A seat at the table: reflections from a first-time Board member

Posted on 15 October 2024

Tara Osbourne Wallace, who recently stepped down from Southdown’s Board, reflects on her experience as a Board member over the past two years.

I have always been fascinated by how organisations are governed and how decisions are made, but I never imagined I would be part of that process. Growing up, I did not see people who looked like me sitting on boards. That changed when I joined the Black on Board programme, which aims to increase diversity on boards.

During the programme, I saw an advert for a Board Member role at Southdown and felt drawn to apply as the organisation’s values resonated with me. After a rigorous interview process, I did not get the role, and naturally, I was disappointed. However, that did not last long. Neil (Southdown’s Chief Executive) saw potential in me and offered to mentor me — something I will always be deeply grateful for. This truly reflects Southdown’s commitment to developing people and being brilliant with people, a core value I have seen in action time and time again. When a vacancy arose the following year, I was co-opted onto Southdown’s Board. This opportunity set me on a path of growth, both professionally and personally, in ways I had not anticipated.

Being a Board Member at Southdown has taught me invaluable lessons about what good governance really means. I have learnt the importance of Board Members seeking assurance, not just reassurance. I have seen first-hand the value of placing the voices of clients and tenants at the heart of decision-making, ensuring that lived experience shapes how we move forward. Southdown’s approach to putting people first – whether through bold recruitment and retention strategies or working in a psychologically informed way (Southdown Beacon) – has demonstrated how vital it is to lead from the front.

What has stood out to me the most is the incredible dedication and passion of Southdown’s staff. Whether I was visiting learning disability support services like Avis Road, Wynford House, Milchester House, and Bradbury Court, or working with senior managers to strengthen safeguarding practices, I witnessed just how much everyone here cares about making a real difference. At Southdown Connect meetings, I heard staff speak with pride about their work, and it became clear that Southdown’s values are not just words – they are lived out in every interaction, every decision, and every action.

In last year’s external Perceptions Research, Southdown was described as caring, professional, quality-driven, responsive, collaborative and a systems’ influencer. These words perfectly capture everything I have experienced during my time here. I leave with immense pride, knowing I have been part of an organisation that truly lives its values. I am excited to witness Southdown continue to grow and evolve.
Thank you, Southdown, for trusting me to be a part of your journey. I leave as a changed person, and I sincerely hope my contributions have also made a positive difference to the organisation along the way.

Pauline Ford, Chair of our Board says,

“Tara joined us as a first-time Board member in 2022. It can be daunting joining an established Board, but Tara committed her time to understanding Southdown, our clients, tenants, and colleagues to enable her to contribute to debates and decisions. This was despite her full-time challenging job leading on safeguarding. What has been great has been seeing Tara grow in confidence, in and outside the Boardroom, and with it her career has developed at pace too. She brought a different perspective to our discussions, so it was very sad to say goodbye but the decision to focus on personal development and use her experience to support a local charity close to home is right for her. Southdown is actively seeking a new first-time Board member based in Sussex following advice from Tara – which should make the time commitment more manageable.

“On behalf of the whole Board, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Tara for her time, energy, passion and knowledge whilst on Southdown’s Board, and wish her the very best for the future.”

Southdown is currently recruiting for new Board members including a first-time Board member. To find out more and to apply, visit our website here for details.