SBHA appoints Ian McDonald as new chair

After nine years of dedicated service, five of them as chair, Robin Hill has stepped down from SBHA’s board of management. He is succeeded as chair by Ian McDonald, a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years of strategic financial experience, who has served on SBHA’s board since 2017 and convened the Audit & Compliance Sub-Committee.

Robin Hill’s tenure as chair has been marked by innovation, resilience, and growth. Under his leadership, SBHA navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, secured a landmark £58 million loan facility from the Royal Bank of Scotland, and celebrated its 20th anniversary as one of Scotland’s most forward-thinking housing associations.

During his address to the AGM, Mr Hill reflected on the culture and values that define SBHA: “As I look back over the past five years, I see an organisation that has grown stronger, more confident, and more ambitious. What I feel most proud of is the culture of SBHA – a culture of care, fairness, innovation, and pride. It has been a genuine honour to serve as Chair and to see first-hand the difference that housing makes in people’s lives.”

Chief executive Julia Mulloy paid tribute to Robin’s leadership, saying: “Robin has led SBHA with wisdom, dedication, and a deep commitment to our tenants and communities. His leadership has seen us through times of real challenge and moments of great achievement. He leaves us with strong foundations and a clear sense of purpose, and on behalf of the Board, the SBHA team, and our tenants, I want to offer our sincere thanks.”

Highlights of Robin Hill’s time as chair include:

• The delivery of 60 new homes and 45 open market purchases, including the launch of Scotland’s first HUSK Garages to Homes project in Scotland, with construction underway on SBHA’s largest-ever development of 70 new homes in Jedburgh.
• Implementation of a modernised, fair and easy-to-understand rent system, following extensive tenant consultation.
• The launch of the More Sustainable Steps Strategy, which sets out SBHA’s commitment to playing its part in the green economy, from retrofitting homes, rethinking green spaces, and equipping the team with the necessary skills to meet future challenges, to pioneering sustainable solutions, including the world’s first Kight PowerHub energy system installation in a tenant’s home in Galashiels.
• Strengthening tenant voice: Expanding opportunities for engagement through face-to-face, online and telephone channels, with satisfaction well above sector average for the past two years.
• Achieving Customer Service Excellence accreditation with Compliance Plus recognition for embedding customer focus across all levels of the organisation.
• Strengthening SBHA’s support offer to tenants, with over 4,000 people receiving support over the past five years through our Financial Inclusion and Warm and Well services, leading to tenancy sustainment rates reaching an all-time high of 92%.
• Becoming one of only two housing associations in Scotland to achieve both Living Wage and Living Hours accreditation.

As the new chair, Ian McDonald brings extensive financial and strategic expertise to the role. A board member since 2017, he has played a key role in overseeing governance and compliance.

Speaking of his appointment, Mr McDonald said: “I’m really excited to be stepping into the role of chair at such a great time for SBHA. Robin’s done a fantastic job, and I’m looking forward to building on that - working closely with tenants, partners, fellow board members, and the brilliant SBHA team to deliver our ambitious Strategic and Business Plan for 2025–2030. Together, we’ll keep making sure people have safe, warm, and affordable homes, while helping communities grow stronger and helping people to have better futures.”

The meeting also confirmed the re-election of board member Philippa Brosnan, and Melissa Fogwill was elected onto the board into her first term. The outgoing chair thanked Eric Glass, who stepped down as an independent member of the Audit and Compliance Committee during the year.