Directors' Biographies 

John Devine - Chief Executive 

Qualifications: Diploma in Business Advice and Counselling, Common Purpose Matrix Programme, Management and Leadership Training

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: Alarm Risk UK, Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Investors in People Advisor

External Representation: Board Member at Centre for Climate Justice – Glasgow Caledonian University

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John is a business professional with over thirty five years experience of working at management and senior management level within both the private and public sector.   He has played an integral role in the field of business, social enterprise and economic development.

During his career he has held a number of senior positions including that of Head of Enterprise and Employer Engagement at Glasgow Regeneration Agency overseeing the Glasgow Fort Development.

For the past 10 years he has worked with ng homes.  One of his main achievements was the development of a major career development programme (Kickstart Futures) which provided accredited training for young people aged 16 to 24 with an employment pathway into housing.  This led to the establishment of the Association’s subsidiary company, ng2.  He has overseen the development of the Regeneration Department and high quality interventions which focuses on physical, economic and social regeneration within North Glasgow.

John has a particular strength in managing networks and negotiating with partners to develop programmes to make a positive difference and has a proven track record of leading, motivating and developing others to deliver high internal and external results.  He has strong working experience in managing and mitigating risk within the ng group.

Bob Hartness - Deputy CEO

Qualifications: CA, FCCA

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: ICAS, ACCA

External Representation: Joint Chairperson SFHA Scotland Finance Forum

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Bob leads the Association’s finance function having joined the Association in 2008. Prior to that Bob was the Director of Social Housing for Baker Tilly in Scotland for ten years. Bob is a Chartered Accountant. 

As part of his role with Baker Tilly, Bob had responsibility for service provision to sixty Housing Associations. This included both external and internal audit assignments and other consultancy services. He was the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) representative on the 2002, 2005 and 2008 SORPs. In addition he was also a member of the CIPFA RSL panel and accounting and taxation adviser to the SFHA for six years. 

Among other roles he is Joint Chairperson SFHA Scotland Finance Forum. He was a Board member at Horizon Housing Association between 2009 and 2022. He was appointed by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) to the Management Committee of Thistle Housing Association between 2018 and 2021. Since 2022 he has been a Management Committee member at Easthall Park Housing Association. 

Within the Association Bob’s responsibilities alongside the finance function include ICT and internal audit. Bob has responsibility for setting and monitoring the Association’s annual budget, longer-term financial planning and treasury management. He is a director of the Associations subsidiaries ng2 Limited, ng property (Scotland) Limited and Design Services Glasgow Limited.

Lynne Cooper - Director of Housing Services

Qualifications: SVQ Administration Level 3, Certificate in Housing Studies, CIH Level 3 Certificate in Letting and Management

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: CIH Member, TPAS Board

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Lynne is a member of the Association’s Directorate where her current role is Director of Housing Services. Lynne has worked in Housing since 1996 starting with Glasgow City Council as a Skillseeker. Her first placement was housing and since then has developed a passion for housing and a wide knowledge base through her time at Glasgow City Council and GHA (now Wheatley Homes Glasgow) before joining ng homes in 2006. 

Lynne has responsibility for the Housing Services division, which also includes Concierge, Retirement Housing and Community Development and splits her time between the Association’s offices in Springburn and Possilpark.

Lynne is also a director of the Associations subsidiary company - ng Property (Scotland) Limited.

Tony Sweeney - Director of Corporate Services

Qualifications: MBA, MSc. Human Resource Management, CIPFA Certification in Corporate Governance with Distinction

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: FCIPD Chartered Fellow of the Charted Institute of Personnel Development

External Representation: Advisor to the Personnel Sub-Committee of Positive Action in Housing

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Tony is a member of the Association’s Directorate where his current role is Director of Corporate Services having previously held the roles of Head of Organisational Development and Head of Corporate Services.  

Tony has over 40 years work experience gained within leading organisations across a variety of dynamic sectors including Printing and publishing, Drinks (Scotch whisky), Electronics and Housing.   

He has worked in the Housing Sector for more than 20 years at ng homes and in his previous role as HR Manager at Cunninghame Housing Association based in Ayrshire.

In addition to his housing sector roles, Tony has worked in a number manufacturing management and senior leadership positions including HR and Organisational Development roles.  

Tony has also worked as an HR Lecturer (part-time) delivering CIPD accredited HR and Personnel programmes.

Angela Bell - Deputy Director of Property Services BSc, M.Phil, MRICS, CIHCM

Qualifications: BSc degree in Quantity Surveying, M. Phil degree in Housing, Post graduate diploma in Surveying, CIHCM

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: Chartered member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIHCM)

External Representation: Glasgow West of Scotland Forum, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations’ Procurement Forum

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Angela is a member of the Association’s Directorate where her current role is Deputy Director of Property Services having previously held the role of Head of Investment and Procurement. Angela leads the Property Services Team which encompasses new build development, planned investment, cyclical maintenance, repairs, procurement and asset management.

Angela is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and has worked in both the private and public sector. Prior to joining ng homes she worked within the Housing and Regeneration Division of the Scottish Government, and its predecessor organisations, Communities Scotland and Scottish Homes for over 25 years.

Karin Sherriff - Deputy Director of Finance

Qualifications: ACCA Qualification, Glasgow Flourish Senior Development Programme

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA),  Glasgow Flourish Senior Development Programme

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Karin is a member of the Association’s Directorate where her current role is Deputy Director of Finance. Karin has worked with ng homes for 20 years and leads the Finance Department who plan, organise, audit, analyse and account for ng group finances.

Karin is a Chartered Certified Accountant and has experience of working in the public and private sector.  Prior to joining ng homes she had an internship with a large electronics company and worked for a Chartered Accountant Firm.