Our people
We work remotely and our staff are based across Scotland. We have additional support from our associates, and our board of trustees.
The staff team
To find out more about each team member, click on their portrait to read their profile.
Moira has been CEO of Housing Options Scotland since 2008. She began her unbroken housing career after graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1979.
Moira has worked for a large local authority, a leading housing association and was heavily involved in the large-scale reprovisioning of learning disability hospitals in the early 2000s.
Jil is our Interim Depute CEO and right hand to Moira in delivering on the charity’s strategic objectives.
Jil has extensive knowledge of housing systems in Scotland and two degrees; an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from Glasgow Caledonian University, and a postgraduate diploma in Housing Studies from the University of Stirling.
In addition to responsibilities at Housing Options Scotland, Jil is a board member for C-Change Scotland.
Ryan joined Housing Options Scotland in April 2023.
He is a graduate from the Masters of Science in Housing Studies programme at The University of Stirling.
Prior to joining Housing Options Scotland, Ryan worked for a housing association focusing on improving the accessibility and inclusivity of their recruitment processes.
He is currently Vice Chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Futures board, which advises the CIH on how to recruit more young housing professionals into the sector. Ryan is also a board member of a housing association in Glasgow.
Catherine joined Housing Options Scotland in February 2026.
A former journalist, she spent a large part of her professional life working in arts publicity, for museums & galleries, festivals and theatres, before moving into not-for-profit communications, public affairs and marketing work.
Catherine has experience working in the children’s sector in Scotland and for a number of housing and homelessness charities.
Karen joined Housing Options Scotland in May 2026.
Since 2009, Karen has worked across the third and public sectors in Scotland in housing, health and social care. In 2014 she obtained a post-graduate diploma in Housing Studies from the University of Stirling.
Karen’s roles have all focused on supporting and empowering people to make a needed change. This has included helping disabled people to establish their self-directed support, supporting cancer patients and their families to navigate the healthcare system and working with disabled people, older people and veterans to explore their housing options.
Hannah joined Housing Options Scotland in November 2025 and was appointed to the role of Coming Home Broker in September 2026.
She has worked for third sector organisations since 2021 in a variety of roles. She is currently studying for the post-graduate diploma in Housing Studies at the University of Stirling.
Sarah joined Housing Options Scotland in 2021 and worked in a support role before joining the team of Housing Options Brokers. She has a degree in Social Sciences and has worked in a variety of roles including HR and business support, recruitment and engagement.
Her varied background has given her a broad scope of experience, and she brings a calm and person-centred approach to her clients when helping them with their housing options.
Fionn joined Housing Options Scotland in 2025, having worked in housing most of his professional life.
Fionn’s experience includes working in research on housing adaptations and facilitating events for housing professionals across the UK, positively bridging the gap between Health and Social Care Parnterships, housing developers and registered social landlords.
Fionn enjoys a multifaceted role within Housing Options Scotland, supporting staff and clients, organising events, and maintaining our business operations.
Tessa has worked with Housing Options Scotland for a number of years, gaining extensive insight and experience across a variety of roles within the organisation. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Social Science and History, bringing both academic knowledge and practical experience to her work supporting people with their housing needs.
Throughout her time, Tessa has developed a strong understanding of the challenges people can face in accessing and maintaining suitable housing. She brings a person-centred and compassionate approach to her role, working closely with people to identify housing solutions that promote independence, stability and positive outcomes.
Aiesha joined Housing Options Scotland in January 2026.
She has worked across the third and creative sectors for 13 years. In 2019 she obtained a masters in adult education, community development and youth work.
Her previous roles have focused on supporting young people through issues including addiction, suicide, estrangement, growing up in care and childhood trauma. Her developing practice uses creativity and nature to support how we understand our feelings and create community connection.
Susan joined Housing Options Scotland in 2016, initially serving as Team Coordinator supporting the CEO and staff members for six months. She then joined the brokerage team to help individuals find, adapt or secure suitable housing.
Susan graduated with a postgraduate diploma in Housing Studies from the University of Stirling in 2009. She brings a wealth of hands-on experience to her role as a Housing Options Broker. By leveraging her professional qualifications and her years across local councils and housing associations, she provides deep, practical knowledge to help people navigate complex housing issues.
Ben joined Housing Options Scotland in May 2019. He has held several roles at Housing Options Scotland over the years, from Volunteer Coordinator to Head of Engagement. He now leads our fundraising work.
Alongside working at Housing Options Scotland, Ben has experience as an elected Councillor in the City of Edinburgh. In that role, he has served as a group leader, spokesperson for housing and homelessness, and member of the housing, planning and finance committees.
Ben is currently completing a part-time MSc with the Edinburgh Futures Institute exploring how disabled perspectives can inform approaches to disaster relief planning in the context of global climate change.
