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Anna has been Chief Executive of Brighter Places since 2020 following the merger of United Communities and Solon Southwest. Previously Anna joined United Communities in 2015 as Finance Director and became Interim Chief Executive in 2019.  

Following her graduation from Birmingham University with a History degree, Anna became ACA qualified whilst working at as an auditor at Deloitte. She then spent five years at the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust in Bristol, progressing through the ranks to become Finance Director in 2013. 

Responsibility: In her role as CEO, Anna leads the organisation, making sure it runs well, spends money wisely, and meets all its legal and regulatory responsibilities including health and safety. She supports and guides the Executive Team, works closely with the Board to make good decisions, and ensures customer get high quality services. Anna represents Brighter Places externally, building strong partnerships, and helps shape the organisation’s future direction.  

Dan has 18 years’ experience working in the private and housing sector in senior positions in both human resources and health and safety. He is degree and CIPD qualified and holds qualifications in safety and education.

Responsibility: Dan leads the People Directorate overseeing People, IT & Data, Health & Safety and Marketing & Communications. He is responsible for delivering the Great Place to Work supporting strategy which aims to make sure  colleagues have a great experience, our work culture is inclusive, and that data and technology supports us to improve services, as well as continuing to provide safe places to live and work.

Dan is the Executive lead for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Safety Assurance and Executive Director lead for the People and Governance Committee.

Grant became joint Finance Director of United Communities and Solon South shortly before Brighter Places was established in  April 2021.

He has many years’ experience in the housing sector, including as Head of Finance Business Partnering and Head of Finance Investment at Bromford Housing Association and Head of Treasury and Financial Planning at Merlin Housing Association. He previously worked in the financial services sector and finance practice, delivering audit, accounts and taxation services to clients.

Responsibility: Grant leads the Finance and Governance Directorate overseeing  Finance, Treasury, Governance, Risk & Audit, Performance, Procurement and Data Protection. He also has interim oversight of Development & Investment and Complex Repairs & Disposals. The Directorate is also responsible for Brighter Places’ compliance with the Governance and Financial Viability Standard, Rent Standard and Value for Money Standard.

Grant leads the delivery of the Great Foundations supporting strategy by maintaining a successful, robust, well governed business that is financially strong, resilient and adaptable to changing demands.

Grant is also the Executive Director lead for the Audit and Risk Committee and is the Company Secretary.

Jen joined Brighter Places as Customer Director in 2024. She has a Masters in Housing and Regeneration and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Jen has led customer-focused services in regulated sectors across housing and infrastructure, including nuclear and construction.

During her career, Jen has been a Non-Executive Director for three housing associations. She has also been a member of  Board sub committees including Audit and Risk Committee, Customer Experience Committee and the Homes and Communities Committee.

Responsibility: Jen leads the Customer Services Directorate and oversees Customer Services, Feedback and Complaints, Resident Engagement, Lettings, Income Management, Tenancy and Estate Management, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Tenancy Sustainment and Specialist & Supported Housing.  Jen currently oversees the Homes directorate including the Property Compliance and Inspections, Assets and Planned Programmes and Responsive Maintenance (Repairs & Voids and Damp & Mould) teams. Jen has overall responsibility for compliance with the Ombudsman Complaint Handling code and working with our Member Responsible for Complaints (MRC). She is also responsible for Brighter Places’ compliance with the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, Tenancy Standard and Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

Jen leads the delivery of the Great Customer Experience  supporting strategy to make it easy for everyone, to put customers at the centre of what we do and to have a positive impact on neighbourhoods.

She is also the Executive Director lead for the Customer Experience Committee.

Fiona joined the Board in November 2020, since that time she has taken on the role of Chair of the Customer Experience Committee.

With a career spanning more than three decades in the housing sector, Fiona began as a housing trainee at Bristol City Council. Over the course of eleven years at Sovereign, she led both generic and portfolio-holding housing teams, further developing her expertise in housing management.

In 2022, Fiona returned to Bristol City Council as Head of Housing and, by 2024, took on the role of interim Director of Housing, playing a pivotal part in establishing housing as a dedicated Directorate within the council. Securing the permanent Director of Housing and Landlord Services position in 2026, Fiona now leads housing initiatives at BCC, driving service transformation and improvement.

 “My journey in the housing sector began with Solon Housing Association, one of the two organisations that later merged to form Brighter Places. Returning to Brighter Places as a board member holds deep personal significance for me, as this is where I first discovered my passion for social housing, particularly within community-focused organisations like Brighter Places. Having the chance to contribute my expertise and insights to the very organisation where my career began feels like a meaningful completion of my professional journey.”

Declarations of Interest: Director of Housing and Landlord Services at Bristol City Council.

Key Skills: Housing management, transformation and change management, performance improvement, governance, stakeholder engagement, statutory visioning, political awareness, and community co-creation.

Sarah joined the board in 2019 and was a member of the merger panel between United Communities and Solon South West.  She has been a senior leader in the voluntary sector for more than 20 years and has been on many boards as Chair, Vice Chair and Non-Executive Director/Trustee in the NHS, Housing and voluntary sector organisations.

Sarah runs her own charity consultancy specialising in strategy reviews and development and governance reviews and implementation, as well as providing advice and executive mentoring.  She is committed to working within communities and is a regular volunteer supporting a range of Bristol and south west charities, within the learning disability, mental health, dementia and palliative care fields.

