How we are governed
Stonewater is governed by a Board which provides overall strategic direction and ensures that the organisation is meeting its aims and objectives.
The Board, which meets regularly through the year, is supported by two committees and five challenge & assurance panels, which provide detailed governance oversight of different areas of Stonewater’s operations.
All of our committees and challenge & assurance panels include both Board and independent members.
Board members have a wide range of skills and experience that reflect our services, our customers and the size and strength of the business.
Meet our Board
Sheila Collins
Chairman Sheila has a wealth of experience in the governance of large complex organisations, as well as that of smaller charities. She has served at board and trustee level across a number of different not-for-profit sectors including roles on the boards of Bournemouth University and McMillan Caring Locally.
A retired solicitor, Sheila also brings a commercial perspective and a passion for the diversity and inclusion agenda.
Sheila was previously Chairman of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Nicholas Harris
Chief Executive
Nicholas is an experienced leader with extensive expertise in the social housing sector, particularly in socio-economic regeneration.
He is committed to delivering the best outcomes for both customers and the organisation.
Previously, he served as CEO of Raglan Housing and Raven Housing Trust, as well as Group Operations Director for Swaythling Housing Group.
Jennifer Bennet
Chair of Nominations and Remuneration Committee, Chair of Governance and Assurance Challenge and Assurance Panel
During her career as a solicitor working for clients in the social housing sector, Jennifer specialised in governance, securitisation, asset management and leasehold law.
She has also held a number of voluntary roles including a Non-Executive Director of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust; an Independent Member of Winchester City Council Standards Committee; a Non-Executive Director of Parity Trust, which provides loan finance for community-based projects and a Trustee of the Roberts Centre, a charity providing housing support in Portsmouth.
She is a founding member of Portsmouth Housing Community Trust established in 2019.
Jane Scott
Jane is an experienced business leader with a specialism in information technology and digital transformation. Her career has focused on fast moving consumer goods companies at which she has led large-scale transformational projects to support optimal customer service, business growth and operational excellence. Jane has experience of all key aspects of IT and management including data strategy, cyber security and systems infrastructure.
Her professional roles have been complimented by non-executive director roles in higher education, deposit return scheme administration and management consultancy.
Heather Bowman
Heather is an experienced executive and non-executive director having worked in social housing and the third sector for over 35 years. Most recently she was Chief Operating Officer at Sovereign, one of the largest Housing Associations, and is currently a board member with Raven Housing Trust and the Housing Plus Group.
She is passionate that safe, secure, and good quality homes in great places give individuals, families and communities choices and opportunities to thrive.Finance
Juliana Crowe
Chair of Customer Experience Challenge and Assurance Panel
Juliana has over 25 years’ experience working in the social housing sector, most recently as housing director for a large Midlands-based housing group. Previously, she worked for the London Boroughs of Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich.
She is a member of the European Structural Investments Funds Sub Committee and has also been Chair of the CIH West Midlands Board and a Trustee of HACT. In her spare time, Juliana is helping to build a school in Ghana, in memory of her father.
Andrew Lawrence
Chair of Risk and Assurance Committee
Andrew is a chartered accountant with a special interest in corporate governance, strategic leadership, risk management, cultural change and innovation. Formerly a finance director in the commercial and international development sectors, he now has a portfolio of non-executive director roles in organisations whose purposes he feels passionate about.
Andrew is Chair of Bron Afon Community Housing, a community mutual social enterprise in South Wales, Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Intellectual Property Office and a director of New Wine Cymru.
Chris Edis
Chair of Stonewater Funding plc, Chair of Finance Challenge and Assurance Panel
Chris is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in top-tier financial services institutions.
An experienced executive and finance director, Chris is currently the CFO of Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, bringing experience in strategy, treasury, liquidity, and capital management.
Angus Michie
Chair of Assets and Development Challenge and Assurance Panel, Chair of Stonewater Developments Limited, Chair of Stonewater Commercial Limited
Angus is a qualified chartered surveyor with 30 years’ experience in the residential development industry. He has a real passion for creating places for people to live that are attractive, well designed and sustainable.