Sally joined Housing Options Scotland in May 2026 as broker to our Military Matters service, supporting the housing needs of current and former members of the Armed Forces community and their families.
A Royal Navy veteran of twelve years, Sally deployed all over the world including Op Herrick 11. Following her services career, she has worked within the housing and homelessness sphere for 10 years both in the third sector and with a local authority.
Eve joined Housing Options Scotland in 2021.
She has worked in housing for a number of years and is passionate about helping people find housing solutions that enable them to live independently. Eve completed an MSc in Housing Studies at the University of Stirling, where her dissertation focused on the implementation of Housing First in Scotland, reflecting her long-standing interest in tackling homelessness and improving housing outcomes for people with complex needs.
Eve has shaped the organisation’s approach to supporting homeless clients and has more recently played a key role in setting up Housing Options Scotland's Hospital Housing Clinic.
She brings a person-centred approach to her role, combining a strong understanding of housing policy and practice with a genuine commitment to helping people make informed choices about their housing futures.
Our associates
Our associates are specialists we rely on to support us with specific pieces of work.
Fiona has many years' experience in the field of housing benefits, both in local authorities and in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Since leaving the DWP she has specialised in delivering training and awareness to housing organisations, and provides targeted advice to Housing Options Scotland brokers on the complex benefit issues of individual clients.
Carolynn supports Housing Options Scotland by building crucial partnership contacts and arrangements with Social Landlords and Councils to help our clients negotiate the housing application process. She also provided support to our award-winning Hospital Housing Clinic service.
She supports our 'one team' approach to delivering what we say we will do and our focus on the client and their housing journey.
Tony has been involved with Housing Options Scotland for over 20 years. Firstly, as a member of the board and then, when the charity launched Military Matters, to help establish and support the service, and to engage with the Armed Forces community to promote it. As a veteran himself, Tony was aware of the importance of housing for those leaving the armed forces, especially at a time when the UK was seeing an increase in housing need for wounded and injured personnel. Tony continues to support the team through policy work, engagement and networking.
Alice started working with Housing Options Scotland in 2022 as our Publications Associate but we have since moved her focus to research. She produced the Meeting the Housing Needs of Autistic Children in Scotland report (published April 2026) and is currently researching the housing needs of female veterans in Scotland.
Outside of her work with Housing Options Scotland, Alice has worked in museums, archives and libraries across Edinburgh.
Ian has worked as a mortgage specialist for over 30 years, helping people achieve homeownership when they thought it wasn't possible.
He specialises in helping people receiving benefits, including Universal Credit, sickness benefits and child-related benefits; buyers aged 50 and over; self-employed clients; and those with complex or multiple income sources.
Hilary has spent her professional life as a voice coach in theatre, radio ,TV and film and for many years lectured at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. A lifetime's research into the neuroscience of the human voice has informed her unique approach to building communication skills for many companies including Amazon, KPMG, the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, and Stirling, Strathclyde and Caledonian universities. Hilary is honoured to continue this work supporting staff in her role as a Housing Options Scotland associate.
Our board
Our board of trustees govern the charity, and have a wealth of experience in housing, health and social care. Several of our board are former clients.
Ryan joined the Housing Options Scotland board for the second time in 2024, taking on the role of Chair in November 2025. This continues a very strong relationship with the organisation that spans over 13 years.
Ryan’s current role at SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, sees him lead the casework and community engagement activities in Scotland. His career has mostly been in the housing sector though, spending time in leadership roles at a National Social Housing provider and Housing Options Scotland itself.
Ryan’s passion for the work that we do at Housing Options Scotland stems from being a manual wheelchair user who knows the barriers to accessible housing solutions. This was the driver for him beginning a career in housing over 15 years ago.
Pauline joined the board of Housing Options Scotland in June 2018. Currently holding the position of Vice Chair, she believes that everybody should have help that they need to access safe, secure and sustainable housing.
Prior to her retirement, Pauline spent 37 years working in health and social care, initially as a nurse, and then as commissioner of services to replace long-term hospital care as well as working within the third sector. In addition to her nursing qualification, she has degrees in Health Studies and Forensic Psychology and a Masters in Community Care.
Alisdair joined the Housing Options Scotland board in 2019. He is Director at Inch Architecture & Design, a social enterprise practice in Glasgow that designs buildings for a wide range of users, but with a specialism in supporting those in the third sector to realise their built visions. The practice works in fields that include community architecture, design for older people, best practice design for those with dementia and other cognitive impairments, bespoke office design and the odd ferry terminal.
Dylan is a Paralympic commentator and journalist. He specialises in Wheelchair Basketball but has a wide experience across Paralympic Sport including providing commentary for Channel 4 / Whisper. Dylan has cerebral palsy and uses a manual wheelchair. He is a former client of Housing Options Scotland.
