Our Governance and Board

We have a team of dedicated Board members who oversee all key decisions and review performance throughout the year.

The Board meets at least six times a year and most members also sit on one of the specialist committees. All our Board members, staff, appointed contractors and consultants are bound by Paradigm’s Code of Conduct and other principal policies.

As well as our main Board, we have five Committees:

  • Audit and Risk Committee
  • Customer Experience Committee
  • Governance, Nominations and Remunerations Committee
  • Investment Committee
  • Treasury Committee

Detailed information on the Board’s objectives and strategy, governance and financial position are set out in our Annual Report.

Paradigm has adopted the National Housing Federation’s (NHF) Code of Governance 2020 and we comply with the provisions set out in the NHF’s Code of Conduct 2022.

If you would like to speak to us about any of our Board members or contact them directly, please email governance@paradigmhousing.co.uk.

Meet our Board

Matthew Bailes

CEO and Board member

As Chief Executive of Paradigm Housing Group, Matthew also sits on the Board. Matthew has been Chief Executive since September 2015 and was previously Director of Regulation at the Homes and Communities Agency.

Julian Ashby

Chair

Julian Ashby joined the Board after six years as Chair of the Homes and Communities Agency’s Regulation Committee, three years as Deputy Chair of the Tenant Services Authority and a varied career spanning more than 30 years in the social housing sector.

Plus Plus Meet Julian

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I’m committed to Paradigm because of its ability to provide a stable home for so many people who might otherwise struggle to cope in the high-cost London commuter belt.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I’ve worked in the social housing sector for over 40 years.  My last two jobs were as the Deputy Chair of the Tenant Services Authority and then as Chair of the Social Housing Regulator.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
I was a social housing tenant for a brief period myself, which gave me valuable insight for this role. I also offer mentoring support to a diverse range of students at Middlesex University.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
I’m now in my second three-year term as Chair and enjoy working with the Board and staff as we carry through our plans to improve services and build more homes.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
Improving online access to our services for all residents is a key part of our current plans.

Board Members

Eleanor Southwood

Board member and Chair of Customer Experience Committee

Eleanor Southwood is a councillor in the London Borough of Brent and for the last three years has been Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform. She has non-executive experience in the public and non-profit sectors. Eleanor was previously a trustee and then chair of trustees at the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Plus Plus Meet Eleanor

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I have gained experience of social housing through my role as a councillor with a local authority and it made me realise what a chronic shortage of genuinely affordable housing there is.  I have become passionate about building as much affordable housing as we can and making sure the experience of living in social housing is a really positive one.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I was previously Chair of the Board of the Royal National Institute of Blind People and this, combined with my local authority experience, made me realise how difficult it is for people to access the housing they need, especially people with disabilities. I am blind myself and understand this challenge. When people think about homelessness they think of the street homeless, but there is so much that is hidden, including chronic overcrowding. I want to use my experience and skills to make a difference.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
My lived experience of disability combined with my other roles mean I understand the value of what Paradigm does. I have seen how people’s lives can be transformed by moving into the right housing and being able to access opportunities they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
I have loved my time at Paradigm so far, getting to understand the business and hearing about the experiences of our customers. I’m looking forward to getting out a bit more now and meeting customers in their homes.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
I really want to see us improve our performance on repairs as I know how important this is to our customers. But people don’t live in their homes in isolation, they are part of communities and neighbourhoods and I am pleased to see Paradigm moving forward in understanding its communities and the wider challenges faced by customers.

Mike Johnson

Board member and Chair of the Investment Committee

Mike is delighted to have joined the Board of Paradigm and to be chairing the Investment Committee, which oversees Paradigm's development and asset management activities.

Plus Plus Meet Mike

I join in, as they say, interesting times for housing associations, given the multitude of challenges facing both those we house and the operating environment: the cost-of-living crisis, energy prices, building safety, decent homes and zero carbon to name a few. In addition, recent uncertainty around interest rates, and therefore the cost of borrowing, has dented housebuilders’ confidence and starts are now slowing.

Yet there has rarely been a greater need and demand for good quality affordable housing, to meet the need of new and existing households. In many ways, now is not the time to reduce our development programme.

There is often a desire to seek to re-invent the wheel in complex delivery models – but in my view RPs and the residential development industry have complementary objectives and skills. Housing associations have a long history with long-term businesses and business plans and in my view are well-placed to work in partnership with developers and housebuilders to enable supply to be maintained through uncertain times as they have shared objectives, long-term partnerships, pipeline building and shared risk.

