Our Governance

Our Governance

Our Board

Our Board provides strategic leadership and consists of ordinary members, a Newham Council appointee, and our CEO. The Board meets regularly, and we are proud of how well we are governed. We have adopted the 2020 NHF Code of Governance and review our compliance with the Code twice each year. Every year we review how effective our governance is, using questionnaires and external meeting observations.

It’s also important that we can demonstrate that our Board members always act on behalf of Local Space. For this reason, we ask our Board members to make a full declaration of any interests, and if there’s ever a conflict of interest they withdraw from the meeting and take no part in the decision making.  

Local Space has identified the key skills and competencies that it needs on the Board and it reviews these on an annual basis. Our last review confirmed that our Board members are skilled in areas such as strategy, finance, housing and asset management and customer service and that they are highly collaborative and communicative, empathetic and multiculturally diverse.

Our Committees

The Board is supported by three committees – the Audit and Risk Committee, the Governance and Remuneration Committee, and the Customer Services Committee. Board members also work closely with the Tenants’ Panel.

Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee ensures that we protect our business and run it successfully. The Committee helps to protect what we own, so that it doesn’t lose its value. It also makes sure we think about how we can protect ourselves from business risks and threats and don’t break any rules or laws.

Governance and Remuneration Committee

The Governance and Remuneration Committee leads on the recruitment of Board members, reviews the composition of the Board and has oversight of Board members’ induction, training, skills analysis and appraisal. It is also responsible for ensuring that there is appropriate remuneration for Board members and the Chief Executive and that the Chief Executive is effectively appraised.

Customer Services Committee

The Customer Services Committee leads on reviewing operational service standards and core landlord services to ensure that Local Space has the strategies and policies necessary to meet residents’ needs. The committee, made up of Board and resident members, will make recommendations to the Board about service improvements and ensure that Local Space is accountable to its residents. 

Victor da Cunha

Victor da Cunha

Victor is Chief Executive at Curo, a housing association in the South West. With over 30 years of social housing experience, Victor specialises in customer service and housing operations with a strong focus on making sure that inclusion is embedded into organisational ways of working. He is proud that Curo has been one of the UK’s best places to work since 2016, as ranked by Better Companies. Victor joined Local Space’s Board because he is passionate about Local Space’s core purpose and wants to contribute to his local community. Victor is also on the Board of the National Housing Federation and Chair of its EDI National Group as well as chairing the Bath and North East Somerset Housing Delivery Board.

Josie Parsons

Josie Parsons

As CEO, Josie is responsible for the management and overall success of Local Space. She works with the Board to ensure that there is a link between our strategic direction and the operational delivery of our services. She manages relationships with local authority stakeholders and the Regulator of Social Housing. Josie joined Local Space in 2018 as Finance Director with previous director experience in broad portfolio roles in the private and non-profit sectors.

She became CEO in October 2019 and a member of the Board of Local Space in April 2020. Josie is particularly proud of the growth Local Space has achieved, including the number of homes we own and manage, and the expanding staff team to support this work. She believes in our ‘People First’ ethos which has changed how customers experience services and shaped their views of Local Space. Outside of Local Space, Josie sits on the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee of Waltham Forest Housing Association.

Alwyn Lewis (member responsible for complaints)

Alwyn Lewis (member responsible for complaints)

Alwyn has had a career in social housing for over 40 years, starting with the (former) Greater London Council. He retired in 2022 after 10 years as the Chief Executive for Hornsey Housing Trust. Alwyn has worked for a number of registered providers and local authorities in a variety of leadership roles and has a wealth of experience developing and delivering successful strategies for improving services to residents. Alwyn specialises in performance improvement, service transformation, resident engagement, developing strategic partnerships and supporting organisations through strategic change.

Conor McAuley

Conor McAuley

Conor served on the London Docklands, London Thames Gateway Development Corporations Boards, and was a member of the Olympic Planning Committee.  He recently retired as Newham’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Strategic Development. Conor was Associate Director at Four Communications supporting development projects in East and South East London.

Jane Goodley

Jane Goodley

Jane is a self-employed consultant, providing consultancy services to the housing sector. With over 30 years of housing sector experience, Jane specialises in housing management, repairs and customer service. Jane has worked in both local authorities and housing associations and has held various Director and Executive Director roles since 2015. She joined Local Space’s Board in May 2024 and has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee since 2021. Jane is also a Board member at Golding Homes.

Marie Li Mow Ching

Marie Li Mow Ching

Marie is a Board member at Selwood Housing Society and Estuary Housing Association and Chair of Gravesend Churches Housing Association. With over 10 years’ experience in the social housing sector, Marie has had various roles as Board member, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Board. Marie specialises in governance, financial and risk management, housing services, asset management and development. Marie was attracted to Local Space’s values and vision, which strongly align with her interest in the sector and in meeting the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Paul Edwards

Paul Edwards

Paul is Chief Executive at CHP, a housing association in Essex. With 25 years’ experience in the housing sector, Paul has held several non-executive roles. He is driven by the difference Local Space can make, not only to its customers’ lives, but by being a fantastic place to work too. While he comes from a financial background, he is keen to utilise his passion for innovative thinking to take Local Space forward in its mission to work together to provide safe and quality homes to those in need. Paul is also a trustee of Chelmsford Learning Partnership.

Richard Stevens

Richard Stevens

Richard holds a portfolio of non-executive, Director and Chair positions in the housing and financial services sector. He specialises in finance, audit, risk management, general business and commercial strategy. Richard joined Local Space’s Board due to its overriding mission to help house homeless families, its unique business model and dynamic workplace. With almost 20 years’ social housing experience, Richard is currently a Board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for The Barnet Group, an Independent Audit & Risk Committee Member at Saxon Weald and a non-executive Director at Medway Development Company (a 100% subsidiary of the council) involved in regenerating Chatham and Strood.

Sarah Beckwith

Sarah Beckwith

Sarah is a Chartered Surveyor and has worked in the property industry for over 20 years with a portfolio career in property consultancy and Board roles. Sarah specialises in strategic property and asset management and governance across the private, public and charity sectors. She joined Local Space’s Board to contribute to an organisation making a difference to address homelessness and the housing crisis. Sarah is also the Chair of the Trustee Board of Yateley Industries.

Sheron Carter

Sheron Carter

Sheron is CEO at Hexagon Housing Association. With 40 years' experience in the social housing sector, including 25 years as a Senior Executive, she has previously led three housing associations as Chief Executive and a charity as Managing Director. She has also provided consultancy services for a range of housing providers. Sheron specialises in social housing operations, customer service, resident engagement, diversity and inclusion, governance and regulation, corporate strategy, business planning and strategic partnerships. Sheron is also a Board member for NLM Housing Association.

Sue Bunt

Sue Bunt

Sue is Head of Organisational Development at the Hyde Group. With 20 years’ experience in social housing, Sue specialises in organisational culture, leadership development, strategic human resources and diversity and inclusion. She is passionate about the difference social housing makes to people’s lives and wants to use her skills and experience to contribute to the East London community, as she was born and bred there. Sue is also on the Board of Housing Diversity Network.

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