Welcome to WISH London

As the Director of Curious Minds Consulting Tracey is a fully qualified leadership coach who specialises in coaching individuals and teams in emotional intelligence, diversity and creativity.

Following a successful career in leadership roles in sales and marketing for Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Tracey took some time out to develop her creative talent gaining a BA (Hons) and an MA in fine art photography. She then went on to gain her professional qualification in Coaching from Henley Business School. In 2015 Tracey worked with her first housing client and has continued to build a strong client base within the housing sector.     

In joining the board of WISH London I welcome the challenge to have a positive impact on the diversity agenda with in housing.  

Theresa is a Partner in Trowers & Hamlins’ Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Team, specialising in contentious construction, which she joined in June 2010 from a boutique construction law practice. Theresa was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 2005 and qualified as a Solicitor in 2007.

Theresa has extensive experience of acting for Employers and Main Contractors, making High Court applications and the Enforcement of Adjudicators’ decisions in the Technology and Construction Court. She is familiar with both standard and bespoke forms of construction contracts. Theresa also has experience of adjudication, running High Court trials, instructing experts on technical engineering matters, resolving construction disputes through mediation and drafting settlement agreements, claims, defences and adjudication submissions.

Theresa is a regular speaker for the RICS, author for Construction Manager and Construction News and is Chair of the National Association of Women in Construction.  Theresa was awarded Best Woman in Construction Law 2017 of the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.

Lisa worked for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in various Education/Housing roles for 15+ years before moving to Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) when it was formed in 2008, where she is currently working as a Business Development Officer.

Lisa is Chair of the THH Staff Forum which gives staff a voice to influence decision making across the organisation and ensures all services are accessible, inclusive and fair. She is also the co-ordinator of their 100+ strong Women’s Network which recently won 24Housing’s gender equality award in May 2019 for their Women’s Development Programme. Lisa is a mentor for The Girls Network which provides 1:1 mentoring and life coaching for girls. Lisa was recently nominated in the ‘inclusion champion’ category for the Women in Housing awards, due to take place in October.

Lisa joined the WISH Board in July 2019.

Roopa is a solicitor at the international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. Roopa specialises in real estate, and has a diverse portfolio of real estate experience, which includes working for investors, developers, landlords and tenants. Roopa started her career with a training contract at magic circle law firm Slaughter and May, where her work was focussed primarily on investments, mergers and acquisitions and real estate finance for large corporates. She moved to Norton Rose Fulbright in 2015, where she built her experience in Alternatives such as the Private Rented Sector. Roopa then took a secondment in 2017 with her first housing client, Civitas Social Housing plc, a publicly listed REIT investing in social housing for people with care needs and has continued to build her interest and expertise within the social housing sector since then. Roopa is focussed on client and industry awareness and organises and regularly attends seminars and workshops focused on updates and reviews of legislation and policy.    

In joining the board of WISH London, Roopa is keen to help create events that promote knowledge sharing and networking in a supportive and enjoyable environment.

Abi joined L&Q just over a year ago as Head of Strategic Partnerships after 7 successful years in housing development and 15 years in a range of roles in Construction.

Abi trained in Construction management before getting an MBA from Keele University. During her time in Construction she worked her way up from Site Manager position to that of  Senior Construction Project Manager in a Nationwide construction company during which she led on refurbs, conversions and new build projects.

At L&Q, Abi is responsible for the Build London Partnership Initiative which sees L&Q and GLA partner in an innovating way developing ongoing new supply through small housing associations in London. She manages a team of 11. 

Abi is currently a sponsorship Board member for Women In Social Housing

When she isn’t in meetings and solving problems she spends her time walking. She can be contacted on LinkedIn.

Eleanor is a Founding Partner at Graphic Structures LLP, a structural and civil design consultancy focused on design collaboration.  She has a diverse portfolio of building design experience, which includes a number of projects working with Housing Associations to provide new build, mixed-use schemes.

Eleanor started her career with Faber Maunsell, now AECOM, where her projects were in the education sector. Eleanor moved to Price and Myers where she built experience in the private residential sector and in cross laminated timber design, before taking a secondment as Site Engineer to work in the rail sector for Crossrail. Since then, she has started Graphic Structures and designed a number of large scale, mixed use developments and health care projects.

