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Leadership and governance

image: Executive Team

Our residents are at the heart of everything we do. This includes having a leading role in the governance and leadership of Optivo.

We pride ourselves on being different to a lot of other organisations. Residents are at the heart of what we do and resident involvement is central to our culture. At each level of our governance structure, from residents sitting on the Board, down to local repairs panels, our residents work side by side with staff and board members to improve our services.

Read about Optivo’s leading role in developing the National Housing Federation’s Together with Tenants Initiative

Our Board:

Our Board sets the overall strategy for us and makes sure our Executive Team, responsible for the day to day management of Optivo, is working effectively.

The main responsibilities of our Board include:
  • Setting our overall strategy and business plan
  • Making sure our Executive Team is working effectively and has access to the resources it needs
  • Ensuring any risks to the organisation are identified and controlled
  • Monitoring our performance, service delivery and financial viability.

Paul Hackett (Chief Executive)

  • Paul is Chief Executive of Optivo.

  • Paul is an Honorary Professor at the UCL Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management and a member of the Independent Advisory Board. 

  • He also sits on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ‘Housing Supply Group’. He is a Fellow of the RICS, the Chartered Institute of Building, the Chartered Institute of Housing and is an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism.

  • Between 2017-19 Paul was Chair of G15 and a member of the Homes for Londoners Board. 
To find out more about Paul click here

Nick Stephenson

  • Image: Nick StephensonExperienced economic development consultant

  • Former member of AmicusHorizon London Area Panel













 

Andrew Wiseman (Chair of Growth Committee)

  • image: Andrew WisemanFounded Telford Homes Plc

  • Experienced developer of mixed tenure housing











 

Candice McCausland (Co-optee)

 
  • Currently a Delivery Team Manager Image: Candice McCausland

  • Previous Social Sciences Teacher 

  • Accredited trainer (ILM)

  • Qualified Careers Adviser 







 

Sir Peter Dixon (Chair)

  • Image: Peter dixonFormer Chair of Housing Corporation

  • Chair of Diabetes UK

  • Former Vice Chair Norfolk Broads Authority

  • Former Chair UCL NHS Foundation Trust






 

Andy Burder

Image: Andy Burder

  • Financial Controller for a Real Estate Investment Manager

  • Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser









 

Howard Cresswell (Chair of People, Governance, Remuneration Committee)

  • IMAGE: Howard CresswellFormer senior executive at Circle

  • Former Interim Chief Executive of Hornsey Housing Trust

  • Former board member at Ascham Homes







     

Eugenie Turton (Vice Chair)

  • image: Eugenie TurtonFormer Director General for Housing and Planning (central government)

  • Non-Executive Director for Genesis then Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) Housing Group between 2009 and 2018 (Chair of People Committee and Customer Services Committees at Genesis and Chair of Resident Services Committee at NHG)

  • Board Associate and Mentor of Critical Eye network for business leaders

  • Member of the Advisory Council on the Disposal of Nuclear Waste from December 2017 to date.


 

Geanna Bray

image: Geanna Bray
  • Gemma has over 20 years’ experience working in the social housing sector

  • Currently Director of Housing, Support & Customer Services with Salvation Army Housing Association


 

Michelle Dovey (Chair of Treasury Committee)

 

Image: Michelle Dovey

  • Experienced financial risk management executive

  • Director of MJD Treasury Solutions Ltd

  • Non-executive director at The Riverside Group

  • Board Trustee at Kairos Women Working Together.​






 
 

Executive Team:

The Board delegate day-to-day management of the organisation to the Executive Team. Find out more about our Executive Team below:

image: involved residents at an Optivo eventResident Governance

We have over 60 residents in our Resident Governance Structure.

They help influence decisions and scrutinise our services. 

The structure also has links with our Board ensuring our residents’ voices are heard throughout the organisation.

Find out more about our resident governance structure.
 

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