CIH - Key Persons

The executive team is made up of senior colleagues from across the business and drives the strategy set by our governing board. Our mission at CIH is simple - we support housing professionals to create a future in which everyone has a place to call home. We conduct research, provide policy analysis, training, qualifications, events and much more to equip our members and the wider housing profession with the skills, knowledge and expertise they need to be the best that they can be. We are also one of the leading voices on housing policy across the UK. The executive team is responsible for driving this mission and our strategy to make it a reality.

Gavin Smart - CEO

Job Titles:

Chief Executive Officer
Member of the Executive Team

Geraldine Howley FCIH

Job Titles:

Chair. Executive Chair, the GEM Programme

Anne Chapman CIHCM - chair Audit and risk committee. assistant director - governance and compliance, Golding Homes

Hannah Louise Harvey

Job Titles:

CIHCM - Executive Director Operations, Saffron Housing Trust

James Prestwich

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Team
Director of Policy and External Affairs

Janine Green

Job Titles:

Member of the Committee

Janine Green - Janine Green ASB Janine is an anti-social behaviour consultant, assisting housing, police and local authority in developing their anti-social behaviour services. Outside of this role she is a lay member for several judicial and regulatory bodies. She is a board member for CVCH and the chair of Women in Social Housing (Midlands)

Jill Haley

Job Titles:

FCIH - CIH Vice President

Jo Munns - Secretary

Job Titles:

Company Secretary
Member of the Executive Team

Jo Richardson

Job Titles:

FCIH - Professor of Housing and Social Research

John Hannigan

Job Titles:

FCIH - Chief Executive Officer, Circle Housing Group

Josie Twinning

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Team
Director of Membership and Partnerships

Lara Oyedele

Job Titles:

CIHCM - CIH President and Chair, Hope Housing

Lindsay Driscoll

Job Titles:

Member of the Committee
the Learning Curve

Lindsay has been working in the housing sector since 2007, gaining experience across a number of different housing roles - legal services advisor, homelessness assessment officer, and in social housing supported living. She is passionate about professional development, and about the change that those who work in the housing sector have the power to bring about. Five years ago, she decided to use her knowledge, skills, and experience in the sector to teach other housing professionals. Lindsay is currently the apprenticeship manager for housing at The Learning Curve overseeing a group of coaches who teach housing apprenticeships and CIH qualifications. Lindsay has a passion for supporting housing professionals to gain the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours needed to make the housing sector shine, and her place on the professional standards committee gives her even more scope to do this.

Martyn Hale

Job Titles:

Member of the Committee
Trent & Dove Housing Ltd

Martyn has been involved in housing for over 35 years and been a member of the CIH since the early 1990's. Holding various roles in local government and the registered provider sectors over his career, Martyn is neighbourhoods director at Trent and Dove. He is responsible for all operational housing services, supported housing, customer engagement and the customer contact centre. Martyn also has a background in supported housing and safeguarding, and a trained mental health first aider as well as white ribbon ambassador working toward ending violence toward women by men. Outside of work Martyn is a keen rugby fan supporting Northampton Saints and loves spending time with his wife Ros, two boys and two mad dogs, Fletcher and Freida.

Nigel Finney

Job Titles:

Chairman of CIH 's Professional Standards Committee
Member of the Committee

I have been a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing for over 30 years. Throughout my career I have valued my membership of the CIH. Starting out a as housing officer and studying for the professional qualification gave me an excellent grounding in all aspects of the profession and its rich history. Since that time, I have benefited from the knowledge and guidance the CIH has given to the sector. I have also valued the camaraderie and the sense of being part of the housing movement being a member of the CIH brings. Now I have stepped back from senior operational roles and moved to being a member of Housing Association boards I am giving something back to the CIH by being chair of the professional standards committee. I am enthusiastic about developing the professional standards and assisting the CIH to drive up standards in the sector.

Patricia Harrington

Job Titles:

Member of the Committee
Vice - Chair of CIH 's Professional Standards Committee

I'm a Cambridgeshire girl born in the 1980's. Having grown up with a father that works in the building industry, I've always been interested in the importance of place and how homes have the ability to build communities.

Sarah Dunkerley

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Team
Director of Knowledge and Learning

Sue Leppington

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Team
Director of Finance and Central Services