Our board members

Emma Keegan – Housing Professional (Chair and member of the Development & Growth Committee)

Emma has more than 25 years’ experience working in the housing sector, currently as Chief Executive of Lambeth and Southwark Housing Association. She is an experienced board member who joined Keniston as Chair in 2019. She holds Post Graduate Diplomas in housing, management studies, and systems thinking and practice. Emma is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Ian Pinches FCCA FRSA – semi-retired portfolio Non Executive Director (Chair of Audit & Risk Committee)

Ian has worked in the wider public sector in a Non-Executive capacity for almost 20yrs (Housing, NHS – both Provider & Commissioner and the Emergency Services) and brings a depth of relevant experience to his role at Keniston. Prior to taking semi-retirement Ian worked in Housing and served as Deputy Chief Executive & Finance Director at a London based provider of Housing, Care & Support services and subsequently started and ran a multi-award winning small business in the Hospitality sector for a decade.

Sally Rice – Independent Housing Consultant (Chair of the Development and Growth Committee)

Sally currently works as an independent housing consultant. She previously worked for Moat, a leading South East Housing Association, in various senior positions and as Director of Development. During this time she was responsible for the delivery of substantial new affordable housing programmes and estate regeneration projects. She has also worked for a major national developer in land acquisition and in Local Government. She is a qualified planner and member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Lucy Worrall – Head of Corporate Strategy & Change (member of the Development & Growth Committee)

Lucy joined Sovereign housing association as their Head of Corporate Strategy and Change. Prior to this she worked at Peabody housing association for five years, most recently as their Head of Strategy, Research and Insight. Lucy has also worked as a Consultant at Altair where she supported on a number of service, strategy and governance reviews.

Stephen Hoad – Chartered Surveyor, private practice (member of the Development & Growth Committee)

Stephen is a Fellow of both the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Chartered Institute of Building, and works in private practice. With over 20 years experience within the property industry, Stephen has successfully delivered projects from inception through to completion. Stephen has extensive experience working with Housing Associations, Local Authorities and Charity Organisations with particular focus on asset management and strategy, building safety, planned maintenance and development. Stephen has a passion for delivering excellent customer engagement, value for money and statutory compliance.

Liz Emmanuel – Chartered Management Consultant (member of the Audit & Risk Committee)

A Keniston resident and Chartered Management Consultant who has been working with small businesses for over 15 years to optimise and transform their businesses digitally. A UK registered nurse, working in the NHS for the past 20 years and now supporting the NHS Integrated Care board ICB to assess the continued health care provision across England.

Mariola Viegas – Design and Technical Lead, Architect and Design Manager

Mariola is a construction professional with a focus on housing and education with project values up to £95 million. With over 15 years’ post part 3 experience from conceptual design up to delivery, stakeholder engagement, committee meetings and management of multi-disciplinary teams. Experienced in both the public and private sectors, she has built up a varied skill set which includes excellent client service and communication skills and is able to liaise and manage different departments in order to achieve shared aspirations and objectives.

Rachel Hewett – Director of System Strategy at NHS Kent and Medway

Rachel has worked in operational and strategic roles in the NHS across providers and commissioners.  She is currently Director of System Strategy at NHS Kent and Medway and also holds trustee and business advisor roles.  Health is impacted by a range of social, economic and environmental factors and through this interest in the wider determinants of health, Rachel is keen to share her leadership skills and experience.

Andrew Pert CMIIA – Chartered Internal Auditor

Andrew has worked in the wider public sector for over 35 years with the last 20 years in the Housing Sector.  Employed as an auditor of another Housing Association in North Kent, he brings to the Board a range of skills and experience from reviewing systems and processes within the Association and knowledge of the regulated sector in Housing.  Andrew is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.  He is also an independent member of the Board at Gravesend Churches Housing Association.

Marcia Gillings – Chartered Surveyor

Marcia is a Chartered Surveyor, MRICS, and an MSc in Real Estate Development and Investment with over 30 years of experience working for Local authorities, Housing Associations and a Government Agency, now Homes England. Her experience covers housing development, asset management and investment management. Her most recent role was with the London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth as Strategic Property Manager, helping to deliver Wandsworth’s 1000 homes housing development programme, delivering mixed used development schemes, and a range of projects connected with asset management of the operational and commercial portfolios for both boroughs. Newly, semi-retired, Marcia is embarking on a consultancy and non-executive career.

Simon Hague – Independent Housing Consultant

Simon has worked in social housing for over 30 years . Starting as a housing officer he has worked for several local authorities and housing associations including working in senior positions. For the last 5 years he has worked as an independent housing consultant. His last role was Interim Director of Housing at mhs homes. Simon is passionate about customer service and making a positive difference to both individuals and communities.