Group Board
Mike Gaskell officially started with us on 1 April 2023. Mike qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and became Managing Partner of Trowers & Hamlins’ Manchester office (specialising in corporate, governance and regulatory work for Housing Associations). Having Chaired the founding Board of Trafford Housing Trust from 2005 - a role he describes as “just about the best thing I have ever done” – he has more recently served as Chair of the Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association and as a Board member at Weaver Vale Housing Trust and at Wakefield and District Housing.
Chris joined the Board of YHG in August 2019. Chris currently works as a consultant within the property sector where he specialises in Programme and Project Management with expertise in transformation and continuous improvement. Chris has experience across a number of industries and disciplines and started his career off as a plasterer. His experience encompasses 7 years in Mergers and Acquisitions/Corporate Finance as a Projects Director, 4 years as Head of Procurement for the MoJ and a spell as Head of Commissioning and Procurement for the Animal, Plant and Health Authority. Previous Non-Exec experience includes 2 years with a Welsh Housing Association.
Chris has an MSc in Construction Management, Diploma in Surveying and a certificate In Corporate Finance from London Business School as well as being a Member of the APM and a Chartered member of CIPS.
Chris enjoys playing guitar and keeping fit in his spare time as well as keeping up to date with the news.
Chris lives near Chester with his wife Sam and Jack Russell originally named Jack. He has two sons and a daughter who are grown up.
Bev is an experienced senior HR/OD professional and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). She’s spent the last 10 years focusing on major organisational transformation in local and central government.
Bev held senior roles in several local authorities, and following a 30+ year career in local government, then spent three years with the Water Regulator, OFWAT, as their Senior Director for Business Improvement. In 2016, she joined the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the world’s largest and only chartered health and safety professional body, as its Chief Executive. Before retiring in 2021, she led the successful delivery of IOSH’s first global five-year strategy, WORK 2022, and undertook a major internal transformation programme which was recognised by the Charity Times in their 2019 awards.
Bev is a self-employed consultant and an experienced Charity Trustee and Non-Executive Director in the NHS.
Darrell joined Your Housing Group in January 2021, bringing over 40 years’ experience in social housing and development.
He started his career in housing as a Graduate Trainee in the Liverpool office of the Housing Corporation, and after spells at the Liverpool Housing Trust and the Housing Corporation in Cardiff, he was appointed Assistant Director of Housing at London Borough of Islington.
He has recently retired from his role as the Chief Executive of A2Dominion Housing Group, a member of the G15 group of the largest housing associations in London and the South-East. Under his direction, the organisation has grown from 850 properties in management to having over 38,000 with a further 5,000 in the development pipeline. He has considerable strategic leadership experience in both executive and non-executive roles and has extensive knowledge in property development, risk management, governance and regulation.
Darrell is also an independent Non-Executive Director of Zen Housing.
In his spare time, Darrell is an Everton season ticket holder and is a keen follower of cricket and rugby league.
Stuart is a Chartered Accountant and has over 25 years’ experience of working in finance and risk management. Since 2017, he’s been the Deputy Director of Finance at the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust in York and its parent, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Stuart is also a member of the Finance Committee of the Lake District Calvert Trust, a charity which hosts guests with disabilities at its residential centre and he also sits on the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Technical Advisory Committee.
Prior to this, Stuart spent most of his career in the financial services industry. He has an MBA from Manchester Business School and extensive experience of strategy development, transformation and change, governance, housing regulation, and risk management.
His hobbies include hiking, cycling, and kayaking.
Liz studied at the University of London completing a degree and a PhD before beginning her career in Customer Insight and Strategy working for a global market research agency and retailers.
Liz directed the insight and strategy for both The Co-Operative Group and Aldi helping to develop their brands as well as influencing and leading business change. Liz now combines a portfolio of Non Executive Director roles with running her own specialist consultancy which helps businesses grow via strategic business planning and customer insight. Liz is passionate about providing excellent service that meets identified needs.
Bhupendra has spent the majority of his career championing social change within communities experiencing isolation and disadvantage. Bhupendra has previously been a board member for organisations such as Manchester Metropolitan University, The Body Shop Foundation and other housing associations.
Bhupendra has international experience as a board member too with the BBC Media Action (formerly BBC World Service Trust) – connecting and inspiring change in millions of people facing insecurity, inequality and poverty.
He is the Founder and Chairman of Kamla Foundation, a charity based in the UK helping vulnerable communities in India to develop their capacity to meet basic needs and creating solutions to poverty and injustice.
In recognition of Bhupendra’s charitable work overseas, he received an international award from The Times of India Group in 2017.
Beata has been a resident of Your Housing Group for the last four years. She has a passion for housing and the role it plays in a wider society, which led Beata to work with several housing associations in her career.
Beata studied at University of Bradford where she completed a Masters in Marketing and Management, however she has always worked in the housing industry, first as an Income Officer and now a Finance Business partner.
Beata is currently working towards an Accounting Qualification (ACCA) and has over 16 years experience working in a variety of roles in highly regulated and customer-led environments.
Lee joined the YHG Board in June 2024. He is a qualified accountant with over 30 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles within the social housing sector.
After qualifying, and following a successful career in finance, his path led him to become Executive Director of Resources for a large housing association for 12 years before taking on the role of CEO at Salix Homes in 2014.
