John Jamieson (Chair)
John has been an East Dunbartonshire Councillor and Hillhead Housing committee member since 2007. Previously he worked as an accountant and auditor in the private sector - in several Councils and in public transport. He was brought up in Council housing and is a former Council tenant so has experienced both good and bad aspects of social housing.
John states “I consider it to have been a great experience seeing the redevelopment and upgrading of housing in Hillhead over the years and to have shared in the decision making that has brought it about”
Karen McIntyre (Vice Chair)
Karen McIntyre joined the Board in 2021 after lockdown had highlighted to her the importance of safe, sustained and good quality homes. Karen has worked in the third sector for over 20 years and is currently Chief Exec at Bridges Programmes, supporting employability for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. She is most interested in the wider role of Hillhead HA, and how it contributes to a resilient Kirkintilloch community.
Mandy McIntyre
(Secretary)
Mandy is a Hillhead resident - she was born in Hillhead, grew up in London, and has lived back home for over 30 years. Her family have lived in Hillhead since the 1930's.
She is the proud mum of 4, almost grown children. She is a former Chair of Merkland School Parent Council (2006-2010), member of Enable Scotland council (2010-2018)and a parent member Non-executive Director/Trustee (2014-2018).
Mandy is an active volunteer- most recently part of COP26, UCI Worlds Glasgow 2023 and World Indoor Athletics Glasgow 2024.
She re-trained as a risk manager after her youngest children went to school, and worked for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the City of Glasgow fire safety team until 2023. She currently works as a risk surveyor in the insurance industry.
Mandy loves the Scottish countryside and feels very lucky to see the Campsie's from her windows every day.
Mary Docherty
Mary joined the Management Committee in 2015. She has lived in Hillhead since 1955, so is always keen to be involved in decisions regarding the improvement and regeneration of the community in which she lives.
Before retiring, Mary previously worked for Keyline Builders Merchants and Hillhead Co-operative.
Stuart Niven(Treasurer)
Keen to get involved in his local community and with an interest in social housing, Stuart was elected to the Management Committee in 2017. He has lived in Kirkintilloch since 2013 and works for Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Bank. Stuart has held the position of Treasurer for the Association since 2019.
Robert Smith
Robert has lived in Kirkintilloch since the 1990s and in Hillhead since 2011. Following a successful 25 years career in the construction industry, he was made redundant following the building industry collapse. After suffering the anguish of many life issues, Robert founded and later became the CEO of Group Recovery Aftercare Community Enterprise (GRACE) in 2012, recognising that he had personal experience of many of the issues faced by local people in Hillhead.
In order to help him further support his local community, Robert undertook further education and training. He states “ I understood the stigma and fear of change an realised that others must struggle too. This was when the vision of a peer-led recovery after-care resource was born. Hillhead Housing Association supported me in developing GRACE in its early stages, therefore I was more than happy to be invited to bring my experience within the Management Committee, which I have served upon since 2014. I believe in supporting my community and me being part of the Committee strengthens that. ”
Robert’s community involvement ethos supports him to be connected to and have good relationships with vast majority of local Statutory and Third Sector organisations, councillors, MSP, MP to the extent that he was awarded the East Dunbartonshire Local Hero at a ceremony in the Scottish Parliament attended by the first Minister and the Queen.
Claire Taylor
Claire is a local resident and has been a member of the Management Committee since 2000 when she joined the steering group that was later to become Hillhead Housing Association. Claire is a retired psychiatric nurse, Member of Kirkintilloch Community Council, Vice Chair of Glasgow & West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, and is Board Member of a local Recovery Group called GRACE.
Helen Bremner
Helen joined our Committee in 2024. She is a retired registered nurse, working in homecare and managing a care company. She is educated to degree level, achieving an honours degree in nursing and health care management. Helen was born and brought up in Kirkintilloch and has lived in the Hillhead area for many years. She states "My family have lived in Kirkintilloch for over 100 years. I became involved with Hillhead Housing Association to help improve my local area. I have seen the area change over the years and know how it was and how it can be again".
Gary Jackson
Gary has over 35 years of experience working in the construction sector across the UK, both as an engineer, manager and senior director.
His knowledge of the building sector both technically and commercially helps supports the Committee’s desire to develop and support our tenants.
Living locally in Chryston and wishing to help develop the Hillhead Housing community, Gary has been a welcome addition to our Committee having been a member since 2019
Peter O'Connell
Peter is an experienced senior business leader with board experience, with a proven track record of leading the delivery of infrastructure and business change projects and programmes for top[1]tier public and private sector organisations with focus on stakeholder engagement, partnerships and driving strategic vision. Qualified with an MBA in Construction & Real Estate from the University of Reading and Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) from the University of Dundee. Key strengths to support the Committee include: developing relationships, engaging and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders and presenting complex issues in multifaceted environment; leading strategy and teams based on inclusion, delegation and accountability; directing collaborative partnerships and working across public / private sectors to achieve enhanced outcomes; and developing robust business plans to deliver strategic priorities & leading implementation ensuring effective governance.
Allan Coll
Allan joined our committee in 2024. He was born in Glasgow and brought up in Kirkintilloch. He lives locally, therefore has an interest in the community. He is a proud Dad to two children and is kept busy with thirteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is semi-retired, having retired from the Financial Services Sector in 2015 as the principle of an Independent Financial Services Practice. He is now working in the community within the extremely rewarding care sector. Allan says he joined the committee in order to have a voice and be involved in the decision making within the community where he lives, hoping to make a difference.
