Simon Fitzpatrick
Role: Chief Executive
Joined: August 2015
Experience: Simon was appointed Chief Executive of Blackwood Homes and Care in February 2023. He has over 20 years experience in housing and asset management across public, private and third sectors. Simon has significant experience in the delivery of projects ranging from new build developments to innovative systems integration.
Heather Duncan
Role: Finance and Strategy Director
Joined: April 2023
Experience: Heather has a wealth of knowledge and experienced accrued over two decades and originally joined Blackwood Homes and Care as Finance Manager in 2018 before becoming the Peoplehood Project Lead in April 2021.
Doug Moyes
Role: Customer Services Director
Joined: August 2016
Experience: Doug has over 20 years’ experience working in the care sector with a diverse knowledge of managing adult and children’s services, which have included the provision and development of Learning & Physical disability services, Older People services, Care Homes, Housing Support, Care at Home and Community Justice services. Doug is also a qualified housing professional responsible for Blackwood’s Housing Portfolio across Scotland.
Liz MacKinnon
Role: Corporate Services Director
Joined: January 2022
Experience: Having worked for major public sector and government bodies including Glasgow City Council, the SSSC and, most recently, Wheatley Group, Liz brings a breadth of experience in performance, business intelligence, strategy, policy and improvement to Blackwood. She is passionate about the potential of digital technology and data, and how they can be used to transform the services our customers receive. She also sits on the Board of Trustees of Scotland’s Housing Network.
Steph Sutherland
Role: Development and Commercial Director
Joined: July 2023
Experience: Steph has garnered a wealth of experience working in the housing sector and joined Blackwood Homes and Care in 2018 as a Development and Procurement Officer before progressing into the role of Development Manager a year later.
Replacing Simon Fitzpatrick, who became Chief Executive in February 2023, Steph became the Development and Commercial Director in the summer of 2023.
Gillian Longmire
Role: Head of People and Culture
Joined: September 2024
Experience: Before taking up her role as Head of People and Culture in August 2024, Gillian was Head of People at Blue Triangle Housing Association, where she led the HR function. Gillian is an HR professional with more than 20 years’ experience in the public, private and third sectors.
Gillian started her career with NHS Lanarkshire having graduated with a degree in Human Resource Management from Stirling University. She is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of personnel and Development.
Paul Bellamy
Role: Head of Property
Joined: 2016
Experience: An experienced operator, who has worked for Housing Associations across Scotland for the past 20+ years, Paul originally joined Blackwood Homes and Care in January 2016 where he was appointed Property Investment Manager. From April 2021 through to June 2023, Paul was seconded to the Scottish Government where he worked on the review of Housing for Varying Needs design guide and the introduction of the Scottish Accessible Homes Standard into building standards.