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Dan joined the team on an interim basis in December 2021 from Newport City Homes. He has 15 years’ experience working in the private and housing sector in senior positions in both human resources and health and safety. Dan is degree and CIPD qualified, and holds qualifications in safety and education.

Anna joined the board in 2022.  She joined United Communities as finance director in 2015 and became interim chief exec in 2019.  Anna successfully led United Communities and Solon South West through their merger in 2021 and is now chief executive of Brighter Places.  Anna graduated from Birmingham University with a degree in history before becoming ACA qualified.  She worked at Deloitte for four years to 2010.

Caroline has worked in housing for 19 years at both local authorities and Registered Providers.  Caroline’s role is to deliver new affordable housing from initial concept through the planning process and the construction of new homes.

Niamh has in-depth experience in sales of new homes in social housing, having worked across open market and shared ownership homes for a number of housing associations in the south west.

Niamh works closely with the wider development team and, as schemes reach handover, is responsible for all marketing and sales, including staircasing, Right to Buy and Right to Acquire applications.

Hello, I’m Sophia and I live in south Bristol

I am a mother of four children who keep me busy! But when I do get some time to myself, I enjoy walking and helping others where I can.

I joined the panel because having been a Solon resident (now Brighter Places) since 2004, I have been lucky to experience when things worked well, but also when things didn’t work so well. I have seen and felt the changes over the years, and hope that the joining together of housing associations bring positive, and productive change.  I believe some of the old systems worked well and should never have changed. Perhaps these need revisiting.

I currently work in the emergency services so can offer knowledge around topics, concerns that others may not have an insight into. Working with the other panel members and the skills they bring, we hope to be a voice for those of you who feel unheard, to assist with decisions that impact on us all.

As fellow residents, your input is important to help shape Brighter Places to be a housing association you trust to get things right first time, and one where you feel safe.

Please get in touch and let us be the impartial help you may have been missing.

Hello, I’m Jon and I live in Totterdown, Bristol.

I worked in local journalism as a photographer for many years but now I work as a visitor assistant at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

I’m involved in art and music, and I am currently working on a photography project about Totterdown.

I joined the panel because I believe we should all have a voice, and we should all be involved in the changes we’d like to see.

I think there are several areas of our housing association that need looking at that and that could be done better.  In particular, maintenance/repairs and general communication.

Hello, I’m Mike and I live in Southville, Bristol.

I’ve been a (Solon) now Brighter Places resident for over 30 years, living in Southville for 30 years.

I have done a lot of personal growth over the years, graduating university to having worked in factories and on building sites.

I have worked in various areas of operation including computer programming, gaining lots of experience and qualifications. In my later years, I have suffered with ill health which has meant I have had to slow down.

I joined the panel because I felt it was a good opportunity to be involved to improve things that have not worked well over the years, but also to ensure that things that have worked well are held onto.

I am impressed by the intention of Brighter Places, to make it as user-friendly as possible by letting resident get involved and be at the heart of all it does. I believe Brighter Places does want to give the best service it can to its residents.

Alex manages all feedback ensuring your complaints, suggestions and compliments are logged, tracked and resolved.

Marie helps to create links among local people, including older people, ethnic communities, residents living with a disability, young people, LGBQT+, faith groups and more.

Scott oversees the team, ensuring we increase resident influence and enable local people to contribute to the success of their communities.

Danielle is always coming up with new ways to give residents a say.

The key to her role is flexibility. She works with residents in many ways – in person, online and by phone – listening to residents’ experiences and challenges, building strong relationships and supporting residents to have their say.

Claire provides support to the team and brings rich and wide-ranging experience in events and performance.

Hello, I’m Vixie and I live in Clifton.

I moved to Bristol four years ago after spending 10 years in East London and growing up in Somerset.

I work as a hospital doctor in and around Bristol. If I have any spare time, you can find me outdoors; walking, running or paddleboarding or eating at one of Bristol’s great restaurants.

I joined the panel to gain experience in management. I have experience as a trainee rep for my colleagues and feel I can represent other people’s views fairly.

Having lived in ex-social housing in East London and currently shared ownership in Bristol I hope that I can empathise with most people’s situation and have an awareness of the problems they may have.