As a not for profit organisation, Seaside Homes has no shareholders and is controlled by a Board of 9 Trustees.
Chris is a retired Chartered Surveyor with more than forty five years` experience in residential and commercial property. He has a high reputation in the Social Housing sector where he worked closely with Local Authorities, Housing Associations and the main Banks and is familiar with lending procedures, legal technicalities, loan documentation and risk/performance monitoring required for multi-million pound loans for investment in social housing for rent.
Chris’s experience over the past 20 years as both a Chairman and Board Member of housing associations has given him an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting both vulnerable and financially excluded people in society. He has also served on various committees of these organisations dealing with risk, finance, regulatory compliance, housing development and property maintenance.
Chris’s current role as an Non – Executive Director of Boom Credit Union in Surrey, Kingston and West Sussex involves overseeing Compliance issues and as Money Laundering Reporting Officer. These are key roles from the point of view of the Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Jacob Allen is a planning engagement consultant and Labour Councillor for Woodingdean, where he was brought up and still lives today. He attended the University of Surrey graduating in 2021 with a degree in International Politics. He is Vice Chair of the Planning Committee and member of the Children Families and Schools committee where he brings a wealth of experience having lived for over 10 years as part of a fostering family. Outside of politics he enjoys exploring the countryside and reading books about history.
Chris is a resident of Whitehawk. She was educated at Hove Grammar school for girls and worked as a chef for many years. She is now chair of the Due East Neighbourhood council, a Trustee of the East Brighton Trust and sits on the Brighton & Hove Council East Area Panel. In her spare time Chris runs a lunch club and keeps herself busy sitting on various committees. She enjoys life and likes to help others to improve their life-style.
Liam Holden has been a Seaside Homes tenant since 2011. Liam is a central heating and renewables Engineer and has been for the past 26 years, and is now training his eldest son in the profession as an apprentice. He lives with his wife, two sons, daughter, and pet dog and cat. Liam was born in Brighton and has always lived in Hangleton and Portslade.
Mark spent almost thirty years as a senior local government finance professional with specific experience in the preparation and coordination of budgets in the social housing sector. He led on changes arising from the reform of local authority housing finance which saw the end of the centralised and redistributive funding model and the introduction of Housing Revenue Account self-financing. The reform, supported by medium term business plans and financial modelling offered the freedom to deliver new housing units.
He joined the board of West Sussex and Surrey Credit Union t/a Boom Community Bank in 2018 as Treasurer, with responsibility for the oversight of financial governance arrangements, investment decisions and performance. In 2021 he become Chief Executive Officer whilst retaining the role of Treasurer. He is committed to raising awareness of the vital role that Boom plays in helping those in its community who need financial support and delivering the opportunities and benefits that financial inclusion brings for Boom’s members.
Liz Loughran was elected as a Councillor to Brighton & Hove City Council in May 2023 for the ward of Preston Park. She was appointed to the Planning Committee which she Chairs and she is a member of the Transport Committee and the Shoreham Harbour Joint Leaders Board. She is a chartered town planner and former practising solicitor with experience of providing services to the public and private sectors. She has been practising in town planning for over 20 years.
She is a former director trustee of environmental charities. In her professional work she has focused on inclusion and equalities promotion. She has been an adviser to the Healthy Homes Campaign which has produced proposals for parliamentary housing reform.
The response to very poor housing conditions resulting from reliance on certain permitted development rights to create so called housing led to the Campaign. It provides a set of principles relating to housing quality and standards to ensure we have a legal framework to prevent the creation of homes which have an adverse effect on health and well-being. These principles also complement 2022 regulations being implemented post Grenfell Inquiry.
Philip has been closely involved in the social housing sector for over 30 years – most recently managing a housing portfolio of over 5,000 homes. Starting his career as an Environmental Health Officer, he has seen at first hand the challenges faced by those residents who struggle to access a decent home. He has worked hard to address not only an individuals housing and social needs but those of the wider community.
As a Director of Community Services he has seen statutory agencies increasingly recognise the pivotal role housing agencies have to play in improving the well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of society. He was closely involved in the creation of a local authority sponsored housing company and understands the challenges faced by smaller housing providers and their clients.
Kerry Pickett is a Brighton & Hove City Council Green councillor for Preston Park ward. She is the opposition spokesperson for the City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee, and for the Licensing Committees. Kerry also sits on the Equalities, Community Safety & Human Rights Committee.
Kerry formerly worked for the International Criminal Court as a press officer and is committed to the belief that radical change is needed to bring about social and economic parity for all.
Phil is a fully qualified Chartered Certified Accountant, having qualified in 1996 and becoming a Fellow in 2001. In his professional career Phil has worked in both practice and industry. He qualified whilst working for Grant Thornton and his industry roles have included that of Finance Director in a multi-million pound subsidiary of a FTSE 250 listed group. He also has experience of working in the charity sector and has been running his own successful business since 2015.
Being an accountant Phil obviously loves numbers but more than that he really enjoys helping individuals and businesses fulfill their commercial potential. He has lived in Peacehaven for over fifteen years and outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and squash and following his football team.
