Eildon Housing Association is managed by a voluntary Board of up to 15 members. Our Board members come from different backgrounds and relevant interest groups, as well as different parts of the region.
The Board is elected each year from the members of Eildon Housing Association. It holds regular meetings to set our strategy, establish policy and monitor progress.
There are nine meetings of Eildon Housing Association Board each year.
Board Meetings April 2022- March 2023
This year the board meetings are being held virtually on the following dates:
09 Feb 2022
09 Mar 2022/Budget
20 Apr 2022
11 May 2022
15 Jun 2022
17 Aug 2022
07 Sept 2022/AGM
16 Nov 2022
07 Dec 2022
15 Feb 2023
08 March 2023/Budget
Minutes of previous meetings can be viewed or downloaded from our library.
As well as meetings only for Board members, we also hold regular tenant meetings which are open to everyone.
EILDON HOUSING ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS
David Alexander Chair
I live in Edinburgh and Yarrow. I joined Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2013, and became Vice Chair in 2016 until 2018, and I was also Chair of Eildon Enterprise Ltd from 2015 – 2018. Before I retired, I worked in housing for over forty years, including periods in local government, with Shelter, in university education and with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
I have an MA in Geography and a post-graduate degree in Urban Studies as well as a diploma in Business Studies and a recently-acquired degree in History through the Open University.
In my spare time, I enjoy hill walking, bird watching, reading, cinema and travelling.
Allan Lundmark Chair of Eildon Enterprise Ltd (EEL)
I joined Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2015. I am also a Director and Chair of Eildon Enterprise Ltd.
Before my retirement, I was Director of Planning at Homes for Scotland, the voice of the Scottish home building industry.
I have a Diploma in Town Planning and a B.Sc (Hons.) Degree in Town and Country Planning. I was a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute from 1976 until 2014. In 2017 I was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
I actively support equestrian sports and businesses in Scotland as:
Chair of the Trekking and Riding Society of Scotland and a former Director of Horsescotland.
A volunteer official for the Pony Club, and
An equestrian sports commentator focusing mainly on Horse Trials.
In my spare time, I enjoy watching rugby and playing golf.
Alison Ballantyne Vice-Chair
I live in Edinburgh and joined the Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2017. With a background in banking and Human Resources, I’m passionate about helping businesses to succeed through people. I’ve worked with a number of blue chip companies in Financial Services, Utilities and Transport as a Senior HR Professional and continue to provide some consultancy services to businesses of varying sizes and sectors as an Associate of the Advance Consultancy.
I’m increasingly stepping back to focus on my governance roles; as well as my Eildon roles I’m past Chair of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development’s (CIPD) South East of Scotland Branch and now support the current Chair and act as Branch Treasurer. I am an NLP Practitioner, Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD), have a PGDip in Personnel Management and am a Chartered Member of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland (MCIBS).
In my spare time, I enjoy family life, keeping fit and travel.
Brian Frater
I was born in Glasgow but with parents from Melrose and St Boswells have always had strong links with the Borders. I obtained a BA (Hons) in Town and Country Planning from Glasgow School of Art in 1980 and became a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 1983. Following a short period in the Highlands I spent the majority of my working life in the Borders in various roles with Borders Regional Council and Scottish Borders Council. Prior to my retirement in 2020 I held the position of Director Regulatory Services and was responsible for a wide range of services including Housing Strategy.
I am a former Chair of Heads of Planning Scotland, the body which represents Chief Planning Officers in Scotland.
I have worked closely with Eildon Housing Association and other Housing Associations across the Borders for many years helping them deliver their strategic housing programmes.
Away from my working life I have been an enthusiastic, but now largely lapsed, jogger having run a number of marathons in my younger days. My wife and I are keen travellers and look forward to continuing our travels as the world opens up again in 2022 and beyond.
Ron Beardsley
I live in Melrose and I am a tenant of Eildon Housing Association. I became Vice Chair of the Eildon Scrutiny Panel following training delivered by CiH, in September 2014. I joined the Eildon Board in December 2016.
I have 40 years’ experience in Construction and Civil Engineering. Academically, I attained the level of a Master of Science, I also have a Diploma in Construction Management Studies and am a Fellow of the Forum for the Built Environment.
I previously worked as Director of Infrastructure working jointly for the Department for International Development and the Government of Montserrat. Prior to this I was the Divisional Manager of Direct Services with a Scottish Local Authority for 18 years.
