Our Board

Adam Hackett – Board Chair

Adam has a broad background, knowledge and experience in the social housing sector holding a number of senior roles relating to asset management, estate regeneration, environmental sustainability and business transformation. Adam is also a Chartered Environmentalist.
Adam is also the owner of two successful businesses in the hospitality industry located in Cornwall. Core skills and experience:
• Social housing
• Environmental sustainability
• Asset management
• Leadership
• Business
• Governance

Gary Lucas - Board Vice-Chair, Chair of People Committee

Gary is a chartered Quantity Surveyor who has been involved in construction and infrastructure for over 40 years, working across a range of sectors including education, healthcare and accommodation as well as transport. His work has covered all facets from origination, funding, transaction management, through to development and operations. This included creating facilities management services to maintain various properties. He also has extensive experience outside the UK and has secured business in Europe, India, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Gary is also a consultant to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA – a UK government organisation).
Core skills and experience:
• Construction and Development
• Contracts and contract administration
• Business
• Risk management

Core skills and experience:
• Construction and Development
• Contracts and contract administration
• Business
• Risk management

Sophie Hughes

Sophie currently works for a large housing association in the Southwest, overseeing retrofit and environmental improvements to the association’s homes. Prior to this Sophie has worked in a variety of roles including housing management, tenancy support and economic development both across Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly.
Core skills and experience:
• Social housing
• Housing management
• Environmental sustainability
• Asset management
• Economics and business
• Rural lived experience

Paul Heminsley

Paul is a qualified accountant with nearly 30 years in Housing Association finance, expertise is in in repairs, stock investment and development, treasury management and business planning. He presently works for a large national housing association. Paul has rural lived experience and has family roots in the Southwest.
Core skills and experience:
• Finance and accountancy
• Treasury
• New homes development
• Business planning
• Rural living experience

Alex Deller

Alex serves as the Retirement & Supported Living Lead at Stonewater, a prominent national Housing Association, where he manages a portfolio of over 3,000 retirement and supported living properties. Prior to this role, he gained valuable experience with a prestigious retirement living developer based in Hampshire. Currently he serves as a board member for the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) who are widely consulted on retirement housing matters by both the Government and other professional bodies.
With over a decade of experience in both private and social housing sectors, Alex combines industry knowledge with a commitment to enhancing the living standards of residents.
Core skills and experience:
• Leadership
• Asset Management
• Leasehold, Tenancy, Service Charge & Major Works Management
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• IT Housing Systems Development

Trudy Polkinghorn

Trudy, one of our customers, has lived in North Cornwall for over 30 years. Trudy has a background in health and safety and project management. Trudy is a former Director of an electrical utilities company contracted to Western Power and also has a keen interest and knowledge in arboriculture and environmental issues. Core skills and experience:
• Arboriculture and the natural environment
• Health and safety
• Project management
• Rural lived experience – CRHA customer

Shelly Brown

Shelly, one of our customers, has lived in North Cornwall for over 50 years. Shelly's professional background started in nursing, providing care and support for those in need, she then transitioned into the UK and international travel and tourism industry, following this Shelly worked in lettings management and property sales for 14 years. Currently Shelly works in a local shop where she enjoys engaging with members of the community, allowing her to contribute to the vibrant rural life in the area.
Core skills and experience:
• Nursing and community health services
• Customer Service
Lettings management and property sales
Business
Rural Lived Experience – CRHA customer

Keith Meredith - Chair of Risk & Assurance Committee

Keith has extensive experience in asset management and property related services working across both public and private sectors. Keith is currently Director of Asset Management and Development for a West London Housing Association.
Core skills and experience:
• Repairs and Maintenance
• Planned and Cyclical Maintenance
• Compliance
• Building and Fire Safety
• Health and Safety
• Asset Management
• New Build Development
• Procurement and Contract Management

Ken Brown

Ken one of our customers, previously ran his own electrical repairs and maintenance business as a qualified electrician and is now a Programme Manager and Lecturer at City College Plymouth for construction skills. Ken has also been Chair of the Staff Forum at the College as well as Chair of the PTA at a local primary school in Cornwall.
Core skills and experience:
• Construction and Property Services
• Project Management
• Governance
• Leadership
• Rural Lived Experience – CRHA customer

Chris Read

Chris has a varied and interesting background which includes, working in a senior administrative role for a global consumer goods company, running a property renovation business with her husband and carrying out community work for homelessness and substance abuse services.
Core skills and experience:
• Business Administration
• Construction and Property Refurbishment
• Community Support Services
• Rural Lived Experience – CRHA Shared Owner