Meet West Herts Homes
The Executive and Staff Team
The Senior Management Team has delegated responsibility from the Board for the day-to-day running of West Herts Homes .
All senior managers are based at West Herts Homes main office at Enterprise House, in Hemel Hempstead.
Staff Team
Paul Eastwood
Chief Executive and Company Secretary
Paul initially joined West Herts Homes in November 2015 as Interim Chief Executive, and as the association’s permanent Chief Executive he has led the company through major change to help make West Herts Homes the award winning landlord that it is today. Paul brings extensive experience of the housing sector to the role, having held the role of CEO or interim CEO with 4 housing associations and having carried out several successful assignments as a freelance consultant. During his career, Paul has also been a board member with 5 housing associations, a commercial maintenance company, and several voluntary sector bodies. He has been a speaker at professional conferences in the UK and Europe on many occasions over the past 25 years. Paul is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Freeman of the City of London, an alumni member of Ashridge Business School and also holds a BA and MBA from the University of Liverpool
Helen Kenyon
Housing Manager
Helen joined West Herts Homes in 2017, and became a permanent member of the staff team in summer 2018. Helen has previous experience of housing management gained within the private sector. Helen is responsible for the management of our tenants’ homes, supporting tenants from the moment they move into their new homes and throughout their time as a West Herts Homes tenant. This includes managing our grounds and communal areas, collecting rent and dealing with problems of antisocial behaviour.
F Jawad
Finance Manager
F. Jawad joined West Herts Homes in 2018. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a BSc. Hons. in Accounting and Finance from Oxford Brookes University.
She has 8 years of experience of accounting and finance in various sectors including education and charities. This has enabled her in leading the finance function at WHH as her work entails financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting , audit management and setting of rents and service charges.
Sharon Drew
Head of Administration
Sharon joined West Herts Homes in 2015. She has many years of experience in an office environment, including in finance, property development, and manufacturing businesses.
Sharon has RSA and LCC certificates in business and secretarial studies. Currently Sharon assists the Finance Manager in her day-to-day accounting duties, as well as helping the Housing Team and answering queries on the telephone.
Jenny Fernandez
Housing Officer
Jenny joined West Herts Home in October 2021. Jenny graduated with an Honours degree in Psychology in 2021 from the University of Bedfordshire. She has previous experience working in a variety of customer service environments, such as hospitality and healthcare facilities. Jenny has a multicultural background, which allows her to understand and sympathize with ideas and opinions from multiple perspectives. She is keen to help improve people's lives and well-being by providing the best housing service.
Julie Little
PA to CEO
Julie joined the company in June 2023 and has worked as a Senior PA for 30 years.
Her career has been varied working for a number of sectors including housing, education, food manufacturing and electrical retail.
She has also had her own small fashion business and worked freelance.
Julie is also the Complaints Officer for West Herts Homes.
Board members
Board Members have ultimate responsibility for directing the activities of the Association, ensuring it is well run and delivering the objectives for which it has been set up.
In March 2016 West Herts Homes adopted the National Housing Federation’s Model Rules 2015, and in parallel, adopted the National Housing Federation’s Code Of Governance. The full Board usually meets six times each year, with an Annual General Meeting and an annual Strategy Day being held in addition the regular cycle of Board meetings.
The Board currently has an Audit Committee which meets to discuss specific matters of business.
At the beginning of 2017, the Board agreed that Board members should only serve for a maximum of two terms of three years (six years in total ) with the scope for members to serve an additional year if the Board agreed this was in the best interests of the Association.
The Board is collectively committed to the highest standards of governance, aiming for openness and accountability in all its business. Board vacancies are advertised from time to time, and are always openly advertised. Board members are appraised on an annual basis, and on alternate years, this process is facilitated by an independent external adviser.
Susan Holloway - Chair
Sue has lived and worked locally in Hemel Hempstead since 1992, and works in a Business Development role at the technology company NEC Software Solutions. This includes responsibility for marketing, communications and bid management.
