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Greg Whelan – Assistant Director of Finance & Procurement
Greg joined our Leadership Team in 2021 as our Assistant Director of Finance and Procurement. With over 16 years’ experience in social housing, Greg specialises in financial operations management, rent legislation, service charges, procurement, statutory accounts and budgetary control.
Reporting to our Director of Finance, Greg supports and advises our Executive Team in the planning and delivery of the Group’s management accounts and budgets as well as our Procurement and Value for Money strategies. Greg supports the delivery of our overarching Corporate Strategy though business partnering to achieve ambitious value for money efficiencies.
Outside work Greg is an avid reader, plays football and is kept busy by his 5-year-old son and 3-year-old Labrador.
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Mary Swaine – Assistant Director of Governance & Corporate Compliance
Mary is a qualified lawyer with over 20 years’ experience working in and around the housing sector. She supports the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board to ensure we maintain high standards of governance and regulatory compliance, delivering a high quality company secretarial function to Housing Solutions and its subsidiary companies. Working with the Executive and Senior Management Team, Mary supports delivery of Housing Solutions’ corporate strategy through a focus on business assurance, Value for Money and resident-focused services aligned to Housing Solutions’ values and social purpose.
Away from work Mary is a busy mum of two and self-proclaimed Francophile.
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Caroline Hempstead – Assistant Director of People Services
Caroline has been with Housing Solutions since 2005 and has progressed her career so that she now leads the HR function as Assistant Director of People Services. Prior to Housing Solutions, Caroline worked for Oxfam, TV Police and Thames Water. Caroline has a degree in Business Administration and is Level 7 CIPD qualified.
Outside of work Caroline is a busy Mum and enjoys keeping fit. -
Sam Carty – Assistant Director of Property Services
Sam has been with Housing Solutions for over 10 years, having started as a Business Analyst. In her role as Assistant Director or Property Services, she is responsible for 5 direct reporting managers and circa 70 staff within these direct reports: consisting of maintenance operatives, maintenance supervisors, grounds operatives, cleaning operatives, works schedulers and contracts supervisors. She ensures the delivery of both planned and responsive spends across 7,000 owned and managed homes. Sam also closely monitors all aspects of health and safety compliance across our portfolio. Among her many areas of accountability she reviews all major proposals to make sure they offer VFM and support our Group strategies before producing recommendations for the senior management team, Executive Team and Board.
Outside work Sam is a busy hands-on Mum and keen runner. -
Rich Harvey – Assistant Director of Digital Transformation & Organisational Design
Rich has been with us for over 19 years. He has experience in a variety of roles from his initial apprenticeship with Housing Solutions, and subquently moving into the IT department. He has successfully headed up a number of key projects including moving our server infrastructure to the cloud, ensuring our residents have access to internet access through a digital inclusion projects, with resident WIFI whilst improving customer access to online services through our innovative website, App and via Alexa devices.
Outside work he is a loyal Holyport FC & Maidenhead United Supporter. -
Sarah Andrews - Assistant Director of Housing and Resident Engagement
Sarah started her career at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, where she quickly rose to the position of senior housing manager. There, she supported social and financial growth, and pioneered innovative changes that improved service quality. In 2013, she joined Sovereign HA, where she became the Head of Housing Advice; spearheading initiatives to ensure first-time resolution and improved risk and performance in tenancy management services. She has also spent time in the commercial housing development sector, where she focused on customer service improvement.
Now, as the Assistant Director of Housing and Resident Engagement at Housing Solutions Sarah supports the organisation in their purpose to house and support disadvantaged local people across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. In her role she oversees housing services, estate management, safeguarding, and resident empowerment across a portfolio of over 8,000 homes. She is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of residents and the organization. Sarah is a leader who cares, a leader who inspires, and a leader who delivers.
Sarah has responsibility for Consumer Standards for Housing Solutions.
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Steve Young - Head of Repairs
Steve has over 20 years experience in delivering planned and reactive repairs within the social housing sector. His focus is on delivering solution focused outcomes for my residents, preparing for the future, and driving continuous improvement, whilst ensuring he empowers and develops his team to be their very best. He also enjoys watching Rugby and traveling.
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Chris Martin - Head of Development
Chris has over 20 years' experience within the development and housing sector having worked for private developers and the Homes and Communities Agency before joining Housing Solutions. Overseeing the acquisition, design and development of new homes along with the sale of shared ownership homes. With a passion for affordable housing to meet the needs of the communities in which Housing Solutions works, Chris strives to build effective partnerships with Local Authority partners, Developers and the wider sector. With a focus on quality and future technologies and environmental standards to drive up the standards of the homes constructed whilst reducing the environmental impact both during construction and use.
Beyond the office he is a busy Dad, who enjoys the outdoors and sports of every kind.
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Maureen Achuka – Head of Finance
Maureen has worked for Housing Solutions for a number of years having joined the organisation as a Financial Accountant. Prior to joining Housing Solutions she worked for Avis UK. Maureen studied Business and Finance at the University of Westminster and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants having qualified in 2002.
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Nick Williams - Head of Fire and Compliance
Nick has been with Housing Solutions for 4 years joining as Compliance Manager in 2021 and has worked within a Fire Safety role for the last 10 years. As Head of Fire and Compliance, Nick acts as lead across the organisation on the big 6 landlord regulatory compliance areas - gas, electric, asbestos, lifts, water hygiene and fire - to ensure that residents are safe in their homes.
Nick works closely with our specialist Fire Safety consultants, continuing to advise the organisation on best practice.
Outside of work, Nick is a QPR season ticket holder and coaches a local mens football team.