Our Board
Our Board Members are listed below.
We're always on the lookout for new members to join the Bield Board. If, like us, you want to make it possible for more people to live their best lives at home surrounded by a supportive community, we'd love to hear from you.
Paul Edie
Chair: September 2023
Board Member: Elected September 2023
Paul is an experienced Non-Executive Director and leader in the public sector. He has served in a wide variety of organisations including Councils, Health Boards and charities. Paul was also a Councillor in Edinburgh for 23 years, during which time he helped pilot various initiatives aimed at improving the quality of housing stock and addressing the shortage of affordable housing. Paul is a former Chair of the Care Inspectorate where he ensured the highest standards of governance. This led to the organisation being the first Scottish Public Body and the first UK regulator to achieve the CIPFA Excellence in Governance Award.
Frances Wood
Vice Chair: January 2024
Board Member: Elected September 2023
Frances is a housing professional by background and was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Early in her housing career, she worked on training and policy for the Chartered Institute of Housing then the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. Frances then spent 12 years at the Scottish Government, having led policy development in many health and social policy areas including community care, community safety, health improvement, social inclusion, tackling poverty and promoting employability. Frances is currently an Ordinary Member of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland, Housing and Property Chamber, hearing a range of private sector housing cases concerning Letting Agent and Property Factor Codes of Practice, Landlord Registration appeals, Right of Entry, evictions and civil proceedings and tenancy deposits. In her spare time, Frances is a Trustee and Head Coach of her local athletic club.
Derek Breingan
Board Member: Elected September 2023
Derek has many years of UK multi-banking experience and has been focused on health and social care for 17 years. Upon joining Clydesdale Bank in 2010, he was tasked with creating a dedicated sector proposition and growing the bank’s appetite to support health and social care business and the third sector across the UK. Derek now runs a team of 23 colleagues dedicated to the sector (the second largest segment within the business bank now known as Virgin Money), at over £1.2bn. With this wide knowledge of social care and real estate, Derek’s team has financed over 100 new build developments in the last 8 years. The portfolio also includes owner-managed, sponsor-led corporates and dedicated sector real estate lending across a broad spectrum of sub sectors. Derek is an Ambassador for Championing Social Care.
Robert Fernie
Board Member: Elected September 2017
Robert is a Chartered Management Accountant who took early retirement in June 2016 after 36 years in the Scotch Whisky industry with Chivas Brothers Ltd of Paisley. His role for the last 15 years was Customer Service Director with responsibility for managing worldwide supply chains and customer relationships. Prior to that, he held a number of finance positions within the company. Robert has experience of change management, organisational development and systems implementation and setting strategy and objectives for a large function. He has been involved in various corporate compliance initiatives such as the implementation and management of policies relating to corporate social responsibility and procurement tendering procedures and protocols.
David Leaf
Chair of Audit, Performance & Risk Committee
Board Member: Elected September 2023
David is a housing professional with extensive experience working within the private and affordable housing sectors, primarily with responsibility for delivering affordable, high quality and sustainable homes. His experience spans the full length of the development process, from business planning, site identification and community engagement to the procurement of contractors and other professionals. David has delivered in excess of 5,000 affordable mixed tenure properties on a range of green and brownfield sites during his career and was responsible for Scotland’s first ‘Gold Standard’ project utilising off-site modular construction. He has an excellent understanding and working knowledge of RSL governance having reported to Boards and Committees in the past.
Angus MacRae
Chair of Business Development Committee
Board Member: Elected September 2023
Angus is a former commercial solicitor with nearly 40 years’ experience. A graduate of Aberdeen University, Angus worked in private practice in Scotland and London. Along with others, he set up Semple Fraser LLP in 1990 and was a partner there until 2013 when he joined Dundas & Wilson. That firm then merged into CMS, a global law firm where Angus was a partner until May 2021. Angus has experience of development as well as investment and landlord/tenant work. He is dual qualified in both Scots and English law. Angus currently splits his time between Edinburgh and Ayr. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and golf as well as helping out occasionally on his father-in-law’s farm.
Isabel McGarvie
Board Member: Elected September 2017
Isabel is a former Partner at PwC. She is a qualified CA and has extensive experience delivering HR services, including executive reward, tax and pensions. Isabel has broad experience in areas such as oil and gas, utilities and construction and was involved in a number of groups during her time at PwC including the Scottish Leadership Team, Country Admissions Panel and Pensions Management Board. Isabel is currently a member of the Glasgow Fundraising Board of Maggie’s Centres.
Brian McLaren
Chair of People Committee
Board Member: Elected September 2023
Brian joined the Bield Board in March 2023 after a career in the Financial Services and Energy sectors spanning 35 years. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, with an MBA from Edinburgh University, Brian has worked for RBS Group, Computershare, ABN Amro and Bank ABC in Edinburgh, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bahrain. He has undertaken a variety of roles ranging from Commercial Banking to Group Director of Shared Services and various HR and Integration posts. Brian was the HR Director for RBS Asia prior to returning to the UK to take on the role of Director of Group Change for SSE plc where he led its transformation to a renewable energy company.
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Gillian Merrett
Board Member: Elected September 2024
Gillian is a tenant in Blairgowrie with experience working in NHS Research and Ethics. Her experience involved reviewing research papers, ensuring correct and clear information was provided. As a member of Bield’s Partnership Forum, Gillian has experience in scrutinising policy and providing a voice for tenants. Gillian has an interest in health equality and social justice in old age and, with shifting demographics over the coming years, she is keen to play a part in how Bield deliver their services in these areas.
Margaret Moore
Board Member: Elected September 2018
Margaret worked in the housing sector for over 30 years in a range of different settings including local authority, community-controlled housing associations, SSHA/Scottish Homes, RSLs and the Scottish Government’s housing and regeneration team. Most recently, she worked as a housing consultant with the Joint Improvement Team and as a Housing Associate with the Place, Home and Housing Portfolio in the iHub for Healthcare Improvement Scotland. She mainly provided support and advice to local authorities and RSLs around health and social care integration, adaptations and strategic commissioning. Margaret has now retired.
Graeme Russell
Board Member: Elected September 2021
Graeme initially joined the Bield Board over four years ago. Recently retired, he spent his entire career working in and for the housing association movement in Scotland. For many years Graeme held a variety senior positions in one of Scotland's largest RSL's, before taking up a role with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, and ending his career as the Chief Executive of an Edinburgh-based organisation. For a short time, Graeme worked for Bield as Director of Housing Services. Graeme is committed to the principles of the housing association movement, and is particularly interested in ensuring that the views and ambitions of current and future tenants are respected and that Bield continues to provide the best possible services to all its clients. In addition to his role with Bield, Graeme is a director and charity trustee of a small Edinburgh-based community health organisation which provides support services to vulnerable members of the community and works closely with GPs, social services and Lothian Health Board.
William Smalley
Board Member: Elected September 2015
William was co-opted to the Board in July 2015 and became a member in September 2015. He has also been a member of the Performance & Audit Committee since November 2016. William started his career as a motor mechanic and went on to pursue various careers including training as a clock and watch repairer, a Lab Technician in the field of microbiology and a taxi driver. Latterly, he attained an SVQ3 in Health and Care (Adults). William was elected to the Partnership Forum in 2014 and is now serving as the Forum’s Chair.
Katie Smart
Board Member: Elected September 2024
Katie is a housing professional and is currently the Director of Places for People Scotland. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Institute of Directors. As part of her current role, she oversees strategic initiatives, maintaining operational priorities and delivering continuous improvement projects. Katie recognises the challenges facing the sector and the opportunities Bield have to make a difference to the lives of their current and future tenants.