Prior to joining NEC Sue worked at Dacorum Borough Council where she gained a strong knowledge and understanding of community development and housing provision. Sue also developed a sustainable infrastructure of 25 after school clubs and playschemes within the Borough and brought in £1m of additional funding.
Having raised a family in Hemel Hempstead with children now moving into their own homes Sue has seen first-hand the importance of the availability of quality housing in the area. She has a unique mix of skills from both public and private sectors and is excited to use that experience to support the development of West Herts Homes.
Gemma Goacher - Vice-Chair
Gemma is an experienced housing professional, specialising in intensive housing management, homelessness services and supported housing. Gemma is a Regional Head at St Mungo’s and a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Eastern Group. Gemma started her housing career at Dacorum Borough Council and is excited to continue to contribute to the local community through West Herts Homes.
Georgina Law
Georgina is a professional in communications, engagement and consultation and has worked within the planning, property and development sector for the past 15 years. Georgina has been responsible for delivering communications strategies on a range of different development projects across the country and as a member of the PRCA and the Consultation Institute is always looking for new ways to engage with the local communities. Georgina has a strong interest in housing and believes that everyone should be able to have access to a safe and secure home.
Gbola Adeleke
Gbola is a professional Executive Director with wide ranging experience in the Civil Service, Computer Industry, Automotive Sector, Mergers and Acquisition, Property Management and Overseas Trade Mission in more than 10 different Countries. Gbola has been a Councillor at Dacorum Borough Council since 2003, serving as The Mayor of the Borough 2016. As a Councillor Gbola has sat on various Committees including Housing, Finance, Licensing, Health, Planning, and Appeals. Gbola is looking forward to being part of West Herts Homes as it enters an exciting period in its development.
Sophie Perrett HVS
Sophie Perret is a senior director of HVS London, the leading global specialist hotel valuation, consulting, asset management and brokerage firm which was founded in 1980. Sophie joined HVS Madrid in 2003, and relocated to London three years later. Since joining, she has advised on hotel investment projects and related assignments throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East and is specifically responsible for the development of HVS services across Europe.
Sophie completed her Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management at the Ateneo de Estudios Terciarios (Buenos Aires) and then went on to work at the InterContinental Buenos Aires, where she was part of the opening team. Upon relocation to Paris, she completed an MBA at IMHI. She then completed an MSc in Real Estate Investment and Finance at Reading University in 2014, and is a member of the RICS. She co-chaired the Hotel & Resort Council of the ULI in Europe from 2014 to 2017, and is a regular speaker at industry events. Sophie also holds non-executive positions in the education and housing sectors.
Paul Coleman
Paul joined the Board in 2022 and is a seasoned insurance professional having worked for over 40 years in the industry.
Paul’s career began in Norwich and has taken him to St Albans via Exeter, Southampton, Croydon, Bristol and London having performed a number of senior roles managing insurance programmes for and with many blue-chip household names.
He is currently Managing Director and executive board member of NPAI Ltd – a specialist insurance company owned by the National Pharmacy Association - and is responsible for the setting of strategy as well running the business.
Working for an association that represents and supports community pharmacists Paul is delighted to bring that perspective and interest to a community –focused organisation such as WHH.
Paul is a Chartered Insurer and Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute
Mary Pedlow Honorary President
Mary joined the Board in 2016, and after serving as Vice Chair was elected Chair of the Board in March 2017. Previously, Mary had served as Vice Chair of the Board with a large regional housing association for 8 years. Mary brings wide expertise of housing associations, local government, and the health care sector, having held senior positions significant budgetary responsibilities with 3 local authorities, having Chaired an NHS Trust, and having served on national representative bodies for local government and the NHS. Mary is keen for West Herts Homes to offer an excellent service to all its customers, and build effective partnerships at all levels across Hertfordshire.