Matt joins the Board already experienced in the housing sector. He's currently in the role of Tax and Treasury Director at Places for People, and is also a member of the National Housing Federation’s Finance Policy Advisory Group.
His career started at PwC and Deutsche Bank before moving into corporate treasury, but it was his move to Affinity Sutton, now part of Clarion, that saw him step into the world of social housing. Matt is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. He formerly served as a NED at Soho Housing.
Executive Leadership Team
Chief Executive Officer
Jacque joined Your Housing Group as Chief Operating Officer in March 2020. She was appointed as Deputy CEO in early 2021 and became our Interim Chief Executive in July 2022.
She has worked within the social housing sector for 30 years and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Housing and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Strategic Management. Her experience of various leadership roles across the sector makes her the ideal person to head our Executive Leadership Team.
At home, Jacque enjoys spending time with her three sons, walking her dogs and enjoying various equestrian pursuits.
Executive Director of Corporate Services
Clare held senior governance positions at both the Co-op and the Federation of Small Business, before joining Your Housing Group in 2017. She has also worked as a Project Lead for public service projects, reporting to the Government and the Cabinet Office.
Clare’s role is to advise the Board and Executive on all aspects of Governance and legal and regulatory compliance. She holds overall responsibility for Governance, Risk and Assurance, Health and Safety, HR and Procurement while contributing to decision-making about all areas of the Groups operations. Her mission is to ensure that YHG is well-governed and meets legal and regulatory requirements for the benefit of customers, employees and wider stakeholders.
Away from YHG, Clare is an amateur rower and likes to spend her spare time on the river, walking with her dog or cooking for friends and family.
Chief Financial Officer
Kal joined YHG in October 2023 having started out her career in the private sector. The last 20 years, however, have been spent working across the public and not-for-profit sector, holding senior finance roles in Local Government, Health, Charities, Housing, and Education.
Responsible for ongoing financial sustainability and viability and identifying and implementing operational improvements and business development opportunities. All the while, embracing our culture of continuous improvement to support Value for Money throughout our organisation, Kal will be helping to shape the new strategy and enable the aspirations of the Group through finance and growth.
Outside of the world of finance, Kal is a keen fitness enthusiast and likes to start her day lifting heavy weights at the gym and enjoys going for walks in the evenings and on weekends.
Adding some balance to that though, Kal also really enjoys listening to music and as a mum of three and a new nana, loves to spend time with her family and friends.
Executive Director of Housing & Customer
Paula joined YHG in March 2020 as the Director of Housing & Customer Service and stepped into her current position in April 2024. Paula has worked in social housing for thirty years for a number of social housing providers across the north west and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Paula is responsible for all the front line housing and customer services teams. She is passionate about continually improving our service offer to customers and working with residents and our Customer Services Committee (CSC) to ensure that we are meeting the right standards as set by the government and our residents. She also reports to our CSC and customers on the performance of our teams.
Away from work Paula is kept busy with her family, including a young grandson, she enjoys walking and cooking and has a passion for far flung travel when possible.
Interim Executive Director of Asset
Lorraine has worked in a construction environment for more than thirty years, and is responsible for the delivery of the Group's Growth Strategy, and will also now oversee our asset strategy and reinvestment programme.
Lorraine has spent the majority of her career working in construction, starting work in a busy estimating department for Balfour Beatty Civil Engineers in 1988. During her 29 years working for the Group she has had a number of roles within the team, before taking up the role of Director of Development in the summer of 2015, with overall responsibility to deliver the growth aspirations and provide quality homes that we can be really proud of.
When she’s not at work… Lorraine spends lots of time with her family and friends not forgetting her dog Barney, she loves visiting places to tick off her bucket list and holds a season ticket holder at Everton FC.
Senior Leadership Team
Shabana has worked in the Internal Audit & Risk Management field for over 20 years and is responsible for the Groups Risk, Assurance & Performance arrangements which includes Policy & Research and Operational improvement.
Shabana has worked in the Housing sector for 9 years and is passionate about serving the sector well and making a positive contribution to the lives of others.
She is also the founder and Co–Chair of YHG’s Balance for Better Group which focuses on all areas of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion through encouraging staff collaboration, celebrating differences and knowledge sharing with others.
When she’s not at work... Shabana loves to have some down time with her family and friends. She is also a keen gardener and enjoys long walks and strength training at the gym.
Jo began her career in the HR industry 20 years ago and brings a wealth of experience to #TeamYHG after working in both the public and the private sector.
Jo is a professionally qualified Director of Organisational Development and joined the Group in 2021 as Head of HR & Learning and Development.
She brings a dynamic leadership approach to help solve solutions within the workplace and strives to create an environment where individuals can be themselves.
Jo is an inspirational speaker and her passion for people and developing others is what motivates her in her everyday life.
Outside of work.. Jo likes to take part in yoga, enjoys walking in Cannock Chase and likes to eat out with friends and family. Jo also loves to go on holiday to the sunshine!
Aaron has been with YHG since June 2010 working in a number of housing and customer Services leadership roles including Head of Sales and Lettings and more recently Head of Housing before taking on the current role of Interim Director of Housing and Customer Services in May 2024.
Aaron has worked in social housing for over 25 years for a number of registered providers across the North of England.
Aaron is responsible for all the front line housing and customer services teams and is committed to continually improving YHG to benefit our residents and communities.
Away from work… Aaron loves to spend time with family and friends including being taken for long walks by his dog Athena!