As well as running her business, Eleanor is a STEM ambassador and a mentor.  She joined WISH in 2016 and has found it to be a supportive environment in which to network, which she wants to encourage new members to enjoy.

Frances is a Director of dlp Planning, a Planning and Development consultancy with offices in London and throughout the UK. She has a broad range of planning, regeneration and development experience, having worked in both the private and public sectors. Frances has specialist planning experience in the housing sector and is a member of both the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Royal Town Planning Institute. Frances advises a number of Housing Associations and private clients on a range of housing led projects within London and the South East, including the development of strategic sites, estate regeneration and housing-led mixed use schemes and EIA development. Prior to joining dlp Planning Frances was an Associate Director at Lichfields, an Associate at Tibbalds Monro (Architects and Planners), a Senior Planner at the London Borough of Camden and a research consultant at the Centre for Environmental Studies, where she undertook research on outer housing estates. 

Aisha has worked in the social housing sector for over five years in a variety of different communications and marketing roles and is currently leading the public affairs activity for One Housing Group.

She has sat on a number of charity boards and currently sits on her local primary school board and has recently been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Multi Academy Trust.

She’s a passionate advocate of women in business and politics and was one of the founders of the Conservative Young Women’s organisation and now sits on their advisory board. She also sits on her employer’s gender pay gap working group and is working with women in the company to promote, encourage and support other women to senior leadership positions.

If she’s not at the office you can often find her training at the pool having recently represented Team GB at the 2017 FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

After finishing her masters in Micropaleontology, Maria started working in the housing sector for Network Homes as a temp and enjoyed it too much to continue to pursue a career as a geologist!  She feels it’s great to go to work every day feeling in a small way you are making a difference to someone’s life.

She has worked for Network Homes for 13 years and has enjoyed a variety of roles starting off as a Customer Services Officer before progressing on to more senior positions.  Over the years she has managed a number of service areas such as Business Support, Income and Housing Services which has given her a broad overview of the various aspects of a housing association.  She was appointed to her current role of Head of Resident Engagement, Business Support & Improvement in August 2018 and is enjoying this new challenge.

Maria says she has been lucky to have had amazing women mentors who have helped to shape her career and wants to support other women to realise their goals.  She has recently become a mentor for the Housing Diversity Network. She became a WISH Board Member in August 2018.

With over 20 years in the industry Caroline is an experienced Project Director and Manager with extensive experience in urban regeneration working as project director, programme manager for major regeneration projects. Caroline has an impressive track record working client side supporting Local Authorities and Registered Providers to strategically plan the design and delivery of complex capital projects.

Caroline is a senior partner with Airey Miller Partnership leading the business in designing and developing client side programme support services to councils and their new development companies to become intelligent clients as they take up the challenge to develop more homes across the country.

Caroline established and runs the Councils Building Homes forum on behalf of Airey Miller Partnership.  A forum established as a platform for councils to come together to share experiences, challenges, lessons and good practice in the development of new homes.   

Alexandra is an Architect with over 5 years of experience in social housing, community engagement and urban regeneration. She is passionate about people and believes in a collaborative approach to design innovation by closely working with professionals from all sectors of the industry.

At PRP Alexandra has been leading regeneration and residential projects of various scales and tenures, developing the detail design and stakeholder consultation strategies for projects in South Wimbledon, Stratford and Harlow. Focused on client and industry awareness, she is organising and regularly attending seminars and workshops focused on updates and reviews of planning policy and regulations.

Alexandra is actively involved in Academia and coordinates the Work Experience programme at PRP, mentoring young individuals into becoming architects.

She organises events within, as well as outside PRP. These include the Change Exchange(an interactive workshop part of Clerkenwell Design Week), Architecture in Schools (educational workshops with primary schools - in collaboration with Open City) and Archikids/Open House Families (leading on organising this event for the past 5 years).

At WISH, Alexandra is aiming to bring together her passion for people, design innovation and co-production to create events that promote knowledge sharing and meaningful networking. 

Aruna is a Partner in Devonshires Solicitors’ Real Estate and Projects department, specialising in all aspects of residential development and regeneration projects. She has a diverse client base and acts for public and private sector organisations including house builders, registered providers and local authorities.  Aruna’s expertise includes dealing with high value and large volume stock rationalisation projects and she regularly provides training in this area to both registered provider and institutional investor clients. 

