Advisory Group

Rose Gilroy is Professor of Ageing, Planning and Policy in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, UK.

Her work focuses on age friendly cities and particularly on the role of housing in determining a flourishing later life. In 2021 Lund Humphries published her book Planning for an Ageing Society- directed at planners as key actors for change. Her current research (with Stirling University among others) explores intersectional stigma of ageing, disability and place. Her work is action oriented: she is Chair of Newcastle Age Friendly City and a Trustee for Vivensa Foundation where she is chairing the SHAPE Exchange

Leads the research and innovation activities across Healthy Lives supporting physical and mental health through the life course.  Areas of focus include brain health, nutrition and obesity, mental health, assistive tech and healthy ageing.  Background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology also has an MBA.

Siobhan is the newly appointed Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland.

Formerly Director of Marketing & Business Development at Age NI, she led major initiatives in dementia, brain health, loneliness, healthy ageing, and support for older workers. She is European Vice-President of the International Federation on Ageing, a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, and former member of Innovate UK Healthy Ageing Advisory group and Age UK Services for Older People consortium. Siobhan has extensive leadership experience in international marketing, business development, and strategic growth across public, private, and voluntary sectors.

Angela Catley is the co-founder of When I Get Old (www.wigo.org.uk), a movement advocating for greater choice and control in later life.

She has a career in health, social care, personal and community development spanning over 40 years and multiple sectors. She spent 14 years at Community Catalysts designing and managing local and national projects and initiatives with a citizen and community focus. Angela is passionate about people, partnership and co-creating inclusive approaches to support and care that are respectful of and ambitious for people. She is recognised for her creativity, challenge and energetic, optimistic outlook.

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Charles Kwaku-Odoi DL is Chief Executive of the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN), a leading national Black health organisation at the forefront of reducing health Inequalities and wider disparities. He has board roles including the NHS Race and Health Observatory, Terrence Higgins Trust, and National Churches Trust. He sits on the Manchester Foundation NHS Trust Council of Governors, and Government SAGE Ethnicity Subgroup.

He is a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Greater Manchester, an honorary member of the esteemed Faculty of Public Health (FPH), and the honorary Ecumenical Canon at Manchester Cathedral. Charles was named in the Health Service Journal 50 most influential Black Asian and Minority Ethnic people in health in the UK for two years running (2022 & 2023).

Charles is a great advocate for equity and fairness across a range of important health and wellbeing issues for people of the Caribbean and African Diaspora. He is involved in work that influences the research, policy, and practice at regional and national levels with special interest in civic and democratic participation.

Iain MacBeath is Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing for Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

He has responsibility for adult social care, public health and is a system partner in the Bradford Integrated Care Partnership. Prior to this Iain was Director of Adult Care Services for Hertfordshire County Council.

Iain started work as a civil servant for the Benefits Agency (as was). He then worked for Social Services in his home town of Barnsley in both Children's and Adult's Services. After moving to Hertfordshire in 1999, he spent five years working for the Probation Service, returned to Social Services for the London Borough of Barnet and became Assistant Director of Adult Care Services for Hertfordshire in 2008. He became Director in 2013.

Iain is a Trustee of the national Association of Directors of Adult Social Services as Honorary Treasurer and is Network Chair for Care Commissioning in the Yorkshire & Humber regional branch.

Richard Meade was appointed Chief Executive of Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) in September 2025. As leader of SFHA, he represents Scotland’s housing associations and co-operatives, supporting them to deliver safe, warm and affordable homes for over 500,000 people.

He has more than 20 years of experience of working in the third sector, having previously served as Director of Devolved Nations at Carers UK and as Head of Policy & Public Affairs at Marie Curie. He has a strong track record in policy and public-affairs and senior leadership, which has resulted in significant public policy change in Scotland. 

He is a member of the Institute of Leadership, has a Master of Public Health, alongside an MSc in Policy studies, and a degree in History and Politics. He has contributed to a range of research during his career including on public health, palliative care, and unpaid care.

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Judith Phillips is Professor Emeritus of Social and Environmental Gerontology at the University of Stirling.

Between 2020 and 2024 she was the UKRI Research Director for the Healthy Ageing Challenge, held alongside her position as Deputy Principal (Research) at the University. She has published and researched widely on environmental aspects of ageing, housing, social care and caregiving and social gerontology. In 2013 she was awarded an OBE for Services to Older People.

Joan is a retired Town Planner. She developed an interest in housing issues in the early 1970s, when she worked on Housing Action Areas and General Improvement Areas for Sheffield City Council.

Joan managed Manchester City Council’s Access Team for seven years (2000 – 2007) during which time the Team produced Design for Access 2, which is still Manchester’s manual of inclusive design guidance.

Joan is Chair of the national network of Older People’s Housing Champions, Treasurer of High Peak Access Group, and a member of Greater Manchester Older People’s Network, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People and Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group.

She is the OPHC representative on the Housing and Ageing Alliance.

Joan campaigns for more accessible housing, particularly wheelchair accessible housing.

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Scott has worked in the Affordable Housing Sector for over 30 years, having gained experience in both service delivery and corporate leadership.  He joined Cardiff based Linc Cymru in 2018 as CEO prior to leading the business into a merger with Pobl Group in 2024. He now holds the position of Group CEO.  The merged business adopts a fresh identity as Codi Group in January 2026. 

Scott originally qualified as a Chartered Surveyor before turning his attention to affordable housing leadership, which saw him develop new business opportunities, research and innovation partnerships, new home development at scale, user centred services and financially strong performance.  He is passionate about creating business models that benefit from being Large in scale yet local in their delivery and impact.  This has seen him lead on a number of mergers.  Scott is passionate about creating trusted partnerships that ensure the largest and most sustainable person-centred service outcomes can be achieved.

His association with the Housing LIN was formed many years ago, through his interest to create services and new homes for an aging population. This passion continues today with Codi Group owning and managing numerous independent living homes, not least thirteen extra care schemes, and directly providing support and care to people with differing needs.

He has served as a Trustee for a number of charities and held the position of Board member with Community Housing Cymru.  

Formerly Managing Director for housing, care and support services across The Guinness Partnership, a leading national housing association in England; Homes and Communities Agency Advisory Group Member on Older and Vulnerable People; Group Director at Hanover Housing Association, with responsibility for extra care housing and service development. Previously seconded as Housing Advisor to the Department of Health, advising on policies for older people and people with learning disabilities. Chief Executive of a homelessness organisation (awarded MBE); Non-Executive Director on a number of housing association boards and charities. Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA); Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA).