ng2 Board Members 

John Thorburn - Chair

John Thorburn joined the ng2 Board in 2021 and was elected Chair on 3rd October 2023. Read John's full bio on the ng homes Board members page.

Jim Berrington - Vice Chair

Jim Berrington worked as a concierge with Glasgow City Council and ng homes before retiring. From there, Jim always wanted to know what things were like from an employer perspective, rather than from an employee’s. He believed he could put something in as an ex-employee of the Association. Jim has been on the ng2 Board since 2015.

Since Jim has been at the Association he has already overseen the renewal of MSF claddings, the refurbishment of Broadholm St and the expansion of ng2. He is driven for all of this and more to continue. Jim has spent time on the Boards of Glasgow Disability Alliance and Inclusion Scotland and is now a member of the People’s Forum for Epilepsy Connections.

Gino Satti

Civil Servant Gino Satti has a wide array of public sector experience, including several years working in day-care for the elderly and those with a diagnosis of dementia.  He has over 30 years experience in voluntary third sector work including time with the Children’s Hearing Service as a Panel Member, an Authority Chairperson and Safeguarder.  He has also spent time as a Lay Member Inspector for her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education for primary, secondary and special needs schools.  He was involved in a Council run Community Grant Scheme, serving as the Chairperson for six years.  He has spent a number of years as a Board Member with Addaction Scotland and is currently a Trustee with the organisation Generations Working Together.

He brings invaluable knowledge, experience and dedication to the ng2 Board and has been with us in his current capacity since 2016.  Gino also sits on our Human Resources Committee, ng homes Board,  is Chair of ng property Board and is a member of our Regeneration Committee.

Gino is determined to deliver ng homes vision of a community where people can flourish and prosper in all areas and for all people in the community. 

Margaret Thomson

Margret Thomson has been an active and positive member of the North Glasgow community for the vast majority of her adult life. With over 50 years of experience as a community activist, her commitment to the area has been recognised time and again through awards. Whilst working as a machinist, this passionate woman served as a shop steward and championed workers’ rights. After she retired she then voluntarily ran a tearoom and bingo hall for 20 years, before joining Carron Tenants’ Association. 

Margaret joined the ng2 Board in 2014. She has been recognised through the awards listed below.  A proud North Glasgow resident, the brave Margaret is willing to put her neck on the line and speak out whenever she feels it is right. She continues to put an immense amount of time and effort in to the North Glasgow community.

Awards: International participation award – TIS, TPAS Award, Firhill Community Champion, Mary Barbour Award nomination.

Bob Hartness - Deputy CEO

Qualifications: CA, FCCA

Membership of Professional/Sector Bodies: ICAS, ACCA

External Representation: Secretary to the West of 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 SORP‟s. 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 secretary to the West of Scotland Finance Forum. He has been a Board member at Horizon Housing Association since 2009 and has held roles as Vice Chairperson and Chair of the Audit Sub Committee. He was appointed by the SHR to the Management Committee of Thistle Housing Association in 2018.

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.

Isabella Cross

Isabella Cross prides herself on her pioneering role in many initiatives that are prevalent today. From food collections to pensioners’ dinners, to furniture reuse and bike and tool hire, Isabella played a key role in these initiatives in 1970s Ruchill. It was here she first got involved with social housing.

In 1992, she moved to the Carron scheme and after the Chairperson role became available, she was ushered into it because of her experience. During this time Isabella worked closely with others to make the area flourish. Her experience has been invaluable since she joined ng homes after a stock transfer in 2002.

She has overseen the development of some of the most challenging areas in North Glasgow and continues to attend and support local community events. A firm believer in the housing process, she is determined to help ng homes have a lasting impact on people’s lives.

Isabella has been a ng2 Board Member since 2014.