People

Ian BurnettIan Burnett
Managing Director

Ian sits on the Executive Committee of Wates Construction Ltd and is Managing Director of Wates Living Space.
 
He has been working in the construction industry for almost thirty years and is a keen advocate of partnership working, having hands-on experience of managing a number of long-term collaborative frameworks with RSL and ALMO partners.
 
He has a broad based involvement in the sector, working with Leeds City Growth as a Board member and also the local Leeds City Chamber.


Stephen TruslerStephen Trusler
Strategy Director

Steve has worked in the affordable housing sector for over 28 years. He has held senior positions in organisations including Lovell and Alfred McAlpine Partnership Housing before joining Wates Living Space in 2000. During this time he led the business’ strategy and successful national growth.
 
Steve is a passionate supporter for continuous improvement and innovation within the housing industry and recently representing the industry at a breakfast briefing with Tony Blair and the Secretary of State on a discussion over the future of Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO’s).  In addition, Steve has also led on a number of responses by Wates to Government papers including a recent response to the CLG paper “From Decent Homes to Decent Communities”


Stuart TogwellStuart Togwell
Commercial Director

Stuart has been with Wates for twenty years, working on both the construction and affordable housing sides of the business.


Paul O'Driscoll Paul O'Driscoll
Business Development Director

Paul has been working in the affordable housing sector for over 20 years with Lovell, Wimpey and Willmott Dixon, joining Wates in 2001.
 
He sits on the steering groups of the Housing Forum and HouseBench and regularly participates in groups and debates exploring issues affecting the delivery of affordable housing and sustainable communities.
 
He is a Chartered Surveyor.


Phil SperringPhil Sperring
Business Unit Director Midlands

Phil joined Wates in 1979 as a Quantity Surveyor and was promoted to Managing Surveyor in 1996 where he had responsibility for Customer Care, Buying, Contractual Control, Material Control and Site Mobilisation.

Phil is a member of the Wates Innovation Team targeting supply chain management, defects free process and measurement and benchmarking systems.

Phil’s research into Best Practice has involved him in several Housing Forum Working Groups and since 2004 he has been embedding nationally within Wates the use of the web based measurement and benchmarking tool ‘Housebench’.


Joanne JaimesonJoanne Jamieson
Business Unit Director 
North East

Having joined Wates in 1997 Joanne progressed her career through the commercial and business development structure to Business Unit Director for North East (Yorkshire, Humberside & North East).  She has worked on a variety of projects, predominantly on refurbishment and new build housing schemes.

Joanne is responsible for all business activities for the North East and is focused in delivering and exceeding client expectations. 

Steve JacksonSteve Jackson
Business Unit Director 
North West

Steve joined Wates in 1996 and prior to his role as Business Unit Director, was the Surveying Manager in the North West responsible for Partnering Frameworks.

As the Business Unit Director for the North West, Steve is responsible for all business activities and develops the region's strategic business plan with our customers, consultants and our delivery teams, ensuring that results are achieved by working together. 

Steve Chairs the North West PPC 2000 User Group.


Simon UnderwoodSimon Underwood
Business Unit Director South

Simon joined Wates in 1997 and has progressed his career through the commercial structure to Business Unit Director for London and South.

A major part of Simon’s role involves close liaison with customers and other stakeholders; such an insight has enabled Simon to fully appreciate customers and tenant issues. He has responsibility for all affordable housing schemes in the South focusing on leading the business unit to delivering exceptional value for all stakeholders.