Directors' profiles
Below are profiles of the Ecology's Directors. All of the Directors, including the Chair and Vice Chair are non-executive, apart from Paul Ellis and Pam Waring who are executive Directors.
Chair - Janet Slade
Vice Chair - Malcolm Lynch
Chief Executive - Paul Ellis
Finance Director & Secretary - Pam Waring
Director - Pamela Parkinson
Director - David Black
Director - Tony Taylor
Chair - Janet Slade
Janet is a Director of Slade and Cooper, a firm of accountants which specialises in working with not-for-profit organisations such as charities, workers co-operatives, housing co-operatives and credit unions.
Janet became Chair of the Society in 2004, having previously served as a Director for six years.
Vice Chair - Malcolm Lynch
Malcolm is a solicitor and partner in the firm of Wrigleys where he leads the Charity and Social Economy team.
A lot of Malcolm's work as a solicitor involves working with innovative organisations, which can be viewed as partners in developing a more sustainable society, in the fields of renewable energy and environmental products and services.
Chief Executive - Paul Ellis
Paul joined the Ecology in 1981 as an investor, before becoming a consultant, then a Director and since 1995 he has been the Society's Chief Executive.
Paul has a long commitment to environmental issues, is involved in a local woodland conservation group in Leeds and has established a five-acre woodland.
He represents the Society on the Energy Efficiency Partnership of the Energy Savings Trust, and is a Director of the Association for Environment Conscious Building and the Ethical and Environmental Marketing Group.
Finance Director & Secretary - Pam Waring
Pam has been with the Ecology since 1986, initially in the Savings Department and gradually took responsibility for the Society's finances, being promoted to Finance Manager in 1993 and to her current role in 1996.
Pam was co-opted by the Board in June 2000, which gave her the opportunity to be more involved with planning the future direction of the Society. She is committed to progressing the Society and is proud of the service we offer our members.
Director - Pamela Parkinson
Pamela is an architect and a partner in a small private practice, OSA Architects, in Leeds. Although the practice involves carries out a wide range of work, they specialise in community architecture and ecological design.
During her time as a Director of the Ecology, Pamela has brought to the Board her experience in sustainability issues in relation to building. Pamela enjoyed working with the architects who built the Ecology's state-of-the-art, energy efficient Head Office and was heavily involved in the design of the office's straw bale meeting room extension.
Director - David Black
David is a qualified accountant and has worked in local government, industry and the housing sector. His experience with housing associations extends over the last 20 years, starting with a community-based association in Glasgow. David has been Finance Director of four housing associations, but now works mainly on a freelance basis in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.
His interest in green issues is more practical than theoretical and makes every attempt to travel by train. Train travel has made David determined to dispose of his car and rely totally on public transport.
Director - Tony Taylor
Tony is a chartered accountant and took early retirement from a large building society in 2003 where he gained senior experience in financial planning and control, risk management, internal audit and regulatory compliance.
As a member of the Ecology Board he endeavours to use his skills and experience to ensure the Ecology's continued success. He is keen to learn about green issues from colleagues and Society members.
Tony's interests include nature and conservation, gardening, walking, running and watching Huddersfield Town.