ClwydAlyn adds three board members as it pursues 2025-2030 anti-poverty plan

ClwydAlyn, the registered social landlord managing more than 6,800 homes across North and Mid Wales, has appointed Emily Owen, Kevin Howell and Chris Mather to its board, the association announced on 13 November.

The landlord said the three appointments were made to support its core corporate objective of ending poverty across North Wales, and to help it prevent homelessness, provide warm homes and work with partners to improve access to affordable food.

Chris Mather is the appointment most directly tied to development. According to ClwydAlyn, he has more than 30 years in the social homes sector, with a focus on development, asset management and commercial leadership. He is currently Director of Development at ForHousing and previously held senior roles at Plus Dane Housing.

Chris Mather, ClwydAlyn Board Member, said: "I'm passionate about creating opportunities, treating people with fairness and respect, and challenging inequality wherever it exists."

The other appointments

Emily Owen was Deputy Leader of Conwy County Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Service Transformation, where ClwydAlyn said she led changes to housing and homelessness services. She now runs her own consultancy, supporting organisations across Wales on strategy, policy, partnerships and public affairs, with a focus on housing and health.

Kevin Howell brings more than 20 years' experience in housing, community services and organisational leadership across Wales, according to the association. ClwydAlyn said he has held senior roles including Director of Housing Services at Codi Group and National Director of the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru. ClwydAlyn's governance page records that he joined the board in 2026.

Cris McGuinness, ClwydAlyn Board Chair, said: "At a time when many people across North Wales are facing real challenges around the cost of living and access to affordable housing, it is important that we remain focused on providing safe, warm, high-quality homes at rents people can afford."

McGuinness has chaired ClwydAlyn since 2023 and has been Chief Financial Officer at Riverside since 2018, according to the association's Meet the Team page. The board comprises eleven board members and two resident board member representatives, meets every two months and operates a range of committees. Clare Budden is Chief Executive Officer and an executive board member.

The corporate plan

The appointments follow the launch in July 2025 of ClwydAlyn's five-year corporate plan, which sets out the mission "together, we will end poverty". The 2025-2030 plan names three priorities: ending homelessness, safe warm homes for residents and staff, and access to affordable food in all neighbourhoods.

When launching the plan, ClwydAlyn cited Welsh figures showing more than 13,500 households were assessed as homeless in 2023/24, which it described as the highest number since Welsh legislation began. It said almost 18,000 people were placed in temporary accommodation in the same period.

The organisation

ClwydAlyn was formed in 1978 and employs about 700 staff. It provides housing management services in Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire among other areas, and comprises four legal entities, including a housing association and a commercial company.

The Welsh Government published its 2025 regulatory judgement on ClwydAlyn Housing, which outlines how the landlord is performing against the regulatory standards, on 2 December 2025.