“My commitment to Bristol’s communities has been evident in my work within Bristol for the last 20 years.  My belief that building communities starts with safe and quality homes and that is what drew me to working with Brighter Places.  I bring many years of working within Bristol’s communities but also experience and knowledge of governance, working with Bristol’s communities, running values driven organisations and working with disadvantaged groups within supported housing.  I have independent thinking having worked in a range of different sectors.”

Declarations of Interest: STW Consulting – Owner/ Director.

Key skills:  Strategy, governance, independent advice, leadership development and resilience mentoring.

Anna has been Chief Executive of Brighter Places since 2020 following the merger of United Communities and Solon Southwest. Previously Anna joined United Communities in 2015 as Finance Director and became Interim Chief Executive in 2019.  

Following her graduation from Birmingham University with a History degree, Anna became ACA qualified whilst working at as an auditor at Deloitte. She then spent five years at the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust in Bristol, progressing through the ranks to become Finance Director in 2013. 

Responsibility: In her role as CEO, Anna leads the organisation, making sure it runs well, spends money wisely, and meets all its legal and regulatory responsibilities including health and safety. She supports and guides the Executive Team, works closely with the Board to make good decisions, and ensures customer get high quality services. Anna represents Brighter Places externally, building strong partnerships, and helps shape the organisation’s future direction.  

Ben joined the Board in 2022 and is the Development Director (South) for The Guinness Partnerships, an organisation that shares his passion for creating great places to live, work and play.  Ben has broad house building experience including managing planning, technical and commercial teams for several leading housebuilders and property companies in the South West over the last two and a half decades.

“Brighter Places is a community‑focused housing association that is deeply rooted in the neighbourhoods it serves and is genuinely committed to delivering excellent outcomes for its customers. As a proud Bristolian housing professional, I am strongly aligned with Brighter Places’ mission and its dedication to supporting the city and its residents. My experience in delivering new homes and my time at The Guinness Partnership enable me to bring strong commercial insight and robust oversight, while also offering a customer‑centred perspective informed by both my housing association and housebuilding background.”

Declarations of Interest: Development Director (South) – The Guinness Partnership; NED at Westworks Procurement platform – Procurement Solutions for Public Sector.

Key skills: Building experience including development, management and planning.

Gillian joined the Board in 2022 and is a qualified housing professional having worked in social housing for over 35 years, from London Borough of Barnet, to Bath City Council and Bristol City Council.  Gillian’s last role was head of planned maintenance leading on asset strategies for compliance, property and estate improvements and carbon retrofit projects.

She brings extensive experience in working closely with residents and understands the importance of quality homes, good neighbourhoods, and being a responsible landlord.

“Now retired, I remain passionate about social housing. Through my Board roles, I continue to ensure residents are heard, supported, and have a safe, warm, and decent place to call home, that’s one of the reasons I was happy to take on the role of Member Responsible for Complaints.”

Declarations of Interest: Independent Committee Member for Property Committee for MTVH (London based HA); Non-Executive Director for GreenSquareAccord Housing Association.

Key skills: Organisational change for better repairs services and planned maintenance.

Selina joined the Brighter Places Board in February 2025 and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.  She has led Magna Housing as Chief Executive since 2018 following a 20-year career in senior finance roles across multiple sectors. Previously, she served as Finance Director at Orbit Group and Knightstone, and as Senior Director in commercial real estate at BNP Paribas.

At Magna Housing, Selina has championed innovative and practical solutions to deliver affordable homes and build stronger communities across the South West, focusing on resident well-being, sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible, long-term growth.

Selina is also the co‑Chair of Homes for the South West, a partnership of the 12 largest housing associations in the region. The group is committed to addressing the growing shortage of affordable housing in the South West by advocating for increased development supported by greater regional investment.

Previously, Selina served as Chair of the National Housing Federation’s South West Leadership Forum for three years, where she played a pivotal role in shaping housing policy and strategic priorities across the region.

“For me, being a Board member is about stewardship—making sure Brighter Places is well-governed, financially resilient and always focused on what matters to customers. I bring practical experience in audit, risk and investment, offering constructive challenge and support so we make sound, transparent decisions, deliver value for money, and keep improving homes and services for the communities we serve.”

Declarations of interest: Chief Executive of Magna Housing; co-Chair of Homes for the South West.

Key skills: Innovation, finance, community well-being.

Steve joined the Board in 2025 and is an Executive Board Director of the Royal British Legion with oversight of data, technology and change & transformation and his previous career experience includes just over 30 years in the insurance and finance sectors.  As a non-Executive Director his particular focus is on IT, data, cyber security, AI and organisational transformation.

 “I joined the Board of Brighter Places because strong governance and independent challenge are essential to delivering safe, sustainable homes and better outcomes for customers. My role is to provide clear oversight, strategic focus, and bring expertise that supports the organisation to make effective, values‑led decisions.  Each Board member brings different professional strengths, with my area being in strategy, technology, digital and data, but we all share a commitment to ensuring Brighter Places remains transparent, accountable, and aligned to the highest standards of governance. By bringing our skills, experience and shared purposes together, we reinforce trust, demonstrate integrity, and help Brighter Places continue delivering services and homes that genuinely improve peoples’ lives.”

Declarations of Interest; The Royal British Legion, Exec Director of Data, Technology and Transformation.

Key skills: IT, data, risk management and organisational & strategic transformation.

Mark joined the Board in 2025 and is the Chief Executive at Selwood Housing. Mark has over 25 years commercial and leadership experience with PE backed, not for profit, FTSE 100 and 250 companies.

Declarations of Interest: Chief Executive at Selwood Housing.

Key skills: Sales & marketing, IT, telecommunications, financial services, manufacturing, engineering, property, housing and construction.