Jesse Fajemisin
Executive Director of Business Operations, Mount Green Housing Association

Jesse has over 12 years’ experience in housing, most of which has been in the G15, and in positions of leadership. At Sapphire Independent Housing, he is the executive lead for housing, leasehold and asset management services. He is the Chair of the NHF's National Smaller Housing Association Network and is a national representative on the Regulator of Social Housing's Small Provider Panel. He is also a Board Member for Gloucester City Homes, where he is the Vice Chair of their Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee too.

Angela Gascoigne
Chief Executive, SHAL Housing

Angela has been CEO at SHAL since 2014 and a housing professional since 1981. She has been a member of numerous boards within the voluntary sector including being Chair of Llamau 2010-2016 a charity which supports young people, women and children who are homeless. Angela was Chair of the Early Help Strategic Commissioning Board for Somerset County Council for the last 4 years and now chairs the Rural Housing Alliance. She is passionate about restorative practice and regularly works with people across the US and the UK to deepen her knowledge and skills.

Paul Smith
Chief Executive, Elim Housing

Paul Smith is Chief Executive of Elim Housing association, prior to this he was Cabinet member for Housing at Bristol City Council and has previously work for Placeshapers, NHF, Aster Group and Heart of England Housing Group. In the environmental sector Paul was Chief Executive of the national Reuse Network. Paul has views on climate change and mitigations based upon his degree in Astrophysics and scientific outlook.

Elim Housing owns and manages 900 homes in the South West, West Midlands and Wales and provides general needs housing, supported housing for people who have experienced homelessness and sites for members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. Elim is participating in wave one of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Elizabeth Webster
Tenant Board Member, Arawak Walton Housing Association

Elizabeth Webster became a Tenant Board Member of Arawak Walton Housing Association in Manchester in 2020. The organisation is a small, independent BME Housing Association which made it a real draw for Elizabeth. It allows her to engage with a host of different projects within local BME communities as well as offering lived experiences when deciding on strategic direction for the organisation. As a tenant, Elizabeth offers excellent insight into what customers expect form a housing association landlord and can offer direction and oversight on how to most effectively support their tenants.

With 19 years’ experience of working in film, television, theatre and live music events, Elizabeth has a myriad of experience working with different sections of the community in a professional capacity.

Elizabeth is particularly proud of Arawak Walton’s commitment to tackle all types of homeless linked to the communities it serves. Having been homeless in the past, Elizabeth holds these strategies close to her heart and can support their development at Board level.

Alongside Board duties Elizabeth regularly attends the Tenants’ Quality Panel meetings as well as Renumeration and Appointments Committee meetings. She has assisted with updates of the Association’s Customer Service Charter and has also had input to the Together with Tenants Charter.

She is based in the North West though her work has taken her to locations nationwide. Elizabeth has lived in Manchester for 12 years and been a tenant of Arawak Walton for the last two years.

Karen Cooper
Chief Executive, Penge Churches Housing Association & Chair, G320

Appointed as Chief Exec of PCHA in December 2016, Karen has worked at a senior level within the social housing and voluntary sector for over 30 years. Her interest in social housing came from being homeless herself when she was pregnant with her daughter; she realised that having a safe affordable home is an essential building block for life. She started off working in supported housing for people with mental health problems, and then went on to be the Chief Exec of three small community-based housing associations. In 2006 she set up her own consultancy business and since then has worked with a range of housing and support providers, offering advice and training to enable them to improve services, successfully engage tenants, and achieve their visions. Karen has served on various Boards, including HYDE, and more recently was the Chair of Evolve Housing and Support for 5 years. Karen was appointed as Chair of g320 in 2020.

Tracey Downie
Chief Executive, Women’s Pioneer Housing

Tracy joined Women’s Pioneer as Chief Executive in 2022. She was previously Executive Director of Housing Management at Homes for Haringey and brings over 25 years’ experience in the housing sector primarily working in London-based housing associations with a commitment to resident engagement, community development and challenging inequality.

She brings a wealth of experience from past senior, executive and non-executive roles to her role as CEO. Tracey mentors through the Future of London Leaders programme and is Board Chair of Ekaya Housing Association.

Aasia Nisar
Head of Resident and Community Engagement, Red Kite Community Housing

Aasia is an experienced housing professional with over 20 years’ experience in the housing sector but her real niche is resident involvement, community development and engagement. She is committed to ensuring residents voices are heard, making a real difference as to how services are delivered. Previous Aasia worked for Sovereign and has worked on several European Social Funded projects, as well as writing major funding applications for the National Lottery. She has a PhD in Sociology and Social policy.