Our Board

The Board of Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) is made up of a mixture of tenants and independent members from across Dumfries and Galloway.

Our Board is very active in all work undertaken by DGHP, often out and about at events ranging from the handover of new homes to presentations of money to local groups and organisations.

Our Board’s main responsibilities:

To provide leadership to DGHP and decide its strategy
To exercise control over DGHP’s affairs and make sure it meets all of its legal and other obligations
To ensure that DGHP achieves its overall purpose on behalf of tenants, other service users and the wider community

We recruit new Board members annually – for more information on how to get involved, contact the Customer Service Centre on 0800 011 3447.

Bill Robertson (Chairman) - tenant member

Tenant member, Bill, is from New Abbey and spent much of his career working as an engineer in central and northern Scotland. He has been involved in local housing for the past 20 years in various locations. Bill joined the Board in September 2013 having previously served on the Nithsdale DMC.

Bill has always had a keen interest in the welfare of people and he is keen to take this interest one step further with the DGHP Board. He was elected vice-chair for 2017/2018 in October 2017 and is now Chairman.

John Henderson (Vice Chairman) - independent member

John Henderson joined DGHP’s Board in September 2018. John is a retired solicitor who specialised in commercial and domestic conveyancing and has a continuing interest in housing matters.

He is a native of Dumfries and went to university in Edinburgh and completed his legal training there. His interests include hill walking, golf and bridge as well as spending time with his granddaughter.

Maureen Dowden (co-optee)

Maureen comes from the central belt and is a very experienced housing professional. She retired earlier this year from her post as Director of Governance with the Wheatley Group after 35 years in social housing.

Maureen is a board member of two Housing Associations, including DGHP, and hopes to use her extensive experience of governance in her role on the Board. Maureen has also been elected as Chair of DGHP’s Audit Committee.

Heather Macnaughton (co-optee)

Originally training as an accountant, and graduating with an MBA from Heriot Watt University in 1993, Heather moved in to the field of economic development, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship and new business creation.

She became the Director of Business Development at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce in 2002. In 2018 Heather completed 11 years with Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association, part of the Places for People Group, as Head of Neighbourhood Regeneration where she has developed her housing and place making knowledge gaining an MSc Business for Housing and membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Elaine Tyler - tenant member

Elaine Tyler, from Dumfries, was elected as a board member in September 2017. Elaine is highly involved in several community groups in and around Lochside and Lincluden.

David McMillan - independent member

David was born in Drummore and has spent his working life in this region. He spent 25 years with Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, retiring in 1991 as Detective Inspector.

Since his retirement he has been involved in voluntary work with the Scottish Health Council, he is currently a Justice of the Peace and, for the last seven years, he has been Chairman of the Children’s Panel. David, who lives in Stranraer, has served as Chair of DGHP’s Audit committee for four years. He is married with one son and two grandchildren.

David has previously served as Vice-Chair of DGHP and was re-elected as Chairman of the Board in October 2016. David stood down as chairman in September 2017 after five years.

George McBurnie - independent member

George was a chartered civil engineer for 40 years and, before retiring, held the position of operations manager with the then West of Scotland Water.

As a former local authority elected member for many years, George campaigned relentlessly for the regeneration of North West Dumfries.

Michael Greaves Mackintosh - tenant member

Michael Greaves Mackintosh, from Eaglesfield, was elected as a board member in September 2017.

Rose Gowan - tenant member

Rose Gowan, from Glenluce, was elected as a tenant board member in September 2017. Rose has been involved with DGHP for many years going back as far as the transfer.

Rose has also been a District Management Committee member for many years and has been part of many working groups including the Open Door group.

Robert Carnochan - tenant member

Robert joined the Board in September 2016. He lives in Eaglesfield and has previously served on the Annandale and Eskdale District Management Committee.

Robert enjoys getting together with other tenants and walking his dog.

Irene Clark - independent member (casual vacancy)

Irene is a very experienced professional who, as well as having core financial professional qualifications, also has many years’ experience of organisational governance and change management at a senior level within high profile industries including the housing sector.

George Thorley OBE - independent member (casual vacancy)

George Thorley (OBE) is a highly regarded former Local Authority Chief Executive who has advised and supported national government in Scotland and Ireland.

George also has experience in management consultancy and has been responsible for delivery of major capital investment programmes.