Governance

Matthew Bailes became Chief Executive of Paradigm Housing Group in September 2015.  Paradigm is based in Buckinghamshire, owns around 17,000 homes, and builds 400 new homes a year.

Before joining Paradigm, Matthew led the Social Housing Regulator, where he was responsible for the development of a new Regulatory Framework, including the introduction of comprehensive stress-testing and the In-Depth Assessments of providers that remain the bedrock of the regulator’s approach.

Prior to this, Matthew was a Senior Civil Servant.  He was responsible for policy on affordable housing between 2008-11, during a period of major change owing to the financial crash and in 2010 a new coalition Government.  His previous experience includes leading negotiations on the department’s spending review settlement in 2007, working on a national firefighters’ strike, and policy on regional growth, regeneration and neighbourhood renewal.   

Matthew was a Non-Executive Director at Swan Housing Association from November 2021 (after it was assessed to be non-compliant on governance and financial viability) until it merged with Sanctuary Housing in February 2023. 

Matthew chairs CASE (a group of large and medium-sized Housing Associations based in South East England) and is co-Chair of a National Housing Federation group overseeing its preparations for the next General Election.

Stephen joined the Octavia Board as Chairman in April 2023. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants with a 30-year executive career as a Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer in financial services.

He has board and governance experience across the private, public, and voluntary sectors. He is currently the Vice Chair of The Cambridge Building Society, a director of MUFG Securities EMEA plc and a board member of Golden Lane Housing. In 2014 Stephen received an OBE for services to disabled people.

Debbie Sorkin is National Director of Systems Leadership at the Leadership Centre. She has an extensive  background in social care leadership and she holds other non-executive roles in the sector.

Sheila joined the Octavia Board in July 2019.  Sheila worked at the Guardian for over 20 years and led all their digital transformation projects.

Recently she has worked in the Cabinet Office for the Government Digital Service. 

John is an experienced Chief Executive, Director and NED having worked in housing associations, ALMO’s, local authorities, PFI and private sector, successfully leading organisational change, property investment strategies and operational delivery.  

He has an MA in Management, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, Member of the Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.  

At Octavia, John has a particular Board responsibility for buildings, estates and landlord H&S compliance. 

Hugh was previously the CEO of Adoption UK, Director of Business Development at Action for Children, along with other roles and also a Chair of Trustees at various national charities. He has an MBA in Public Service Admin and currently runs his own consultancy. Hugh was awarded a CBE in 2016 for services to children & families.

At Octavia, Hugh is Chair of the Corporate Services Committee and has particular Board responsibilities for charities, communities, and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Terry is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. He was appointment on the 1 January 2020. Terry has a 30 year career in finance spanning both commercial and public sectors.

He is a non-executive board member of another housing association and is Chair of their Funding & Treasury Committee. Previous experience includes Director of Corporate Services at Sheffield Homes and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Lambeth Living. He is a Fellow of the institute of Chartered Management Accountants and holds an MBA.

Paul is the Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. He was appointed on the 1 January 2020.  He is also the Vice Chair of Hexagon Housing Group and Chair of Horniman Housing Association, a wholly owned non-charitable subsidiary of Hexagon. Paul also serves as a Board Member at BHT Sussex Housing Trust and at Chichester Greyfriars Housing Association.

His executive career included periods as Director of Resources and Company Secretary at B3 Living, Group Finance Director at English Churches Housing Group and Group Director of Finance at Downland Housing Group. He is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Lara is a former programme director and senior manager who has worked in integrated care systems, regulatory policy, leadership development and talent management in the NHS; and system oversight and accountability at the Department for Health and Social Care, before moving into chief of staff roles at NHS England. She oversaw the transition of North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group to NCL Integrated Care Board between August 2021 and December 2022. 

Prior to joining the NHS, Lara was a senior researcher at The King's Fund where she worked for five years focusing on integrated care, shifting care into community settings, reconfiguring clinical services and quality governance. She has a MSc in Public Health (specialising in Health Services Research) and a BSc in Biomedical Science. 

Lara has been Joint Chair of the Board of Trustees at Age UK Wandsworth for five years and is also a trustee of Helpforce, a charity which seeks to accelerate the growth and impact of volunteering in health and care. 

Her areas of interests include trustee development and mentoring, leadership development, change management, systems working and stakeholder engagement.

Rob is the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer at Longhurst Group a midlands based Housing Association.  Rob leads the Group’s Operational Finance and Corporate Finance Teams and has responsibility for audit, risk management and procurement.

Elsewhere, Rob is a member of the Financial Reporting Councils Advisory Panel on UK GAAP. Rob also served as an employer representative to the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) from 2018 to September 2023.

Graeme was a former Housing Association Chief Executive with Non-Executive Director experience in the housing, health and commercial sectors. He is currently a board member of a substantial farming and property company.

He achieved fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has a Master of Science degree in housing and strategic management.

Kevin has worked in social housing management for 11 years, for the last nine as the CEO of the Bedford-based housing association bpha.

Kevin has a depth and breadth of commercial experience gained through working at Board level in the private and public sectors. He has delivered growth and performance improvements in organisations as diverse as Appletiser plc and Dairy Crest, through to the Ministry of Defence and NHS Trusts.

His first experience of the housing sector came in 2012 when he undertook a consultancy project with bpha, and he has been a passionate advocate ever since. He came into the sector via a career in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and change management.

Adam has more than 32 years of experience working in finance in the public and not-for-profit sectors in London – with 18 years spent in senior and director roles. He is a housing sector specialist, with 16 years’ experience working for social housing providers. 

He began his career at the London Borough of Greenwich and London Borough of Lewisham, where he had responsibilities for capital treasury and pensions, before becoming an assistant finance director. He was Director of Finance for Lewisham Homes for 14 years, before joining Sutton Housing Partnership as Finance Director. 

He is a former finance advisor to the Boards of First Wave Housing and Investing 4 Brent (i4B).

Stephen has joined Octavia on secondment from housing association Abri, with which Octavia is currently exploring options for a formal partnership.

At Abri, he is responsible for leading the property directorate to ensure the growth of good quality new homes, in a role that encompasses home ownership, sales and asset management.

Stephen has worked in the housing sector for around 30 years, initially as a volunteer in hostels for the homeless before pursuing a career in development and asset management. Stephen is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and in 2018, he won the Exceptional Contribution Member award for the South West. 

Alison was appointed Chief Operating Officer at Octavia on 5 September 2023 and is responsible for overseeing housing operations.

Alison is an experienced executive who has worked within the affordable housing sector for over 20 years and continues to be a passionate advocate of people-centred customer services. Most recently, she was Executive Director of Housing Services at St Mungo’s, a national homelessness charity.

With former roles at Anchor Group, Peabody Trust, chair of the G15 Housing Directors’ Group and a member of the Mayor of London’s Fuel Poverty Partnership. Alison is also a Non-Executive Director at Outward Housing Association and Newlon Housing Group and is an advisory member of Connex Leadership.

She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has an Executive MBA in Business Administration and Management General.