FLIC Advisory Board

Reporting to the CEO, Karen’s varied role as Group Corporate Communications Director helps ensure Springfield is well positioned to deliver more homes across all tenures.  Karen oversees all internal and external communication, including PR and investor relations. Karen leads on political engagement and government affairs, including recently serving on the Scottish Government’s Housing Investment Taskforce.  Karen plays a key role in the development and delivery of the Group’s ESG strategy: Environment & People. 

Karen joined Springfield in 2020 from the Scottish Futures Trust, where she led the housing programmes as a Senior Associate Director.  Previously Karen was Director of Policy & Operations at Homes for Scotland, responsible for addressing challenges across the house building industry.  Karen’s first role in housing was at West Lothian Council, and she has also spent time working at the Scottish Government delivering the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative. 

Karen is a Social Policy graduate from Edinburgh University and attained her masters in Housing at Heriot Watt University.  More recently Karen has achieved the Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction and successfully completed the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management course.  Off-duty, Karen enjoys time with her family – her husband Brian, two fun-loving sons and a playful labradoodle!

Louise is a Partner in the Commercial Real Estate team at Burness Paull. Louise has been advising clients in the private sector and public sectors for 20 years. Louise leads a team with a particular focus on development, both residential (acting for housebuilders, landowners, developers, social housing providers and investors) and commercial including regeneration projects and finance projects. Her team have been involved in many complex and high-profile projects. Louise is a contributor to Burness Paull’s Housebuilding, Living and Building Safety Teams. Clients value Louise’s straightforward and focussed approach to deals, ensuring clients get what they need, when they need it.

Having secured qualifications in the scientific sector, Louise retrained in the legal field, to build on a strong analytical background whilst engaging with clients and colleagues alike.  Away from business, Louise enjoys travelling, cooking and is an avid Formula 1 fan. Louise has a teenage son and together they are avid football fans.

Hazel is Sales & Marketing Director at Cruden. She started her career in product and marketing roles in the overseas travel and professional services sectors, before finding her passion for property. Now with over two decades experience in the housebuilding sector in Scotland, Hazel has gained an extensive knowledge of all areas of the property sales and marketing mix. She leads an experienced team responsible for devising and implementing new homes sales and marketing strategies, including product development and specification, pricing, brand positioning, sales management, legal, marketing, advertising and PR. Hazel also oversees the strategic communications strategy for the wider business. A long-standing member of the Homes for Scotland Sales & Marketing steering committee, Hazel is also deputy chairperson of the HFS Policy Forum. She is a regular commentator in the media and contributor at industry conferences and events. Outside of work, Hazel enjoys indulging her love of intrepid travel with her husband and two daughters.

Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in planning law and top ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, Elaine has over 30 years’ experience of advising on all aspects of planning. She has particular expertise in major planning applications and the negotiation of planning obligations for large scale developments as well as compulsory purchase and compensation. Elaine advises on a wide variety of developments, especially those in the living sector, such as residential; later living; student accommodation; and build to rent.

Elaine is the co-author of Scottish Planning Law & Procedure (2001) and Compulsory Purchase and Compensation and lectures in planning law at the University of Aberdeen. In addition, she is a non-executive director on the Board of Homes for Scotland and sits on the board of Aberdeen Inspired, the business improvement district company for Aberdeen City Centre.  She recently served as Chair of the Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) and also Chair of the Compulsory Purchase Association Scotland Committee and sits on the Law Society Planning Committee and Accreditation Panel.

Marion is Director of Performance and Organisational Change at AC Whyte & Co. Ltd, with two decades of experience in the construction sector, spanning both housebuilding and retrofit. She has held senior board positions, including at Mactaggart & Mickel Homes, and brings extensive expertise in organisational transformation, delivering business growth strategies and optimising organisational effectiveness.

Marion is recognised for her ability to lead complex change programmes that drive cultural transformation and deliver enhanced operational effectiveness. Marion brings strong commercial insight, driving strategic planning, performance improvement, and the delivery of efficient, value-driven operations. Marion has a strong track record of strategic stakeholder engagement, and talent development, with a particular passion for building inclusive, high-performing teams. Alongside her executive role, she is a Trustee with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), contributing to the development of skills and talent across the industry. Outside of work, Marion helps run a local youth club, enjoys long walks with her energetic beagle, and values time with her husband and two adult children.