MEET THE BOARD

• Performing effectively, in clearly defined roles, ensuring responsibilities are carried out
• Promoting values for the whole organisation and behaving in ways that uphold and exemplify good governance
• Taking informed, transparent decisions and managing risk
• Developing the capacity and capability of the Board, Area Boards and Sub-Committees
• Engaging stakeholders and making accountability 'real'

John Lewis (Independent Representative and Vice Chair)

By profession, I am an economist and teacher, having graduated from LSE and completed my PGCE at Hull. I spent seven years at Scunthorpe Borough Council, latterly as Head of Economic Development.
I moved to Rotherham in 1993 to join Rotherham Training and Enterprise Council as Head of Regeneration and Partnerships. The TEC merged with Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to become Rotherham CCTE in 1997. In 2001, I became Chief Executive of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and in August 2007 Chief Executive of Chamber of Commerce (Barnsley and Rotherham) Limited on the merger of the two Chambers.

Almas Abbasi (Independent Representative)

I started my career in Rotherham in 1976 as Community Relations officer with Rotherham Community Relations Council. I became Director of Rotherham Racial Equality Council in 1987 and retired in 2002.
I have served on various school governing bodies and also seved on the on South Yorkshire Probation Board from 2002 to 2007. I have a Law degree from Pakistan and Masters in Sociology from Sheffield Hallam University.

Kirstie Penk (Independent Representative)

I qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and worked in-house for a computer company in Maidenhead for 11 years, which I also co-owned during the last three years. In 2005, I returned to Yorkshire with my husband (we are both from Doncaster originally). I took a career break to have two children and now that my eldest has started school I am working for a group called The Legal Director through which I provide the services of a Legal Director for a number of different companies on a part-time basis. 

Mr Stephen Wragg (Independent Representative)

For the last ten years, I have been working at Board level in all my appointments, and have direct experience of running a business. I was Head of ICT and eBusiness for Business Link South Yorkshire from 2001 to 2008, and have direct experience of economic regeneration and business support concentrating on small to medium-sized enterprises. I have been appointed to a number of non-executive Director Roles with Barnsley Primary Care Trust, Barnsley Development Agency (where I was Vice-Chair) and Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce where I was Vice President. I was appointed as Chairman of Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on January 1st 2009. I have extensive experience in both the private and public sector and was Project Director for Regional Programmes in Yorkshire and the Humber. These included “Switch on South Yorkshire” and eBusiness Unlimited. I was also Chair of ICT Yorkshire and now act as a business improvement consultant, working with a number of private sector organisations.

Liz Booth (Tenant Representative)

I am the founder member of the Rotherham Housing Futures Group and was re-elected in 2006 with a 4000+ majority. I am treasurer of the Rotherham Health Network, Secretary of the Rotherham Transport Users Group and a member of the South Yorkshire Passenger Users Group. I am a fellow of the Millennium Commission, director of the Rawmarsh High Street Centre and a coordinating member of the Wentworth South Area Assembly. I have always strongly supported Adult Learning and have attended many courses in community initiatives.

Pat Cahill (Tenant Representative)

I have been a tenant for the last 25 years. For the last five and a half years, I have worked closely with Age Concern and Help the Aged as a volunteer. Over the last 12 months, I have helped as technical consultant, using my late working skills as a cameraman and sound engineer, with a reminiscences project, featuring the lives of men and women between the years 1939 and 1950, which among other things will be used as a teaching aid in schools. I was also a member of the original Public Members Board of Governors of the Rotherham General Hospital Foundation Trust.

Bob Brown (Tenant Representative)

I am recently retired and live in Aston with my wife, Sue. I have spent much of my working life in various Civil Service departments and although born in Maltby my work has taken me to many different places in the UK and abroad. Happily I came back “home” about 10 years ago. I have experience of serving on committees and pressure groups at both local and national level. 

Anita Wilson (Tenant Representative)

I became a Council tenant in 2007, and have been interested in local issues for a long time. I live in North Anston, which, like any community, has its own issues. It’s also a very welcoming place, and I am passionate about the community and the people who live around me. I like to think that I am the “people’s friend”! I feel the main problem for many residents is “not knowing” where to get help. My professional background is in mental health, being a Carer Educator and teaching Social Work students. As part of my job, I deal with substance and alcohol misuse and understand the issues involved in anti-social behaviour (with all age groups!).

Cllr Barry Dodson (Council Representative)

I have been a member Rotherham Borough Council since 2000 and I am Chair of the Rotherham South Area Assembly, Vice-Chair of the Planning Board and a member of the Licensing Board, the Democratic Renewal and Children and Young People's Services Scrutiny Panels.

Cllr Simon Currie (Council Representative)

On my list of priorities is improving housing, community facilities and the local environment. My knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to working closely with tenants, residents, local groups and the parish councils means that together we can take our community forward. I am committed to targeting resources in order to reduce crime and anti-social nuisance. I will support ongoing investment in housing, Decent Homes and Housing Market Renewal, and work with the police and the safer neighbourhood teams to reduce the fear of crime by combating anti social behaviour and crime.

Cllr Neil License (Council Representative)

I have been a member of the Council since 2000 and I am a member of the Audit Committee, Planning Board and of the Children and Young People's Services Scrutiny Panel, and a member of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee.

Cllr Reg Littleboy (Council Representative)

I have been a Councillor in Rotherham since 1988 and served as Chair of Libraries Museums and Arts and the Culture and Leisure Services Board. At this time I was responsible for leading Rotherham in becoming one of the first Local Authorities to adopt a Cultural Strategy. Since election to the council I have been a member of the Planning Board. I am Senior Policy Advisor to the Leader and Deputy Leader which covers the Culture and Leisure Services, a member of South Yorkshire Police Authority and its Vice Chairman, and Secretary of a 54 member Labour Group.

Cllr Jacquie Falvey (Council Representative)

I am married with two children, one grown up and one still in primary school. I have lived in the area since I was a small child. I work part-time for a local children’s charity and have been a borough councillor representing Dinnington Ward 4 since May 2007. I am a member of the licensing board, children and young people’s scrutiny panel, and senior adviser to the cabinet member for cultural services and sport.