Pictured above: (l-r) Jaffer Kapasi and Amanda Males with LHA-ASRA group chief executive, Matt Cooney

Housing and regeneration group LHA-ASRA has strengthened its board by making two new appointments.

Amanda Males and Jaffer Kapasi will now sit on the group's 11-strong board.

With their fellow members, they will have responsibility for ensuring the organisation is well-governed and achieves its strategic objectives.

Amanda Males has over 15 years experience of large scale capital and social regeneration schemes for housing and social services in Nottingham, including specialist provision for older people and children.  She has also lived and worked overseas in both Africa and Asia , and has business interests in the private sector.

Jaffer Kapasi OBE has been chair of Asra Midlands for the past 18 years and is currently managing director of J A Kapasi & Co Limited.  He is also the founder and director of the Leicestershire Asian Business Association, a director of HomeCome Limited and Wrekin Housing Trust, and a member of the Court of the University of Leicester .  Jaffer has previously held non-executive directorships in the NHS Trust, HM Courts Board, Housing Ombudsman Board and Leicester Games 2009 Limited.

Welcoming the new appointments, Sadru Visram, LHA-ASRA chairman, said: "We are very pleased to have attracted these high calibre individuals to join the Group.

"Coming at a time when the Group faces difficult challenges arising from the current economic uncertainties, it signals a step change in the strengthening of our governance.  It will provide us with a broader and more diverse skill set, and will put us in a leading position for the future."