I am looking forward to working with the team at Paradigm to rise to the considerable challenge we face and to continue to play our part in the delivery of more affordable homes for our new and existing customers.

Pat Brandum

Senior Independent Director and Chair of Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Pat, having been Chief Executive of a major registered provider in the West Midlands, has spent her working life in various housing organisations and has had the privilege of seeing at first hand the positive impacts that can be achieved through the provision of quality homes and services.

Plus Plus Meet Pat

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I admire the determination of the Board and the staff of Paradigm to deliver a high quality service and affordable homes. I am also impressed by Paradigm’s commitment to treating people fairly and with respect and courtesy, whether staff, residents or contractors. Paradigm is an organisation I am proud to be part of.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I have worked for local councils and housing associations for the whole of my career and I have learned from direct experience that good quality housing is the foundation of happy and successful communities. I try to ensure that whatever challenges and decisions the Board faces, we do not lose sight of the impact we have on people’s lives and communities.

I had the privilege of being a Chief Executive of a housing association in the Midlands before my retirement from full time work and I try to bring some of that experience to bear in support of the Executive team and the Chair, while letting our skilled and able Executive team get on with their jobs. Mostly, the advantage of a very long career can help put challenges into perspective and I try to contribute to the Board’s consideration of its long term plans.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
I have direct experience of living in social housing, having grown up on a Birmingham council estate. I can still remember my parents’ frustration at being powerless to ‘get things done’, whether repairs or dealing with noisy neighbours. I think that direct experience helps with this role.

Other than that, I have been a school governor and have been involved in many projects that have given me experience of working with boards.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
I enjoy working with a group of people who care so much about what they do and are able to debate enthusiastically and passionately without antagonism or rudeness.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
I would like us to be even better at understanding what our residents expect, how they think we should operate and what changes they would like to see. We know this can be difficult because we have a large number of residents, often with different views and priorities. That won’t stop us trying to get better – and use of new technology will help.

Philippa Lowe

Board member and Chair of Audit & Risk Committee

Philippa is a qualified accountant with more than 30 years’ Board-level experience in executive and non-executive roles. She has enjoyed a long and varied executive career in the NHS, leading teams and individuals through constant and significant change. Her non-executive experience includes nine years serving as an independent Board Member of GreenSquare Group, chairing its Audit Committee for the latter five years.

Plus Plus Meet Philippa

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I wanted to use my skills and knowledge to help improve the lives of current and future customers through the houses we provide and build and the services we deliver. With a background in local authorities, health services and housing, I felt I had a wealth of experience to bring to the organisation. I have a professional background in finance, a drive to deliver service excellence and a keen interest in risk management and audit (someone has to!). Being recently retired, I felt I had something to offer, while I felt that Paradigm would give me continued intellectual stimulation.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I am a qualified accountant and for around 30 years have held several board director posts either as Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive. I spent 10 years in local government before moving to health services where I was involved as provider, commissioner and regulator. I also had a spell overseas. I’ve been involved in leading the development of long-term strategies, major business turnarounds, large capital projects including PFI, large IT projects and delivering service excellence.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
Before joining Paradigm, I had 9 years with Greensquare Housing Group as Board Member and Audit Chair. I have also had some experience as a tenant of a social housing provider when living in key worker accommodation for three years.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
I enjoy the wide interaction with people from different backgrounds, bringing their experience together for a common purpose. Responding to the changing social, economic and technological environment in which Paradigm operates provides ongoing intellectual stimulation.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
I would like to see Paradigm increasing standards of response to improve customer satisfaction levels. Achieving this is a real challenge as expectations increase at the same time as we are hit by the impact of things outside of Paradigm’s control, such as material and labour shortages, the impact of Covid and Brexit.

Simon Jones

Board member and Chair of Treasury Committee

Simon Jones is currently Chair of Finance & Audit Committee for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, which raises funds for the Hospice based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. He is an experienced non-executive, working both in and with large businesses.

Plus Plus Meet Simon

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
During my professional career as an accountant, I became involved in the Social Housing sector when I acted as an audit partner to several HAs including Paradigm. I was drawn to the positive impact the sector has on the lives of its current and future tenants and decided when I left the accountancy profession to get involved as a non-executive director. I was particularly attracted to Paradigm as I live in its area of operation and see the work it does in the local communities.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I spent thirty years in the accountancy profession as an audit partner and latterly in a variety of executive board roles including strategic development, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer. I will use the financial, strategic, communication and analytical skills gained over that time to support and challenge the Paradigm executive team on the delivery of the current strategy and in shaping the future direction of the Group.  I am also a board member of another Housing Association based in Essex.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
For most of my adult life, I have been involved with community-based charities where I have acted as treasurer and a trustee, as well as having been involved in voluntary youth work for many years.  Through this, I have seen the importance of community and supporting people to enable them to support themselves and others.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
As a new Board member, it is difficult for me to say at this stage.  However I am passionate about the need and benefits of strong tenant engagement and involvement in Social Housing, so will seek to ensure we deliver on that.