Aruna joined the WISH London board in 2014 after attending a number of WISH events.  Aruna has always been impressed by the variety of events WISH London have hosted- for example, perfecting your online business profile and learning to play golf.  WISH London events allow professionals in the social housing arena to meet in a relaxed setting, learn something new and discuss sector developments. Aruna believes that WISH offers exceptional networking opportunities as well as providing support and encouragement for women to progress within the industry. 

 As a member of the WISH London board, Aruna is helping to put together and deliver a programme of events that appeals to and motivates women at all stages of their careers in social housing

Kemi is an award winning residential and mixed use management expert with board level experience. Drawing on her international, cross sector experience gained in policy making and finance, she operates best with complex, fast-moving developers. She is a senior consultant at SAY Property Consulting LLP– an independent advisory business providing management consultancy to landlords, investors and housing associations. She has worked with a number of high profile clients, who are delivering London’s leading new neighbourhoods. She specialises in landlord and tenant matters, residential best practice in placemaking and

reputational management. Winner of British Property Federation’s “Rising Star” award, 2017. Named as one of Bisnow’s ‘top 49 women who will change the future of real estate’, 2019.               

She has joined WISH London with the aim of being a visible ambassador, to make a positive difference to the lives of underrepresented groups; particularly BAME, disabled women in the housing industry as well as lending her insights to help strengthen WISH’s industry impact.

A resilient Director in Housing, currently working for Housing for Women. An expert in directing the transformation, expansion and operational management of not-for-profit organisations to ensure stability and exceptional financial performance.  Her professional qualifications include a Master’s degree in Business (MBA) and Masters in Housing Law & Policy, as well as a being a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.  Hony currently serves as a Board member for Eldon Housing Association and Epsom Citizens Advice.  Hony believes that being a WISH board member gives a fantastic platform for women in housing to elevate their confidence and career opportunities and hopes to attract more women into housing sector.  Outside of work Hony enjoys dancing.

Jules has over 20 years Personal Assistant experience and is a Fellow of the Executive & Personal Assistants Association.  She is currently working at bpha Limited, a housing association in Bedford as the PA to the Director of Development & Sales and the Director of Quality & Communications.  Jules previously worked for various investment banks in the City of London.

Jacqueline has worked in the public and third sectors for over 30 years and continues to be passionate about making a positive contribution to society.  With 15 years as Executive Director and 11 years as CEO, Jacqueline has worked closely with boards to deliver organisational strategies and cultural change.

Jacqueline is a NLP Certified Practitioner; as a leader she is particularly committed to the values of professional development and training and is proud to have won a National Training Award.  Jacqueline carried this passion forward to her development, having recently completed a Strategic Leadership qualification with Roffey Park Leadership & Organisational Development Institute through a Leadership 2025 programme.

In her capacity as Non-Executive Director, she currently sits on the National Union of Studies (NUS) Finance & Resources Committee and is a Board Member of WISH.  Being on the WISH Board offers me the chance to make a difference and the chance to support an initiative that resonates with me. In addition to this working alongside professional women on the board also offers me a great source of intellectual challenge.

Tanya has been in the Housing Sector for over 10 years, following a career in Banking. Her entrance into the sector was with an organisation which worked closely with Local Authority partners to provide affordable and good quality emergency and temporary accommodation for homeless families and vulnerable individuals. Since then she has held a number of Board positions, within Housing and Support Charities (including mental health and learning disabilities), Housing Associations and Housing Services Providers. Although a chartered accountant by qualification, Tanya's remit in previous roles has been expansive. Including finance, she has been responsible for asset and property management, central and corporate services, business planning and project management.

As a Green Belt, and 6 Sigma trained, Tanya is very keen to introduce change management efficiencies into organisations, with top priorities being customer service and value for money. She has lead a number of business turnarounds, taking into account the need to provide an affordable but quality and compliant service.

Tanya is also passionate about ensuring fair treatment and equality to everyone regardless of status. including promoting social inclusion and community value. She enjoys taking part in debates and talks around equality and diversity, and has frequently been a mentor on several programmes for young women in business.

Tanya is a Board Member and Treasurer & Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee of Ekaya. She is also the Head of Commercial at Mears Housing Management, part of the Mears Group Plc.