A Not-For-Profit Housing Consultancy Group

                             Offering Solutions that are Practical, Ethical and Affordable

                                          Part of the Creative Action Network - Giving You Access To Specialist Consultants Nationwide

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DWA Meet The Team...

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
  • Nuisance
  • Housing Law
  • Stock Transfer
  • Housing Management

Deborah has recently completed the redrafting & updating of 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 Independent Tenants' Advisor 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. 

  
Professor Anne Hill (Training & Housing Policy Advisor)
Anne is a Professor of Housing with Birmingham City University, specialising in Housing Management and in the role of Voluntary Board Members. She has worked extensively with tenants' groups. Anne is currently a Board member of a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) specialising in community regeneration and community care.

DWA and BCU are currently working in partnership on their Creating Future-Proof Graduates project.

 

 

Niels Christian Knutzon (Danish Associate)
For many years Niels Christian has been our link to Denmark's social housing.  He has hosted many UK study trips to visit some of Europe's finest social housing. Now he has established his own Communications Consultancy Agency.

An experienced graphic designer Niels Christian has over 25 years experience in Denmark's social housing working for one of the country's largest not-for-profit housing companies as Head of Information Services. Niels Christian is an experienced multimedia communicator and speaks regularly at UK housing conferences.

  
 
Wendy Blackburn (Associate Consultant And Diversity Officer)
 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.

 

 

 

Carole Gradwell (Associate Consultant)
 Carole has more than 20 years experience across the full range of social housing management, including Director of Housing of a housing association. She has extensive experience of working with tenants, residents, officers and other consultants, both as an interim manager and as an independent tenants’ advisor. Her work is wide-ranging, including organisational development, board set-up, training, project evaluation, and tenant management.

 

 

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.
 

  

Chloe Arrowsmith (Office and Administration Manager)
Chloe has recently joined DWA after graduating from the University of Surrey having completed a Language and Business Culture degree.  She has spent a year in Germany with a charity working with low-income and disadvantaged families.  She has gained her administration experience in both the private and charity sectors with small and large organisations.  

Chloe is our Website Manager and is our Events Coordinator for conferences, seminars and training events. 

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.		  
Donna Lees and Chris Walthorne (Project Assistants)
 Donna and Chris are experienced Project Assistants who have worked with both Council and RSL tenants.  They provide vital support and backup to the team. Chris & Donna also support our roadshow teams.