Angus spent 25 years with the Berkeley Group. As Divisional Chairman of a number of their operating businesses in London, the South East and the Midlands, he was responsible for a number of the group's joint ventures with the Prudential and various local authorities. Angus is the Managing Director of SevenCapital, which is a developer of residential and mixed use communities across London, the Midlands and the South East.Finance
Hursh Shah
Hursh is a qualified accountant and finance professional with treasury, capital market and corporate finance experience. He is currently Head of Capital Markets at British Land responsible for managing existing finance and raising new finance and manages relationships with stakeholders including debt investors and rating agencies.
He has also been involved in the formation and operations of joint ventures between British Land and its partners and is a director for a number of these joint ventures.evelopment
Barry Hoffman
Barry is an experienced FTSE group HR director with an MBA and corporate governance expertise. With a track record in change management and HR, both in the UK and globally, he has developed a strong focus on delivering shareholder value and driving transformational change.
Barry is also an experienced non-executive director, having supported boards on governance, executive succession, remuneration and organisational change.
Martin Large
Chair of Greenoak Housing Association Ltd
Martin is the current chair of Greenoak Housing Association Ltd, which joined Stonewater Group in 2023. He is also Chair of Mount Green and Greenoak’s Common Board and has significant senior management and board experience in the housing sector.
This includes his work as the former CEO of GLE Group (London Local Authorities’ regeneration and business investment, development and services group), former non-executive director roles at Pocket Living Ltd and Selwood Housing Society Ltd, and as the former vice-chair at Hexagon Housing Association.
Chief Officer Group
Stonewater’s Chief Officer Group manages the day to day running of the business.
Nicholas Harris
Chief Executive
Nicholas is an experienced leader with extensive expertise in the social housing sector, particularly in socio-economic regeneration.
He is committed to delivering the best outcomes for both customers and the organisation.
Previously, he served as CEO of Raglan Housing and Raven Housing Trust, as well as Group Operations Director for Swaythling Housing Group.
Jonathan Layzell
Chief Officer for Growth and Development
Jonathan has a wealth of experience in delivering new homes and is passionate about creating lasting benefits for customers.
He has a strong personal interest in rural housing and the long-term sustainability of rural communities. He is also committed to using investment in new homes to support both customers and the wider construction sector, ensuring housing growth benefits entire communities.
Jonathan is also a non-executive board member at Coastline Housing.
Patrick Chauvin
Chief Officer Safety, Assets and Sustainability
Patrick is a seasoned property and asset management professional with a strong background in housing and construction.
A qualified building surveyor, he began his career in private practice, managing construction projects for high-profile clients. With extensive experience in safety compliance, he is committed to ensuring homes meet the highest standards, balancing costs while prioritising customer wellbeing.
Anne Costain
Chief Financial Officer
Anne is a qualified chartered accountant and corporate treasurer. Before transitioning to the housing sector, she held finance leadership roles across various manufacturing organisations, ranging from SMEs to Fortune 500 and FTSE 250 companies.
With a strong focus on efficiency and financial sustainability, she has supported organisations in strengthening their financial stability and long-term resilience.e
Gareth Lloyd
Chief Information and Transformation Officer
Gareth brings extensive leadership experience as a CIO, COO, and CDO.
He previously served as a non-executive director for a social housing group in the South-West and is passionate for leveraging technology and data for social good. He is committed to delivering the best outcomes for customers and champions simple, user-friendly systems that make a real difference in people’s lives. His experience includes high profile data programmes, sustainable digital transformation, Internet of Things programmes and Mergers and Acquisitions. He has a keen interest in using tech and data for social good.
David Ripley
Chief Operating Officer
David is an experienced executive with expertise in both the private and public sectors.
As social housing providers, he believes that customer service, engagement and empowerment, driven by legislation, should be in our DNA. As such, he is a passionate advocate of Stonewater’s commitment to keeping customers at the heart of all we do.
He has responsibility for Stonewater's compliance with the Consumer Standards.