Shelter Cymru appoints chair with experience of being made homeless

Shelter Cymru has appointed a senior leader across a range of sectors, who has experience of homelessness when he was a teenager, to chair its board.

Mike Theodoulou is to lead the board from March 2022 replacing outgoing chair Shayne Hembrow.

Theodoulou has held a number of senior roles across the private, voluntary and public sectors and also has experience of homelessness when he was a teenager.

“When I was 17/18 we were made homeless. I was the oldest of five siblings and I watched my mother trying to raise five children, trying to feed five children under difficult circumstances until I started earning.

“That had a huge impact on my life. It influenced what I did and what I want to continue to do. I am passionate about fighting for social justice, passionate about homelessness, passionate about looking after the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Shelter Cymru’s chief executive Ruth Power added: “Mike stood out in a strong field with his experience, his abilities and his deep commitment to ending homelessness.”

Theodoulou is national chair of local government body One Voice Wales and is chief executive of Carmarthenshire social justice charity Centre for Building Social Action. He is also an independent community councillor and Mayor of Pembury and Burry Port.