Board Members

Kelly Ferns

Chairperson

Kelly joined the Board in 2013 and was elected to Chairperson in June 2022.  A former resident of Inverclyde, Kelly was keen to make a positive contribution to the area.  With over 20 years’ experience working with a local authority, Kelly has gained a wide range of housing experience, with related academic qualifications including a Degree in Housing Studies. 

As Chair, Kelly chairs all Board Meetings having approved the agenda, oversees the wellbeing and development of the Board with the Director, is Chair of Disciplinary and Grievance Panels and represents Cloch as and when requested at external meetings.  

The Chair's Remit summaries the duties as, the overall responsibilities of the Chair are to provide leadership to the Board, and to ensure the efficient and proper conduct of the Board’s business, acting on occasions under delegated authority on behalf of the Board.   The Chair is also responsible for establishing and maintaining a constructive and complementary working relationship with the Director and providing support to him/her.

Heather Thomson

Vice Chair

As a former resident of Inverclyde, Heather joined the Board at Cloch in 2017.  As a Senior Manager working in property management for a national Housing Association, Heather has specialist knowledge and experience in various Property related fields including Project & Contract Management, Procurement & Health & Safety Regulation as well as a general knowledge of Housing Management.

Heather was initially elected Secretary in 2020, re-elected in 2021 and in June 2022, was elected as Vice Chair.

As Vice Chair, Kelly will substitute for the Chair as and when required.

Eileen Tamburrini

Secretary

Eileen joined the Board in 2018 and has worked in housing for many years, retiring in 2017 from a senior role in Inverclyde Council working with homelessness.  Eileen’s career included a spell in Glasgow District Council and she brings to Cloch, an in-depth understanding of housing related issues.

In June 2022, Eileen was elected as Secretary.

Eileen's remit as Secretary is to ensure Cloch complies with the requirements of our Rules.  Things like maintaining registers correctly and calling meetings and AGM timeously. 

Brian Corrigan 

Board Member

Brian joined Cloch Board in 2018, while working with Inverclyde CVS and became Chair in September 2020. He was re-elected as Chair in 2021. Brian then moved to  a homelessness charity in Ayr as the Chief Executive before moving to Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland as Area West. Brian has continued as a Board Member with Cloch, where his knowledge and experience in housing related issues and community engagement helps influence the Association.

Eleanor Robertson MBE 

Board Member

Eleanor has been on Cloch Board since 2013 and has a vast amount of experience working with voluntary groups.  In recent times, Eleanor has been on the Board of Inverclyde CVS and works with Inverclyde Tourist Board.  Her knowledge of Greenock is second to none, and she has assisted Cloch with our heritage project and other historical detail in and around our communities.  Eleanor is well known and respected in Inverclyde and her pragmatic approach to governance has been put to good use throughout the years.

Patrick Marshall

Board Member

Alan Hutchison 

Board Member 

Alan joined the Board in April 2020 and has recently retired after 40 years. Alan was an experienced Partner/Director in a local private surveying practice with a demonstrated history working in the construction sector including Public Sector Contracts for Housing Associations, Local Authority's, and the NHS. Works ranged from New Build/Refurbishment/Alteration/ Planned Maintenance contracts across Scotland. Alan's skill set included a diversity of roles including Quality Surveying, Project Management, Employers Agent, Contract Administrator, and Principal Desighner. Alan looks forward to contributing to an already strong Board to benefit Cloch tenants, the Association and Inverclyde.

Ken Robertson

Board Member

Ken joined the Board in April 2020. As a qualified architect, he has worked both in local government and private practice before setting up his own practice 30 years ago. He has extensive experience in the construction industry and in addition, has served and chaired the Boards of other volunteer organisations. Now nearing retirement he has more time to be able to assist in the local community.

David Brown 

Board Member 

David joined the Board in September 2020.  He has recently retired after spending over 40 years working in the Power Generation sector and has extensive experience at Senior Management and Board level in a major international Engineering consultancy where his roles included the various aspects of finance, governance and business planning. He is now running a small property portfolio and has time to devote to helping in the local community.

Jackie Smith

Jackie Smith joined the Board in September 2021. As a previous Cloch tenant and a lifelong resident of Inverclyde, she has seen the housing association go from strength to strength. She was keen to join us, seeing this as a fantastic opportunity to grow and learn. With a background in Community Development she is looking forward to using her 20+ years of experience and adding her voice to our future direction of travel.  

Jackie is currently a Head of Service working for a homelessness charity in the third sector. She brings with her a wide array of experiences grounded in addressing social inequalities in both developmental and leadership roles. 

Susan Skelton

Susan joined the Association in September 2021.  Susan has been a tenant of Cloch for 24 years and has therefore seen many of the changes at Cloch.  Susan is a Services Co-ordinator for Turning Point Scotland.  She worked the care sector for 9 years and brings her experience to the Board meetings.  Previously, she worked in retail and call centres.