Senior Management Team

Role: Chief Executive

Joined: February 2025

Jason was appointed as Chief Executive of Blackwood in February 2025.

His role is to advise and support the Board and to lead the management team to achieve our strategic objectives and deliver our mission to help people live lives to the full.

Jason is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and brings 36 years of experience in the social housing sector, including previous leadership roles as CEO at Cairn Housing Group, Depute CEO at Govan Housing Group, Executive Director Development & Regeneration at West Mercia Group (now Citizen), and Corporate Director of Housing at Tamworth Council.

Jason also serves as a Trustee of Cyrenians homelessness charity. He has previously served on the Board on CIH Scotland and the SFHA.

Jason’s focus in on leadership, supporting good governance and delivering organisational performance to meet Scotland’s housing needs and achieve wider positive social impact.

Role: Interim Director of Finance
Joined: January 2025

Ken Orr joined Blackwood Homes and Care in January 2025, as Interim Director of Finance and Business Services. He brings over 20 years of financial leadership experience across sectors including education, energy, and finance, with roles in the UK, Australia, and Asia-Pacific. Ken was most recently Interim Group Financial Controller at Jumbo Interactive Limited and previously CFO at Sparrow Early Learning - one of Australia’s leading childcare providers. He has also held senior roles at Goodstart Early Learning, PwC, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Origin Energy. Alongside his executive career, Ken has lectured on Corporate Governance and Capital Budgeting at Queensland University of Technology. His expertise spans financial strategy, performance improvement, and business transformation.

 

Role: Head of People & Communications
Joined: August 2024

Gillian joined Blackwood Homes and Care in August 2024 as Head of People and Communications. A commercially driven and FCIPD-qualified senior HR professional, she brings over 20 years of experience across the private, public, and third sectors. She has held senior roles at organisations including Blue Triangle, Turning Point Scotland, SSE, ScottishPower, and several local authorities. Gillian has a strong track record of delivering strategic and operational people plans, with excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills. She works in close partnership with leaders to support organisational goals and foster a high-performing culture.

 

Role: Head of Care
Joined: January 2001

Diane Allan has been a dedicated and highly respected member of Blackwood for over 34 years, contributing across a range of roles throughout her tenure. She served as Regional Manager (North) for 14 years before being appointed as Head of Care in June 2024. In her current role, Diane oversees Blackwood’s Care and Support services across Scotland, which include our Care Homes, Care at Home, and Supported Living Services.

In addition to her leadership at Blackwood, Diane also serves as a Director and Board Member of the Granite Care Consortium, where Blackwood is one of nine partner providers operating in Aberdeen. Her extensive experience and proven track record in delivering high-quality care have been instrumental in shaping and strengthening care provision across the organisation.

Role: Interim Head of Housing
Joined: April 2025

David Ogilvie joined Blackwood Homes and Care in April 2025 as Interim Head of Housing. He brings over 30 years’ experience in the housing sector, including nearly two decades in senior leadership roles. His career has focused on tenancy sustainment, service transformation, and delivering inclusive, accessible housing solutions for disabled and vulnerable people.

Prior to joining Blackwood, David held senior roles with East Lothian Council and Melville Housing Association and served on the Board of Link Housing Association. He has also worked in national policy and leadership roles with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland, and Homes for Scotland, influencing sector-wide strategies and partnerships across housing, care, and community development.

David has previously run his own consultancy practice, supporting organisations across the housing, third, and public sectors with strategy development, governance, policy, service reviews, and stakeholder engagement.

 

Role: Head of Business Development
Joined: July 2023

Stephanie Sutherland serves as the Head of Business Development at Blackwood Homes and Care, a role she assumed in April 2025. Since joining the organisation in 2018, she has progressed through various positions, including Development and Procurement Officer, Development Manager, and Development and Commercial Director. Stephanie is passionate about delivering innovative, person-centred housing solutions that promote independent living. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing Blackwood's strategic initiatives, focusing on expanding services and improving the quality of care and housing provided. Her commitment to innovation and inclusivity aligns with Blackwood's core values, and she continues to play a key role in shaping the organisation's future direction.

Role: Interim Head of Property Services
Joined: May 2025

As of May 2025, Alex Burns serves as the Interim Head of Property at Blackwood Homes and Care. With over three decades of experience in housing and property management, Alexander brings a wealth of expertise to this role.

Prior to this appointment, Alex held the position of Head of Property Services at SBHA Limited, where he led major investment and improvement programmes. His tenure was marked by the introduction of new repair service standards and a comprehensive reorganisation of team structures to enhance service delivery.

Alex’s extensive background includes senior roles at Balhousie Care Group and the City of Edinburgh Council, where he managed large-scale capital and revenue budgets, implemented strategic asset management plans, and led significant organisational change initiatives. His leadership has consistently focused on improving operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and compliance with health and safety standards.

Role: Head of Governance and Assurance/ Company Secretary
Joined: June 2024

Gillian joined Blackwood Homes and Care in June 2024 as Head of Governance and Assurance and was recently appointed Company Secretary. She brings extensive experience in strategic governance, assurance, business improvements and information governance in housing and health sectors. Her previous roles include Business Support Manager at the Scottish Ambulance Service and Governance Manager at Link Group and Weslo Housing Management. Since June 2021, Gillian has served as a Management Committee member for Clydesdale Housing Association. She is passionate about improving services and creating better outcomes for our customers.

 

Jamie Gray

 

Role: Head of Digital
Joined: September 2024

Jamie joined Blackwood Homes and Care in September 2024 as Head of Digital Services, bringing over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, IT strategy, and service delivery. Prior to joining Blackwood, he was Head of Digital and IT at V&A Dundee, where he led the museum’s digital infrastructure and innovation programme. Jamie also held key digital roles in NHS Fife and the third sector, with a strong background in web technologies, business analysis, and project delivery. He is passionate about harnessing digital solutions to support inclusive and independent living.