Our Board

Habinteg is governed by a Board that’s responsible for setting our mission, vision, ambitions, plans, strategies and policies to enable us to meet our social purpose and remain viable and sustainable.

The Board oversees the delivery of plans and strategies by monitoring the performance and effectiveness of all business functions, the delivery of strategic aims and the implementation of policies.

Board and Committee Structure

Below is a diagram of Habinteg’s governance structure:

Our Board

  • Eleanor Southwood MBE
    Chair of the Board

    As a former Cabinet Member for Housing at a London borough, Eleanor Southwood has hands-on experience of the issues facing social housing providers, including the building safety agenda and the demands of decarbonisation. Eleanor also has experience of the challenges disabled people face when seeking suitable housing, gained from her work as the former Chair of Royal National Institute of Blind People, and through her own lived experience as a disabled person.

  • Mark Atkinson
    Vice Chair of the Board, Chair of People, Culture & Governance Committee

    Mark joined Habinteg’s board in January 2020 and was appointed Chair of the People, Culture and Governance Committee in July 2020, and Vice Chair of the Board in November 2022. Mark is an experienced and senior social sector leader with a strong record of enabling organisations to define their strategy, transform their operations and deliver their commitments. Mark is currently Director General of the Royal British Legion.

  • Nichola Wilden
    Board Member and Chair of the Investment Committee

    Nicky, a Chartered Accountant with 30+ years in real estate, is a non-executive member of the Board and Chair of the Investment Committee. She also sits on the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee at HM Courts & Tribunals Service. She previously held board roles in social housing, including Chair of Risk & Audit at Central and Cecil Housing Trust and Vice-Chair of Origin Housing Association.

  • John Knight CBE
    Board Member

    John’s career spans the voluntary and statutory sectors, including roles at the Department of Health, Leonard Cheshire Disability, and the Commission for Public Appointments. He held national board directorships at the Commission for Social Care Inspection, Charity Commission, and General Social Care Council. He was also an NHS Governor, disability adviser, Magistrate, and Public Appointments Assessor.

  • Simon Clark
    Board Member

    Now retired, Simon was Group Director – Housing at Sanctuary Group, with 35+ years in social housing across affordable housing, student accommodation, supported living, and asset management. A strong advocate for customer experience, he has extensive expertise in transformational change and service growth. He has also held governance roles in housing and third-sector agencies for over 20 years.

  • Christine Marsters
    Board Member

    Chris joined the Board in 2022 and has 25+ years of experience leading digital services at Shell Energy, Vodafone, and the Financial Times. She specialises in digital strategy with a customer-first approach. Passionate about tenant engagement, she strongly advocates for the way Habinteg tenants’ voices shape the organisation’s strategy and plans.

  • Julie Jones CBE
    Board Member and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC)

    Julie has a long career in local government and the third sector, including roles as Director of Social Services at Westminster and CEO of SCIE. She has held board-level positions in housing, social care, education, safeguarding, and health. Recently retired as Chair of Look Ahead, she was awarded an OBE in 2003 and a CBE in 2009.

  • Rajesh Gupta
    Board Member

    Rajesh joined Habinteg’s board in January 2023. A strategic business leader with 20+ years in retail, he specialises in international expansion, digital transformation, and customer-focused growth. A Chartered Accountant, he has extensive experience in audit, tax, and commercial decision-making. He is also a passionate advocate for workplace diversity and inclusion.