Directors

Below your can read more about our board members, their role on the board and their interests and experience.

Joel Barnett
Finance

Joel lives locally and is an accountant with over a decade of experience in financial advisory, accounting, and strategic planning at prestigious organisations including PCP Capital Partners, Deloitte and Rothchild & Co. Joel will oversee the charity's fiscal operations and long-term financial strategy.

Jacob Collins
Development

Jacob holds a master’s degree in Real Estate Finance from the University of Cambridge and has over a decade of experience across finance and real estate. His career includes hands-on involvement in the development of housing across multiple tenures, including affordable housing, giving him a broad perspective on how to deliver projects that balance commercial viability with social value. He is passionate about using his skills and experience to support initiatives that create meaningful social impact through housing.

Peter Davey
Governance and Partnerships, Allocations

Peter is a retired housing consultant who has lived in Hampstead since 1978. He brings extensive experience as a director, manager, and consultant across a wide range of housing association, charity, and local government activities. As a consultant, he focussed on governance, business planning, improving service quality, resident participation, and DE&I. He is a trustee of Thames Reach, a charity working with London’s rough sleepers, and the Edward Carpenter Community Trust.

Steven Midgley
Sales and Marketing

Steven currently works as Head of Sales and Marketing for a Housing Association and has held this role for a number of years at different G15 organisations and Local Authorities. In addition he has significant experience in the private sector having worked in agency for over 15 years. Steven is passionate about being part of a team delivering affordable, well designed quality homes.

Sanya Polescuk
Chair

Sanya is a principal of an architects’ practice, working and living in NW3 with her family. Sanya also mentors Architecture students and is a trustee of BelSoc, local Amenity Society.

Lis Rodrigues
Allocations

Lis has worked in the affordable housing development sector for over 30 years and is currently the Director of Regeneration & Strategic Projects at Southern Housing. Prior to this, Lis worked at Lewisham Homes as Development Director. Lis has worked in a number of leadership roles across Local Authorities and Housing Associations, including Haringey, Westminster, Barnet, L&Q, NHHG, and Newlon, among others. She has led many teams to deliver large and varied programs across a mix of tenures.

Darius Woo
Finance, Treasurer

Darius is the managing director of Kasawoo, a London-based design and consulting office that builds, thinks and writes about architecture. He is also a resident of Netherhall Gardens alongside his wife and 1 year old daughter. Prior to founding his office, Darius served as a Senior Project Architect at Weiss/Manfredi in New York City, where he had over 8 years of experience in leading large scale, complex US and international projects. In addition, he has taught at Cornell University and has been a regular juror at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. Darius holds a Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University, and a Masters in Real Estate Finance from the University of Cambridge. He is a registered architect in New York, and a member of The American Institute of Architects.

Project management

Former board members

David Woods, James Norton, Josephine Field, Barbara Orlando, Sara Anand, Calum Millbank