Margaret joined the board in 2010 following her experience as a client of Housing Options Scotland, and her desire to help the charity that had helped her to find the right home.
She served as chair of the board from 2017 until 2025.
Following a successful career teaching in further education, Margaret retired in 2014. A member of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, she dedicates her time to being an advocate on behalf of disabled and older people, across areas of health and social care, housing and transport. In 2018, she started working with the Stillbirth and Antenatal Death Society (Lothians), which supports parents who have lost children before and immediately after birth.
Fraser Gilmore is the CEO of Care Opinion, an independent website for health and social care feedback. He joined the organisation in April 2020 to lead its work in Scotland and stepped into the role of CEO in April 2025, leading work across the UK and international partnerships in Ireland, Canada and Australia.
With over 20 years of experience across the voluntary and statutory sectors, Fraser has worked with various groups including homeless people, disabled people, older people, and members of the Armed Forces community throughout Scotland. This diverse background has provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges and needs within the health and social care landscape. He is passionate about ensuring that people’s voices lead to positive change, a belief that shapes his leadership at Care Opinion.
Graham graduated from Strathclyde University with degrees in Building Engineering, Architecture, Facilities & Project Management. He also has degrees in Japanese Studies from the University of Stirling and Saitama University in Japan.
Graham has worked as a designer of ‘things’ and a design/brand/creative consultant in Asia, Europe and North America. He has held numerous board positions, with boutique design companies to globally integrated advertising agencies.
Christine is one of Housing Options Scotland’s longest serving board members.
She first became involved when her son, Graeme, became a client in 2008. Christine was so thankful she wanted to support the organisation and she joined the board.
Christine is a much-valued voice of lived experience, as a carer and advocate for her son.
She is always willing to share her knowledge with the staff team, the board and with new Housing Options Scotland clients as a peer supporter.
Stephen joined the board in November 2022, having previously been a veteran volunteer with our Military Matters service. Now semi-retired and based in his home city of Dundee, he has enjoyed fulfilling careers in the military and in business.
His 25- year army career in the Royal Corps of Signals began as a teenage soldier and ended with retirement as an officer in 2004. Stephen was honoured as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services in NATO and the Former Yugoslavia Republic crisis in 1995.
Following a successful career in business, he still consults on business and technology assignments and high-risk programmes for Government departments.
Lesley joined the board of Housing Options Scotland in early 2026. At West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership she has been leading the Learning Disability Review, aimed at modernising service delivery and supporting more flexible, community-based models of care to ensure sustainability with available resources, as well as contributing to transformational change work Board wide and nationally.
After an initial career in the technology sector, culminating in establishing Apple Computer’s education research programmes as Director, ACOT Europe, Lesley then completed her master’s degree to become an allied health professional. She has a current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration and is interested in pathways that promote collaboration and informed decision-making. It was while chairing a charity in inner London, working with young people not in employment, education or training that Lesley became more aware of the importance of working to build environments that empower individuals to thrive, be it through innovation, digital participation or inclusive design.
Ann Marie joined the Housing Options Scotland Board after being supported by the organisation through her own housing journey. She knows from personal experience the difference it makes when someone takes the time to listen, understand and help find the right way forward.
She is mum to two young adults and says her role, like any parent, is to support them both to grow, develop their independence and become the adults they want to be. For her daughter, who has a neuromuscular condition and requires significant physical support, this also means ensuring the right support and environments are in place so she can live independently, make her own choices and have the same opportunities as others.
Her experiences have shown her that when people with lived experience are listened to, they can help make services and systems better for everyone. That’s why she values every opportunity to use her voice to help make things better for others.
Our longest serving trustee, Tim joined the Housing Options Scotland board in 2009.
Tim has spent his whole career in the social housing sector, initially working for a local authority, then for organisations that have a national role in supporting networks of housing practitioners and social landlord organisations to deliver better performance.
Tim is currently Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council and works for Scotland’s Housing Network as a Service Improvement Manager.
Sheenagh has extensive experience working in public policy and research, in central and local government, the third sector and as an independent consultant. Her most recent work experience has included roles with Caledonian Sleeper, Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association and Transport Scotland.
Jim is Chair of The Lady Flora Hastings Trust, a small housing charity which provides homes for ex-Service personnel and dependents. He is also a co-opted member of the Scottish Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee (VAPC). He previously held the appointment of General Secretary with Veterans Scotland, representing the interests and work of Service charities in Scotland. Prior to this he held a variety of military appointments, both Regular and Reserve, ending his military Service as TA Colonel for Scotland.
He is currently researching for a PhD with Edinburgh Napier University, considering the differences between the needs of ex-Service personnel and the general population.
Talk to us about your housing
You don't need to have anything worked out before you contact us, we are here to advise and support you.