The National Housing Federation board has co-opted two new members – as it looks to widen its breadth of skills and experience, following the recent governance review.

The new appointees, Look Ahead Chief Executive Victoria Stark and Aspire Housing Chief Executive Sinead Butters, will help the board in its role of setting the Federation's strategic direction.

Victoria and Sinead, who will formally stand for election to the board at next year's AGM, are well known figures throughout the sector.


They, along with Federation Chief Executive David Orr, who was elected to the board at the AGM, replace Deborah Shackleton, Janet Davies and Maurice Condie, who stand down having served their full terms.

Victoria has had a long and distinguished career in housing. She began her career as a housing policy officer with the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation.Then, having worked for three years with the Housing Corporation, she joined Look Ahead, where she has been chief executive since 1986.

She is chair of the Special Needs Housing Associations’ Group and was awarded the CBE in 2002 for services to the street homeless in London.

Sinead has been Group Chief Executive at Aspire Housing since October 2006. She started her career as a customs and excise officer.

(CD/KMcA)