English Rural has adopted the National Housing Federation’s Code of Governance to ensure the highest standards of governance and accountability are achieved. Our Board has overall responsibility for our activities and strategy, consisting of highly competent Board Members who contribute their skills and expertise for free. The Board is subject to regular internal audits, examining areas such as succession planning, skills and structure.
Maintaining excellent governance is a priority for English Rural and forms part of our 2019-2024 Strategic Ambitions.
In addition to regular board meetings, English Rural’s governance arrangements also benefit from an Audit and Standards Committee and Finance and Resources Committee, enabling some core areas to be covered by Board Members in greater detail.
Mark currently heads Pragmatix Advisory which he founded in 2020. Commissions have included ‘Rural Recovery and Revitalisation’ partly funded by English Rural. Before setting-up his own business Mark had a distinguished career in economic consultancy including as a Director of Strategy for Capita Economics. Projects have included advising and working for amongst others the National Housing Federation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation as well as national and local government. Mark is also an Independent Governor/Trustee for the agricultural college Writtle University.
Henry is a former employee of Hastoe Housing, where his role included leading external affairs, policy, media and communications. Henry has an excellent working knowledge of affordable rural housing, housing standards and worked with Hastoe’s Chief Executive in preparing their Corporate Plan. More recently Henry has worked within the office of the Lord Mayor of London, supporting all aspects of the Lord Mayor’s programme.
Rob is a seasoned Chartered Management Accountant with over 10 years of experience as Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary at TSG Building Services Plc in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Renowned for his ability to refine processes and develop financial strategies for sustainable growth, he partners closely with executive leadership and manages an array of stakeholder relationships. Prior to this, Rob led Strategic Maintenance at Vale of Aylesbury Housing, overseeing an annual portfolio exceeding £20 million and honing his expertise in stakeholder management and strategic planning.
Graham has over 30 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, latterly helping Housing Associations to connect finance function more closely with operations, from planning through processing to reporting and monitoring. He has achieved this through interim and contract assignments, non-executive positions and through consultancy work, working with associations of all sizes from less than 1,000 properties to G15 London associations. He has a keen interest in developing people to meet their full potential, and in making finance more understandable for non-financial people, recognising that most decisions in organisations have a financial impact.
Monica has worked at the National Housing Federation for the last 14 years, initially as an External Affairs Manager and currently as a Head of Member Relations. Monica is the lead for Smaller Housing Associations and was the former lead for Rural Associations. Prior to working at the National Housing Federation Monica worked as a Rural Housing Enabler, working with local communities, Local Authorities and the Government to ensure rural development to create sustainable communities. Monica was involved in the establishment of one of the first Community Development Trusts. Monica has also worked in senior management roles for a number of local authorities including Lewisham, Lambeth, Kirklees and Edinburgh.
Rebecca has 20 years’ experience of working in Local Government, starting her career as an Environmental Health Officer, working to improve housing standards in the private rented sector. In more recent years Rebecca has held a number of senior positions in local authorities, leading the improvement and transformation of back office transactional services. Away from work Rebecca has embraced country life following a recent move from London to the Cotswolds, where she now lives with her family and faithful black Labrador.
Sarah is a Professor of Property Law within Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton. She studied at University College London before becoming a solicitor practicing in London. Sarah then moved to Hong Kong for 12 years where she was in practice as a solicitor prior to moving into academia at the University of Hong Kong. Since returning to the UK she has worked at the University of Southampton with a brief spell at the University of Bristol. Her research interests lie primarily in the fields of property law and equity, as well as company and commercial law. She has published widely in her areas of interest. Sarah was born and brought up close to Southampton in the New Forest and now that she is back living in the New Forest, she has also researched into the regulation of common land and its role in conservation.
Philip has been closely involved in the social housing sector for over 30 years – most recently managing a housing portfolio of over 5,000 homes. Starting his career as an Environmental Health Officer he has seen at first hand some of the appalling housing conditions that some have to endure, both in urban and rural environments. He has worked hard to address not only housing but also the social needs of communities. As a Director of Community Services he has seen statutory agencies recognise the pivotal role housing agencies have to play in improving the well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. As a chartered surveyor with a local authority, he was fortunate to have the opportunity to be involved in both residential and commercial development programmes delivering both homes and employment for residents. He has seen at first hand the challenge meeting the housing needs of rural communities and that organisations such as English Rural can make a real difference to a project succeeding.
Avril Roberts joined the CLA (Country Land and Business Association) in February 2022 as Property and Business Policy Adviser, where she leads on housing and tourism policy. A graduate of the University of Exeter with a degree in Politics, Avril transitioned into the housing sector after completing her studies. Her professional experience includes working as a development project manager, where she focused on delivering new affordable housing. At the CLA, Avril provides valuable guidance to members on property management, new home development, and the tourism sector. Her expertise in these areas is complemented by her rural background, having grown up in Cambridgeshire. When not advising CLA members, Avril enjoys returning to her roots and helping out with the family’s pig farm.
Hilary previously served as Chair of the Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society (TCCHS) until its merger with English Rural in March 2024. With over three decades of experience as the Finance Director of a mid-sized housing association in Cambridge, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise pertaining to the former Cottage properties to her role at English Rural.
Click here to read the English Rural Group Board Member Declarations of interest.
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