons and probation services, as well as women and girls’ community services. She has a strong background in strategic leadership, governance, and service development.
Read more here.

Message from Chair of our Board

Pauline Ford, Chair of Southdown’s Board, said,

“We were thrilled with the high-level of interest in joining Southdown’s Board, and I am delighted to welcome our three new Board members and our new committee Co-optee. Each brings a wealth of expertise and diverse perspectives, which will enhance the governance excellence we strive for. It is an exciting yet challenging time to be part of Southdown, and I look forward to building a strong partnership with our enhanced Board and new C-Suite to ensure we continue delivering exceptional service to our clients, tenants, partners, and employees.”

About Our Board

Southdown’s Board is an independent body responsible for overseeing Southdown’s work to ensure we remain focused on our mission and social purpose. The Board ensures we meet required standards, effectively manage risk, maintain sound financial controls, and uphold good governance. To learn more about our Board members, please click the link below.