Trust Board

Castlehill Trust Manager - Emma Ozanne

Emma has worked for our parent company Castlehill HA for fifteen years prior to becoming the Trust Manager in 2015. Emma is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Her current role involves managing the Castlehill Housing Trust properties, which includes ensuring that all statutory requirements and current legislation relevant to all operations of the Trust are adhered to. 

Emma enjoys the breadth of work that the job entails, working closely with local authorities and Care Providers to ensure our Care Homes, HMO’s and individual tenancies.  Ensuring our properties are where our customers would choose to live, positively impacting their well-being. 

Chair and Director of CHT Board - Karen Wood

I have worked in health and social care for 20 years delivering frontline support to people with additional needs in their local communities across Aberdeenshire and City. I joined the board in 2021 to get more insight into the partnerships that I currently work with to achieve the same goals, ensuring people can live as independently as possible and in suitable accommodation despite their disability. Being on the board has given me an insight into how decisions are made and what the trust can offer.

Chief Executive of CHA and Director of CHT Board - David Lappin

David was appointed to his current role as Chief Executive in 2010 following his role as Director of Housing Services.  His main responsibilities are leading the Senior Management Team and ensuring good governance of the Castlehill Group and supporting the Management Committee. He plays a lead role in strategic business planning and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

David serves as a Director on the Board of Castlehill Housing Trust to ensure continuity amongst the Castlehill Group Structure and to support the growth and development of our supported accommodation. David is a Director of Castlehill Solutions Limited and of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.

 

Director of CHT Board and Director of Housing Services CHA – Mhorag Ewen

Mhorag's main responsibilities include providing and overseeing the front-line Housing Management, Housing Support and Care & Repair services to approx. 2000 tenants within Castlehill, Castlehill Housing Trust and Castlehill Solutions. key to this role is ensuring all policies required are in place, reviewed regularly and adhered to so that the services are delivered professionally and ensure compliance.

Mhorag has worked in housing for 25 years, including work in local authorities and housing associations. She has a degree in Public Policy & Management, a postgraduate diploma in housing, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

 

Director of CHT Board - William Wishart

With over 35 years’ experience in the Housing industry across sectors, William’s experience includes delivery of repairs/maintenance/upgrade programmes and new build housing in the private sector and experience in financing and investment of social housing covering supply, sustainability and energy efficiency within the public sector.

William brings financial knowledge gained from roles as Local Authority Housing Accountant developing the Council’s Housing Revenue Account 30 year Business Plan, monitoring revenue and capital budgets and developing financial strategies for rent/service charges, borrowing and new build delivery.

William’s current role with Aberdeenshire Council’s Housing Strategy Team has a focus on working with Health and Social Care to help deliver housing for elderly people and people with physical and mental disabilities. This includes a focus on helping people to live independently at home and promoting the role good quality housing plays in maintaining a person’s health and wellbeing.

 

Director of CHT Board - Becky Ewen

Becky Ewen has worked with Trust for many years in a financial capacity. When her responsibilities changed to other parts of the business, she wanted to find some way to remain connected to the Trust as she believes wholeheartedly in the ethos.

Becky looks forward to bringing her financial expertise to the Board and expanding her knowledge of how the Trust works in her new role. Joining the board helps her remain involved. She looks forward to helping the Trust continue to develop appropriate housing to enable people to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

 

Director of CHT Board - Val Culley

Val has worked in social care for over 30 years, mainly supporting adults and children with learning disabilities, associated physical disabilities and autism in the voluntary sector.  Val started her career as a volunteer,  before becoming a Support Worker and achieving the position of Senior Regional Manager.  Before taking early retirement in 2020, her last post was Head of Quality & Compliance, where she worked closely with the Care Inspectorate, Aberdeen City & Shire Social Work Departments, Housing and their Contracts & Commissioners.  During this time Val also maintained strong ties with those who were supported and re-created a self-advocacy group, who campaigned for a stronger voice in their communities and in various aspects of their lives.  This included housing where many people wanted to live independently and have their own tenancies.  Val is committed to supporting Castlehill Housing Trust in developing appropriate housing for those who need it.

 

Director of CHT Board - Claire Reid

I have been an occupational therapist for almost 30 years, for the majority of my career I have been working in community settings traditionally housing & social work, for three different local authorities in Scotland. My current role is Occupational Therapy Team Manager for Aberdeenshire

Health & Social Care Partnership, with clinical responsibility for housing occupational therapy. My job involves supporting the team to provide occupational therapy. We know that living independently for longer improves quality of life, homes need to support daily occupations and occupational therapy can help with suitable adaptations to help people live as independently as possible and contribute to the design of accessible housing. I am passionate about barrier free housing and am a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Housing.

Joining the Castlehill Housing Trust board will stretch my knowledge and experience and I am looking forwards to working with the different people and supporting the work of the Trust.

 

Director of CHT Board - Nicola Shand

Nicola has worked as part of the Homehunt team for the last 13 years, providing advice and assistance to applicants and outside organisations, processing and assessing applications and assisting housing officers with their allocations.  Nicola is looking forward to bringing her knowledge and experience to the Castlehill Housing Trust and assisting them in providing suitable housing to their clients.

 

Director of CHT Board - Taru Kilskinen

Taru worked for Castlehill Housing Association for two years 2021-2024, and after her exit wanted to continue to support Castlehill and Castlehill Trust by helping to support and advocate for the lives of those who need it the most.

Taru has a background working in Human Resources and recruitment in the third sector and value-driven organisations. One of Taru's key passions is mental health, and advocating for this. Taru hopes to utilise the combination of knowledge and skills that the people management, compliance, and mental health knowledge to this role in board of directors through a humanistic, equity, and individualistic centred thinking into strategic planning and picture.