Solutions that are Practical, Ethical and Affordable
 

DWA offer you experienced, highly skilled consultants who are leaders in their fields.  Used to working with voluntary and statutory housing bodies and their tenants they are distinguished by their integrity and total customer focus. Here are details of our lead specialists:

Deborah Walthorne (Managing Director)
Deborah is an experienced senior consultant with over 20 years experience in social housing. She has been a Housing Director for 3 RSLs and specialises in:

• Governance
• Housing Law
• Stock Transfer
• Housing And Performance Management

Deborah wrote the Board Members Handbook for Wales for Community Housing Cymru.  She speaks regularly on Governance and Housing Management issues and undertakes most of DWA's Governance assignments.

David Williams (Senior Consultant)
David specialises in tenant empowerment and community development.  He is an experienced consultant who has developed and supported successful Tenant Management Co-Ops, Estate Management Boards and other forms of Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), as well as advising landlords on effective participation strategies.  

He is DWA's Communications Manager and has many years of experience in developing effective communication and consultation strategies. 

Recently, David has managed community consultation assignments for both New Deal for Communities and for Transform Telford. 

Based in Solihull Wendy has extensive experience in social housing. She has worked on various ITA assignments with Options Appraisals, Stock Transfers and ALMOs. She is also experienced in Community Regeneration Initiatives. As a council tenant herself she has a strong commitment to tenant empowerment.

Graham specialises in housing finance, performance improvement and regeneration. He has extensive experience of undertaking major housing consultancy assignments and direct experience of working at the highest level within social housing organisations.

He is at the leading edge of change in our sector.  Graham works closely with DWA  as a member of the Creative Action Network

Jeff Sharnock (Associate Consultant)
 

Jeff's experience is very wide across the private and social sectors but focuses now on performance improvement in landlord and direct service organisations, residents involvement and support for inspections.  His background is in Housing Management and he has provided clients with management training and development within a framework of constant service improvement.
 

Mandy Gatt (Associate)
 

Mandy began working with DWA in October 2005.  She is an experienced Resident Advisor, having worked on 5 Stock Transfers.  Mandy is now helping to develop our forthcoming Personal Development Programme.
 

Bertie The Bear  (Director Of Entertainment)
 

Bertie has over 12 years experience and since being found at Telford Station has taken on the role of Director Of Entertainment for all DWA roadshow events (picnics a speciality). Bertie is unlike any other bear. He dislikes honey, black and yellow checked trousers and big blue houses. He is a unique and invaluable part of the DWA team.