My experience of Pathway to Board – Nayur Zahoor 

Nayur Zahoor is a member of our People and Governance Committee. Nayur tells us how she got involved in the Pathway to Board programme, which aims to support Black, Asian and minority ethnic people to be ready for Board. She shares what she learned from her experience and how working with some of our colleagues has given her a better understanding of housing.  

I happened to come across Pathway to Board programme after overhearing a telephone conversation a family member was having regarding a vacancy that had come up on the programme.  She had been employed by a housing association for a number of years and was on the Board of another organisation, which I assumed was work related – it was not.   

After giving me a brief overview of the programme, she told me to get in touch with the Pathway to Board scheme co-ordinator to see if the vacancy was still available – it was and I joined up immediately. 

We are always told we have transferrable skills through employment and life itself but until you step out of your comfort zone, you never know what those skills are.   

The Pathway to Board programme provided monthly seminars run by experienced professionals who are Board members in a variety of organisations and what they brought to the organisation.  Finance directors providing financial guidance, solicitors providing legal advice and those of no professional backgrounds simply bringing their lived life experiences and views.   

They explained why it was important Boards became more diverse and inclusive to represent society at large – I was sold!   

Midway through the programme, an opportunity came up to shadow the Bron Afon Board, so I could experience first-hand all aspects of the organisation and its decision making without the pressure of having to contribute anything more than I wanted.  I knew nothing about housing until I joined Bron Afon and it was terrifying initially when even the terminology was alien to me – what is “a void” that they keep referring to in meetings – what are their KPI’s? 

When my time shadowing was up, I was delighted to be offered the position of co-optee board member on the People and Governance Committee.  The committee meets regularly to discuss and vote on all sorts of matters from the 4 day week pilot, sickness absence to salaries and pensions.   

To learn more about the grass roots of the organisation I have taken part in the employee shadowing scheme – this includes going out with employees to ensure properties and customers are safe, visiting houses having new kitchens and other items installed and viewing first-hand the positive impact Bron Afon, the Board and its policies/decisions have on communities.   

I have been able to report both positive and negative feedback to the Board and can follow up on what is being done by the organisation to address those points at the PGC meetings. 

Everyone at Bron Afon has been so helpful, kind and accommodating from day one – from the Chief Executive Alan Brunt to the receptionist who lets me into the building and offers me a coffee! 

Time has flown by and I cannot believe I have been part of the Bron Afon family now for nearly two years.  I know I have come a long way since that first meeting when I questioned myself whether I would ever have anything to contribute to a Housing Association Board.   

I am grateful to both Pathway to Board and Bron Afon for allowing me this opportunity and would encourage others to get involved.