Our Board

Magenta Living is led by a team of Board Directors.  The Board is responsible for providing long-term strategic direction for the company.

Ged Lucas
Chair of the Board
People, Culture & Change Committee Member Assets and Development Committee Member

Ged grew up on various Council Housing Estates in Merseyside. His positive experience as a Council Housing tenant spurred him into developing a career in the housing sector, working for Wirral Council Housing Department in the early stages of his career and progressing to senior roles including Director of Housing.

Ged became the Chair of Magenta Board in 2021 and is passionate about his role in supporting and developing Magenta Living to be a great organisation that is a landlord of choice for the Wirral and a valued partner of Wirral Council. Outside of his role as the Chair of the Board, Ged is a long suffering but ever hopeful supporter of Everton FC.

Ann-Louise Gilmore
Chair of Assets & Development Committee

After attaining a graduate degree in Building Surveying, Ann-Louise pursued her interest in housing, working on private sector and residential portfolios. Her passion for housing and improving services for tenants stems partly from her own experience with social housing - becoming homeless earlier in her life and becoming a Council tenant. Whilst some of her best memories were made during this time, she also learnt how things shouldn't be done! The challenge of value for money and excellence in customer service has driven her through her career.

Ann-Louise manages the challenging demands of running a family business and family life with her responsibilities as a Board Director at Magenta Living. This allows her to challenge and influence the business, which she sees as a privilege.

Ann-Louise has spent over 25 years in social housing, the majority of this time at senior level as an Assets and Operations Director. She is currently completing Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Assessment of Professional Competence qualifications, whilst leading in the refurbishment of a family bungalow.

Liam Kelly
Chair of People, Culture & Change Committee and Customer & Communities Member

Liam is a social entrepreneur who has lived in Wallasey for most of his life, studying at local schools, college and University.

Liam joined the Board of Magenta Living to add value to an organisation that he feels is significant to the lives of many people in the area. He is passionate about building and improving communities and sees Magenta Living as a key part of maximising Wirral's future potential.

Liam co-founded a local enterprise 'Make CIC' in 2013 to help people turn their passions into prosperity and is now the organisation's CEO. Part of Liam's motivation for starting the enterprise was due to a mental health crisis he experienced.

I am passionate about mental health, entrepreneurship, and communities and use these life experiences to inform my decision-making as a Board Director.  

Myles Edwards
Senior Independent Director, People, Culture & Change Committee member, Customer & Communities Committee Member and Member Responsible for Complaints

Myles is a proud dyslexic thinker and applies his creative, problem-solving and communication skills to complex challenges, which has contributed to his successes as an experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director. Born and bred in Birkenhead, Myles established a deep personal connection with Social Housing at an early age and is passionate about creating a modern, dynamic Magenta Living that delivers sector leading value for money and customer satisfaction by providing safe, energy efficient warm homes in great communities.

Myles has extensive commercial, governance and risk management experience in not-for-profit, healthcare and financial services organisations and is currently a Board Director at Hyde Housing, Trustee of Age UK Wirral and freelance business strategy consultant.

Mike Riley
Assets & Development Committee Member and Audit & Risk Committee Member

Mike is proud of his Wirral roots and has very personal experiences of social housing. Mike is a Chartered Building Surveyor initially working in professional building surveying practice which included development of social housing. Mike embarked on an academic career in 1990 at Liverpool John Moores University where today he is a Director and Professor of Building Surveying. He represents the University on a range of partnership projects including the Innovation Board, Built Environment Board, Making it Board and LCR Freeport Board. Mike lives in Wirral with his wife and their two cats and when not working, he campaigns an ageing rally car in events across the North West.

Steve Allcock
Audit & Risk Committee Member and People, Culture & Change Committee Member

Steve passionately believes in the value of technology, data and digital services and how they can deliver modern, convenient services for customers and colleagues, whilst delivering cost efficiency and wider benefits for business to thrive. Steve is qualified in Managing Strategic Programmes (MSP®) and has spent most of his career delivering transformation, covering technology, people and cultural change.

Steve lives in Warrington, Cheshire with his wife and children and is currently studying for his MBA qualification.

Rachel Barber
Audit & Risk Committee Chair

Rachel is passionate about achieving excellent service and value for money for customers. Her career began in the utilities sector where she progressed into executive roles, leading service delivery. Rachel also holds board member roles in housing, and in the public sector including health and the police.

Rachel has extensive housing sector experience and is a champion for ensuring the customer voice is heard and acted on.  

 

 

 

Robbie Chapman
Audit & Risk Committee Member  

In 2020, Robbie was appointed Deputy Chief Finance Officer for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Robbie is passionate about the role of health and housing working together to generate improved outcomes for people to reduce inequalities and deliver real change in the communities Magenta serves.  

 

 

 

Paul Richards
Assets & Development Committee Member  

Much of Paul's career has been spent in the commercial property sector with two senior PLC roles. Before moving to Stockport MBC in 2017 as Director of Development and Regeneration, he ensured that delivering regeneration and place making across the Borough delivered improved outcomes for residents first. In July of 2024, Paul was appointed Deputy Chief Executive of Stockport MBC. Paul's focus on working collaboratively is key to supporting the Magenta strategic plan 'The Road to 2030'.  

 

 

 

Helen O'Doherty
Assets & Development Committee Member and People, Culture & Change Committee Member

Helen is an experienced property and regeneration consultant with a wealth of experience in the delivery of successful housing and regeneration schemes across the public and private sectors. A chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Helen began her career working in Local Government, focused on the delivery of area-based regeneration initiatives; working in partnership to transform neighbourhoods through housing-led regeneration and investment. In 2023, Helen established her own consultancy, specialising in providing interim management and advisory services to Housing Associations, NHS Trusts and Local Authorities. Helen brings a wealth of cross sector experience and a strong commercial mindset to the Magenta Living Board.      

 

 

Independent Committee Members 

 

Jules Booker
Independent Member of Audit & Risk Committee

Jules grew up in Social Housing in the North-West near Manchester and has worked in finance for over 20 years, both in the not-for-profit and private sectors. Jules currently manages a busy family life and her roles as an Independent Member of the Magenta Living Audit & Risk Committee and Executive Director of Resources at a Cheshire based Housing Association.

Jules brings to bear to the Audit & Risk Committee her professional skills including an FCCA accountancy qualification, and her Finance, ICT, Governance, Procurement and Organisational Development experience as well as her appreciation and insight.