Northern Ireland Housing Executive Board Member reappointments
Date published:
Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has reappointed Ms Pauline Leeson CBE and Mr Chris Welch as Members of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) Board.
Ms Leeson CBE has been reappointed with effect from 1 November 2025 until 31 October 2030. She has already served as a Board Member on the NIHE Board from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2025.
Mr Welch has been reappointed with effect from 1 November 2025 until 30 November 2029. He has already served as a Board Member on the NIHE Board from 1 August 2019 to 30 June 2020 and 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2025.
The NIHE was established by the Housing Executive Act (NI) 1971. It is the Strategic Housing Authority for Northern Ireland, and a public landlord at scale, with an annual budget of approximately £1.2bn, providing a range of public services and around 83,000 homes.
Notes to editors:
1. NIHE Board Members receive remuneration of £7,567 per annum for a minimum of one day per month.
2. These reappointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s (CPA NI) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, CPA NI requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Any relevant details are provided in the below biographies.
3. Biographical Details:
- Ms Pauline Leeson CBE
Ms Leeson is a Social Worker with over 40 years’ experience in statutory agencies and voluntary organisations across the UK and Europe. She is a Member of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland and a Governing Member of the South-Eastern Regional College (for which she receives remuneration at £250 for a Governing Body meeting, and £150 for a committee meeting or event and the time commitment is one day per month). In relation to the NIHE Board, she chairs its Tenants and Customers Committee, and is a Member of its Assets Management and Maintenance Committee. She has had no political activity within the last five years.
- Mr Chris Welch
Mr Welch has over 35 years' experience in the housing sector, holding senior roles with a range of local authority and housing association providers where he specialised in asset management and construction related services. He retired from his last full-time position at Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust in 2024. His experience includes leading strategic reviews, streamlining processes and implementing improved management systems. He is a former trustee of Inspire North and of York Centre for Voluntary Services. In relation to the NIHE Board, he is the Chair of its Asset Management and Maintenance Committee. He has had no political activity within the last five years and holds no other public appointments.
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