Governance Improvement Committee

Andrew Burns

Throughout his 40-year career in public services, Andrew has developed a track record of successful strategic leadership and delivering transformational change to improve performance and deliver value for money. He is a qualified accountant and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) with an MBA from Aston Business School.  

Andrew has a genuine passion for creating better outcomes for customers and communities and he feels great personal satisfaction from making a difference to the quality and affordability of public services, especially for those most vulnerable and most in need.  

Andrew has significant board level experience, with responsibility for risk management, controls assurance and leading on internal and external audit relationships. 

Andrew Burns joined the Group in July 2020.

Alan Hawkesworth

Alan is a qualified accountant and has spent most of his working life in Shropshire and the West Midlands, working for local authorities, national and regional building societies and in higher education at Aston University. He has operational and strategic experience in accounting, finance, development, people, investment, insurance and audit services and how these apply in a variety of industries and regulated bodies. 

Alan has previously lived in social housing and has close family members who are current tenants of various housing associations. He knows the importance of having a quality home and a considerate landlord and is therefore passionate about improving the provision of housing for people living in Shropshire, Staffordshire and Telford and Wrekin.  

Due to the extensive nature of his career, Alan brings a wealth of experience to the Group Common Board having served on the boards of housing associations almost continuously over the last 25 years. 

Alan Hawkesworth joined the Group in June 2020.

Sarah Watson

Sarah is an expert researcher and analyst who leads a team at the Solicitors Regulation Authority as Head of Research. Having worked in research for almost 20 years, she has experience managing large research projects and analysing data to inform policy development. Making improvements for customers has also been a theme throughout her working life, having worked for an Ombudsman and ran her own small business. 

Sarah is also one of our customers and a member of our Customer Partnership Panel (CPP), where she previously served as its Vice-chair and helped in establishing the group’s Customer Experience Committee. 

Sarah is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making sure that the views and needs of a wide range of customers are considered. She makes sure that the customer voice is heard at board meetings to inform strategic decision making and provision of service excellence. 

Sarah Watson joined the Group in February 2024.

Wayne Gethings

Wayne Gethings, Group Chief Executive of Housing Plus Group has three decades of influential leadership spanning both public and private sector housing, and is widely respected as a Senior Executive, Non-Executive, and Chair on both national and regional stages.

An active advocate for innovation in housing, Wayne contributes to shaping the sector as a board member of the West Midlands Housing Association Partnership and a committee member for the National Housing Federation’s regional committee.

He also chairs the National Housing Federation’s Housing, Asset Management, Maintenance, and Regeneration Group (HAMMAR), amplifying the sector’s voice across the UK. Wayne shares insights on housing innovation through platforms like the CIH, National Housing Federation, and other leading organisations.