Board Members

Meet the Board Members

Emma Killick

Board Chair

During a thirty-year career working in the care sector Emma developed a particular interest in support for adults with learning disabilities who had, or were at risk of developing dementia. During her time as Operations Director with the MacIntyre Charity, Emma set up their award-winning Dementia Project and partnered with Dementia UK to appoint the first learning disability specialist Admiral Nurse.

Emma’s current area of focus is as Trustee for Towcester Foodbank supporting those experiencing the effects of poverty across the South Northants area while campaigning as part of the Trussell Trust Network for an end to the need for Foodbanks in the UK.

Emma was appointed as Chair of Grand Union’s Board in July 2024 and also chairs the Customer Experience Committee.

Damien Régent

Vice Chair of Board

After a first career as a financial analyst specialising in credit markets and financial institutions, Damien now works at board level with multiple organisations.

Since 2013, he’s worked across sectors as a non-executive director. He currently chairs the audit and risk committees at the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (London), Southern Housing and Pro Bono Economics (research charity).

He was previously on the board of two small high-growth internet businesses, having spent five years supporting internet start-ups.

Damien has significant experience in the not-for-profit sector. He’s been on the board of charities since 2011, including in the fields of homelessness and housing, human rights and international medical aid.

Ashleigh Webber

Board Member

Ashleigh works in the NHS and is currently supporting mental health consultants, patients and their families. She is also a volunteer member of the Government’s Social Housing Quality Resident Panel, contributing how she feels improvements can be made to the sector.

Outside of work, Ashleigh’s young daughter keeps her extremely busy and thoroughly entertained. Ashleigh is a Grand Union customer and has been a member of the Customer Experience Committee since September 2020. She was appointed to the Board in January 2023

Brendan Whitworth

Board Member

In March 2024 Brendan retired from his day job as a relationship manager at The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC) after a 45-year career in financial services. For the last 20 years he has been a lender to a wide range of housing associations.

Prior to then his roles included General Manager of a UK-registered bank and Senior Credit Officer in Singapore. His voluntary activities include 4 years as the Loans Officer at the St Albans Credit Union and ex-board member and chair of the Treasury Committee at Golden Lane Housing, which provides housing to people with a learning disability. He has also been a PTA Treasurer.

Craig Thornton

Board Member

Craig has been in the social housing sector since joining Sovereign as its Director of Audit and Risk in 2020.

Prior to that he spent the majority of his career in the telecoms sector. He has specialised in internal control disciplines for the past ten years, with senior roles in this field at Vodafone and as an independent consultant. He’s a chartered accountant with a broad range of experience in finance, operations and programme management.

Craig was attracted to social housing by his strong sense of social justice and sees the sector playing a fundamental role in eradicating inequality.

Elaine Barnes

Board Member

Elaine is an experienced business leader and non-executive director in both housing and commercial environments. Her expertise is in customer experience, customer service, strategy development, strategy execution and organisation development.

Having lived and worked in three continents Elaine is culturally aware and loves supporting people and organisations to achieve their goals. Elaine has recently retired from full time employment to spend more time with her family, coaching and non-exec work.

She lives in Hampshire with her husband, rabbit, cat and dog having two grown up children and a new grand-baby.

Parmjit Dhanda

Board Member

Parmjit’s a former Government Minister with departmental responsibility for the Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Communities and Local Government – where his responsibilities encompassed local government, planning and the fire service.

He’s a founding Board member of the Gloucester Urban Regeneration Company (2004-2010), which delivered the £1billion regeneration of the Gloucester Quays.

He’s also served as Chair of the Allied Health Professions Federation and as a non-executive Director for the Milton Keynes Hospital Trust, Hanover Housing Association and Swan Housing.

As Executive Director for Back Heathrow, he leads the campaign to build the world’s largest privately funded infrastructure project – the plan for increased capacity at the UK’s only hub airport, Heathrow.

Peter Hay CBE

Board Member

Peter is a highly experienced social care and public-sector services leader with a track record of service improvement and influence upon national policy.

A proven executive leader and non-executive director with the ability to work successfully in highly political environments at both a national and local level, Peter joined the Board in early 2022.

Having spent 20 years working as a Director in social care across a range of local authorities including in Birmingham, Peter stepped away from his executive career in 2017 and has since built up a portfolio of non-executive director and trustee roles as well as providing advice and support in his area of specialism – social care.

Peter, who in 2012 was awarded a CBE for his services to social and health care, is the Chair of Turning Point – a national social enterprise that supports over 105,000 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or addiction recovery. In addition, he also chairs the Board of Trustees for the Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Tony Oakley

Board Member

With more than 30 years’ experience in banking, including a spell as Head of the Lloyds Bank Social Housing finance team having national responsibility for over 200 clients and almost £13 billion of lending, Tony retired in 2022.

An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB), Tony also has a strong track record of holding senior management positions in several private companies, including Woodgate Fulfilment Limited and Leadfinder.

Tony hopes to bring his vast array of skills and experience to his role on the Group Board to help drive the strategic direction of the Group and continue to deliver for our customers.