In my spare time, I enjoy walking (usually with an irrational and unpredictable Lakeland Terrier), travelling and DIY.
Paul Gilbert
I live in Lauder, and joined Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2020.
I am currently seconded to the Scottish Government until June 2022 where I am working on Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy development and heat networks policy. Outside of this secondment I work as a low carbon heat Project Manager at Zero Waste Scotland, supporting the design and delivery of the Scottish Government’s Heat and Energy Efficiency policy and delivery. Prior to this, I have worked at Scottish Borders Council as an Energy Efficiency Strategy and Policy Officer, where I designed their Affordable Warmth and Energy Efficiency Strategy. For the majority of my career I worked at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester as a senior academic, with a focus on climate change mitigation.
I have a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. In my spare time I enjoy cycling in all its forms and spending time with my family.
Amanda Harvie
I was born in Glasgow and am a graduate of London University, a Member of The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).
I joined the boards of Eildon Housing Association and Eildon Enterprise on moving to the Scottish Borders in September 2018.
I am an experienced company director and trustee with wide UK and international involvement in a range of industry sectors and markets. I have my own consultancy practice providing board-level strategic advice. Formerly I was chief executive of the financial services industry body, Scottish Financial Enterprise and of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
During my career I have served on various European Union and Scottish and UK government industry forums. In Scotland I was a founding trustee of the independent think tank, Reform Scotland and a member of the boards of numerous business, economic development and charitable initiatives.
My personal interests include equestrian sports, the countryside and the Arts.
Chris Highton
I joined Eildon Board in February 2019.
I am a director and vice-chairman of Allied Surveyors Scotland plc, a national firm of Chartered Surveyors, mainly providing survey and valuation advice of residential and commercial properties across Scotland, although we also run Commercial Agency and Building Consultancy departments. I am also a director of Onesurvey Ltd, a web based delivery platform for the provision of Home Reports.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, having qualified in 1994, and I sit on the RICS Residential Property Professional Group Board. During the earlier part of my career I qualified as an Architectural Technician, working in private practice and also spent some time as a Local Authority Building Control Officer.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, following Selkirk, Scotland and England cricket and I have supported Selkirk Rugby Football Club for many years. I also play in Selkirk Silver Band and can be found hacking around a golf course now and then.
Eibhlin McHugh
I live in Stow and joined Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2020.
I am retired having previously worked across social work, further education, local government and the NHS.
I have a B. Soc. SC, a Post graduate Diploma in Social Work and a Diploma in Business Studies. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, walking and reading.
Alan Mordue
After graduating at Medical School in Bristol I worked for a few years in clinical practice and then entered specialist training in Public Health Medicine, becoming a Member and later a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health. After two consultant posts in my home town of Newcastle I joined Borders Health Board in 1993 and liked it so much I stayed until my retirement in 2016.
For many years I worked with local housing and social work colleagues to develop community care services for older people and those with mental health problems. I undertook research into the assessment of medical priority for re-housing, have published on a variety of other topics, contributed to national committees in England and Scotland, as well as teaching and supervising MPH students at Edinburgh University, holding a Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer position there.
I live in the central Borders, an idyllic area for cycling, one of my hobbies alongside bicycle maintenance (learnt by volunteering with the Just Cycle project at Tweedbank), gardening, reading, cooking and enjoying good food and wine. I joined Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2019.
Ewen Swinton Chair of Audit & Risk Committee (ARCom)
I live in Galashiels, and joined Eildon Housing Association Board in September 2011.
I am now retired but was formerly the Bursar at Austin Friars School in Carlisle and am an Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, having spent 29 years in the service of the Royal Bank of Scotland, latterly as a Business Relationship Manager in Kelso before leaving in 2006.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, I have supported local rugby and am involved in a wide range of community activities.
Camilla Younger
I live in Peeblesshire and joined Eildon Housing Association Board in November 2017. I have had a career in property both commercial and residential. I was an Associate Director, Lettings, Rettie & Co and have over 15 years’ experience of working in the private rented sector including MMR. I am now a registered letting agent and run my own business.
In my spare time I like being with family and friends, horse racing and other country pursuits. I am a member of the Broughton Choral Society and a Volunteer at the Eastgate Theatre and Riding for Disabled, both in Peebles.