Amina Graham

Board member

Amina has over 30 years' experience in housing associations and retail management. Executive Director of People and Systems at Housing 21 and a Board member at Network Homes, she is committed to delivering reliable, excellent customer service and driving improvement in the social housing sector.

Plus Plus Meet Amina

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I believe that everyone should have access to a safe place they can call home. I’m naturally curious, driven to make things better and love working with talented people who share a common purpose to keep improving and moving forward. Paradigm is an ambitious, forward-looking, customer-focused housing association that’s driven by its purpose to provide homes and services its customers can rely on. The country needs innovative solutions given the scale of the housing crisis in the UK and the ongoing significant impact, particularly on social housing tenants, of the pandemic and – more recently – the cost-of-living crisis. Being part of an organisation that wants to push the boundaries and think differently about how best to do this is very exciting to me.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I started my career at Marks & Spencer and for over 20 years, before my move into housing, I gained a wealth of experience in a number of senior positions. During the last 15 years, I have been at the forefront of innovation and improving operations at RHP, L&Q and now at Housing 21. I have a strong track record in successfully leading and delivering cultural change, harmonising people, processes, and technology to deliver more efficient operating models and better, faster, lower-cost services to customers. Under my leadership, RHP topped the Great Place to Work list, was top of the Dolphin innovation index in the sector for three years running, won a plethora of national awards for customer service and employee engagement, and was one of the first housing associations in the sector to achieve IIP Platinum.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
Being a Board member at Network Homes, where I sit on the Customer Services and Audit and Risk Committees, has helped me develop my skills as a non-executive, scrutinising and challenging performance and contributing to shaping the strategic direction, vision and values of the organisation.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
The people! The Board and Executive Team are super-talented and ambitious for Paradigm, really committed to making a meaningful difference for existing and new customers, and are open and receptive to new ideas. I love their shared ambition to want to do more, their intention to use their resources to help as many people as possible who are priced out of the housing market, and their relentless focus on delivering excellent services to every customer, every day.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
Giving customers as much choice, convenience and control in how they access and experience services is incredibly important to me. We know we can do more to keep customers informed and deliver quality services, resolving as much as possible at the first point of contact, so that customers don’t ever need to chase us for a response.

Liz Bailey

Board member

Liz is a Chief Information Officer/IT Director with significant experience in digital strategy implementation and technology leadership within a University and two major manufacturing companies. She was previously a trustee of University and Colleges Information Systems Association, the body representing almost all major universities, as well as a governor and trustee at Leicester Grammar School Trust. Liz volunteers as a youth and education worker and has a real understanding that providing a safe and secure home leads to opportunities in life.

Plus Plus Meet Liz

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I am passionate about education and the impact it can have on lives, but when I saw this role it made me reflect on the perhaps higher priority of providing good quality housing to support people. No one will achieve their best if they can’t afford a secure, good quality home.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I am an experienced Digital Change Leader and have worked across a variety of industries using technology to improve customer experience. I really hope to bring this experience to Paradigm to support us as we go along this journey.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
Working at Paradigm has been my first experience of the social housing sector. I am a firm believer in education, believing it is an important way to help people be the best version of themselves. Personally, I was fortunate to attend a fee-paying school on a scholarship and I know what opportunities that this opened up for me; so from being a teenager I have always volunteered in youth and education organisations hoping to help someone else in however small a way. I am particularly inspired by the team’s work at the Foyer in Welwyn Hatfield, supporting homeless young people to realise their full potential.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
I joined the Board just before the first pandemic lockdown and I was fortunate to spend time meeting customers and seeing our housing in person. I really want to be able to look beyond the numbers on the reports and understand the impact we can have on people’s lives.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
I would love us to be the easiest housing association to deal with, meeting your expectations for delivery of the services we provide. That means quick and easy access to the information and services that you need when you start a tenancy with us, resolving problems during your tenancy and when you move on. As an expert in driving digital adoption, I’d love us to do this on delightful, easy to use digital platforms, supporting customers for whom this can really make life easier – but I also know we must ensure that an easy experience is also available beyond our digital platforms for those who prefer to engage with us in this way.

