Board of Management

In tandem with the Board of Management there are four sub-committees which deal with specific aspects of the association for which they are given delegated powers. These are the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee, Technical Committee, Finance and General Purposes Committee and Housing Services Committee.

Current Board Members

Tom Potter BSc CMCIH (Chair)

Tom Potter is currently Chair of Rural Housing Association.  Tom works as Assistant Director of Transformation at Inspire. He holds a BSc in Housing Management and brings a wealth of experience from across the housing sector. Tom previously served as a Board Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland and was an active member of the CIH Futures group, supporting the development of young professionals in housing. Since joining Rural Housing Association’s Board in January 2022, Tom has made significant contributions and currently acts as Chair of the Housing Services Subcommittee.

John Moss (Vice Chair)

John Moss is currently Vice Chair of Rural Housing Association’s Board. John currently works as Head of Sustainability, Construction, and Transport at the South West College in Omagh. With a strong background in sustainable development and rural infrastructure, John brings a strategic and environmentally focused perspective to the Association. His expertise helps drive forward innovative, sustainable housing solutions that meet the unique needs of rural communities across the region. John is currently Chair of RHA’s Development Subcommittee

Harry Gaffney (Treasurer)

Harry Gaffney is a Director of the Poyntzpass National School Building Preservation Trust and joined the Board of the Rural Housing Association in 2024. With a strong interest in heritage, community development, and rural sustainability, Harry brings valuable perspective and local insight to the Association’s work.

Ciaran McKenna BSc MBA (Secretary)

Ciaran McKenna is currently Secretary of Rural Housing Association’s Board and is a retired Human Resources Manager with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s in Business Administration. Since joining the Board in September 2012, Ciaran has brought valuable leadership and governance experience to the Association. He also served as Chair from June 2021 to June 2022, contributing significantly to the strategic direction and oversight of the organisation.

Michaela McCusker BSc CMCIH

Michaela has a BSc in Housing Management from University of Ulster and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Michaela is currently employed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and has extensive housing management experience from working in generic and specialist Housing roles across the North and South of Ireland. Michaela has experience of managing large scale housing developments and working with local communities to build good relations and community cohesion.  Michaela is a board member of CIH Futures – the young professionals board of the Chartered Institute of Housing across the UK and also chair’s CIH Futures NI. Michaela joined the Rural Housing Association Board in January 2022 and is currently Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Tommy Gallagher BEd

Tommy Gallagher holds a BEd from Queen’s University and is now retired from a career in teaching. He also served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland. Since joining Rural Housing Association’s Board in November 2017, Tommy has been a dedicated advocate for addressing social housing needs across rural communities throughout Northern Ireland.

Margaret Rafferty

Margaret Rafferty serves as the Tenant Representative on Rural Housing Association’s Board. She is actively involved with her local community through the Knocks Community Association. Margaret’s strong community background provides valuable insight that helps shape discussions and decisions from the tenant perspective. Since joining the Board in January 2022, she has also contributed as an active Tenant Panel Member for the Fermanagh area.