Our Board of Management
Almond Housing Association is led by a voluntary Board of Management, which is responsible for the governance of the multi-million pound business. It has between 7 and 15 members on it at any one time.
Any member of the Association, as defined in the Membership Policy, may be nominated and stand for election to the Board. Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting. The nomination and election procedures are explained in the information sent to every member before the AGM.
Board Members
Our current Board Members are Victoria Bluck (Chair), Christopher Boyle (Vice Chair), Julie Riley, Adam Turner, Martin Joyce, Simon Davies, Natalie Cryans, Jack Rillie and Gary Hay.
Vicky is currently Head of Risk for Customer Channels at Lloyds Banking Group, specialising in conduct, compliance, and operational risk. Vicky has an extensive background in risk management and housing policy and has worked with the Department for Communities and Local Government in England on shared ownership and Right to Buy.
Vicky has been a Board member since November 2020.
Chris is an experienced professional with a strong background in construction, with particular reference to procurement and the development and use of frameworks. Since 2018, Chris has been the Framework Director for McLaughlin & Harvey.
Chris was elected to the Board in September 2019.
Adam is currently a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Based in Edinburgh, Adam advises clients in government and the private sector on procurement, investment and financing of major infrastructure in the UK and internationally. Adam brings wide ranging financial and commercial expertise to the board including past experience of working with government to deliver investment in housing and regeneration schemes.
Adam joined the Board in September 2017.
Martin is an experienced Project Director and Chartered Architect and is currently the Executive Director of Regeneration with Clyde Gateway, an Urban Regeneration Company based in the east end of Glasgow.
Martin has been a Board member since September 2015 and previously held the position of Chair between 2017 and 2021.
Julie is currently the Neighbourhood Services Lead at Berwickshire Housing Association within the Scottish Borders. Julie has worked in social housing for 25 years, enjoying being a Housing Officer before taking on a leadership role. Julie is particularly interested in the positive difference housing, and its respective services, can make to a person’s life.
Julie joined the Board in September 2022.
Simon is an experienced Housing Officer currently working at Melville Housing Association.
He has worked in Housing Management for over 14 years, managing mixed tenure housing stock throughout both Scotland and England. Simon is particularly interested in the cost-of-living crisis, and the impact it has had on Scotland’s social tenants. He is keen to understand how RSL’s can help to mitigate some of these costs and improve tenancy sustainment.
Outside of the working environment Simon is a qualified Mountain Bike Guide and British Cycling Coach.
Natalie has spent many years in the hospitality industry and has a number of qualifications. When she became a mum to two wonderful children she turned her hand to community work. She has had different roles including teaching assistant, gala committee member, community cook assistant and also ran family & education classes.
Natalie became an Almond tenant in 2011 and joined the tenant focus group in 2014. She is always looking at different opportunities and ways to improve and her hobbies include family walks, baking and crafting.
Gary is Chief Executive of Crossroads (Perth & Kinross), a leading charity providing respite and personal care services. He is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in residential property development, finance, development consultancy, and social housing.
In addition, Gary is a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, applying his expertise to support wellbeing and performance among athletes, teams, and businesses.
Gary joined the Board in September 2025.
Jack is CEO of an adult social care charity, Care Support Scotland, and has a career background predominantly in Social Care and Homelessness. He is passionate about rights based, trauma informed practice, ensuring customers receive the highest standard of care and support. He is experienced in organisational transformation and in leadership and culture development programmes.
Jack joined the Board in September 2025
Board Members support the Association’s aims and objectives, and each individual brings a particular skill. A large proportion of the Board will either be Association tenants or residents of West Lothian who support the Association’s aims and objectives. View our Board meeting minutes.
Board vacancies
If vacancies remain after the AGM, the Board may co-opt individuals to bring membership up to the maximum of 15, and/or to bring particular skills or professional experience to the Board. Co-opted members may serve until the next AGM, at which time they will stand down, but they will be eligible to stand for election if they are an Association member and are nominated.
How to apply
To apply to join the Almond HA Board, please send your CV and a cover note to enquiries@almondha.org.uk. Please include which Board you would like to apply for, why you are interested in joining the Board and any experience you have that would support or enhance our work.
More information can be found in our Board Recruitment Pack.
Being a Board Member
Each Board Member is expected to contribute actively and constructively to the work of Almond. Each member must accept and share collective responsibility for the decisions properly taken by the Board. All members are equally responsible in law for the decisions made.
Each member must act only in the best interests of Almond and its customers, and not on behalf of any constituency, other organisation or interest group.