Mathew Bishop

Board member

Mathew has more than 20 years’ construction and building maintenance experience within the private and public outsourcing sectors.

Plus Plus Meet Mathew

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member? 

A keenness to offer the benefits of my relevant experience in the pursuit of a very different agenda.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm? 

I am founder and director of Lumensol, a management consultancy operating predominantly in the housing sector. During my 20-year career in housing, I have developed extensive skills in business strategy, assurance and performance leadership, with a focus on challenging performance and governance arrangements for the purpose of service improvement and risk mitigation.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far? 

The significant improvements achieved over the last 5 years, for example in landlord compliance and the geographical realignment and growth of the housing portfolio; along with the personal growth of the Executive team.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers? 

To see a tangible improvement in the customer journey in repairs, enabled by raising the bar in service standards and the better use of technology.

Peter Quinn

Board member

Peter has extensive experience in affordable housing development. Formerly National Partnerships Director at Lovell Partnerships, he is currently Interim Investment and Partnerships Director at Watkin Jones Ltd.

Plus Plus Meet Peter

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
I wanted to contribute to an organisation that was committed to providing quality housing that meets local needs. I was especially interested in the focus on place making. I was also attracted to an organisation with a focus on service delivery.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
 I have been Executive Director of Development for a number of housing associations, including Midland Heart and Thames Valley Housing. During my career I have managed large growth programmes for both housing associations and the private sector. I am especially experienced in joint venture and regeneration programmes, which were a specialism of Lovell when I was on the Board.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
I was bought up in social housing from the age of 8, and I know it gave me a great platform to develop and grow as previously my family had lived in poor quality private rented accommodation which had not been ideal. When I first moved to London as a student, I helped develop a self-build housing co-operative in South London where I lived for many years. It was run by the members and gave me experience of how tenants can manage housing themselves.

Latterly I have been a listening volunteer for the Samaritans, which has given me an insight to the problems of mental health that many people experience. I was previously a board member of New World Housing, which specialised in providing homes for the Vietnamese refugee community. This broadened my knowledge of how people new to this country experience housing issues.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
We have very good interaction between Board members and the Executive team. There is healthy dialogue and discussion. Interactions are positive and supportive, but also sometimes challenging. I feel that we are an innovative company, growing our housing stock in a thought-out manner.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?
I am especially interested in improving satisfaction levels for home owners. As a director at previous housing associations, I managed the shared ownership stock, and it is important they are not given a lesser service.

Richard Osborne

Board member

Richard has more than 40 years’ experience working in social housing, including leading strategic asset management and health and safety for one of the West Midlands’ largest housing organisations.

Plus Plus Meet Richard

What made you want to become a Paradigm Board member?
A home is essential to personal and family wellbeing and growth, and having worked in social housing for many years I’ve seen how important the sector is in providing access to affordable, safe, good quality homes. Although I’m now retired, I’m still keen to support the sector in meeting the latest challenges to increasing the supply of affordable housing.

What skills have you gained through your professional life that you can bring to Paradigm?
I’ve been immensely fortunate to have enjoyed a rewarding and successful career spanning over 36 years in social housing, 23 of which have been at a senior level.  My leadership experience includes housing management, repairs and maintenance and, for the last 12 years, property management including sustainability, building safety and strategic asset management. My experience covers large and complex property portfolios including pre- and post-war, traditional and non-traditional, high-rise, multiple tenure and supported housing.

What skills/experience have you gained from your personal life that make you a good fit for Paradigm (this could include your own experience of social housing, any volunteering work etc)?
I’m a trustee of Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire, working with the charity’s board to provide accommodation and work for the homeless.  Previously I’ve served on a variety of boards and committees which have included sports clubs for young people, a career academy for sixth form students, and Sure Start for young families.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience as a Paradigm Board member so far?
As a relatively new member I’ve really enjoyed the induction process, learning about the great work Paradigm is doing and, despite the hindrance of Covid, meeting and getting to know the Board, the Executive team and other Paradigm colleagues.

I’m also enjoying the mental stimulation associated with the many varied challenges and initiatives being worked through at the moment and am impressed by the positive mentality Paradigm applies to each.

What’s the one thing you would like to improve most for Paradigm customers/potential customers?

It would be great if we could use the zero carbon agenda to deliver really meaningful benefits in the cost of powering and heating the home for a high percentage of customers.