Our Board

Leonora Thomson

Chair of PCHA

Leo is the Head of Media and Public Relations at the Barbican Centre, the World's largest art centre which is situated at the heart of the City. She previously worked as a senior manager for the Metropolitan Police. Leo has been involved with strategic management and policy-making at the highest level of local government and has extensive communications experience in the public sector - broadcasting and the arts. Leo is a member of the Board's Diversity and Governance Committees.

Chuks Amaechi BA (Hons), ACIH, ACIM
Chuks works for a local authority and is also a board member and treasurer of Pathway Housing Association. He has substantial experience in regeneration and community development both in the UK and abroad. He sits on the Board Diversity Committee.

Mark Cummins
Vice Chair
Mark is a design and communications consultant, photographer and lecturer. He is former Mayor of London Borough of Brent and is currently a local councillor. He was a member of the London Planning Advisory Committee and chair's PCHA's Community Participation Committee. He is a trustee of several local bodies and Civic Trust Awards advisor. He sits on the Property Investment Development Committee (PIDC).

Susan Higgins
BSc (Hons), PGCE, MA, JP

Susan is a qualified teacher and has been a magistrate since 1992 and completed an MA in Contemporary History in 1999. She has fundraising experience with NSPCC and other locally‑based organisations. Susan is currently Chair of Genesis Community Foundation and has a particular interest in supported housing. Susan also sits on the Property Investment Development Committee (PIDC).

Olu Olanrewaju
Managing Director of PCHA
Olu has worked in the Midlands area for several years, he was Managing Director of Midland Heart Housing Group in Birmingham between 2005 and 2008 and more recently Interim Group Director of Customer and Communities.

After a career in TV production, specialising in science and social history documentaries, Barbara is now a fundraiser for the charity Independent Age. Barbara is also a Victim Support charity volunteer and director of a small housing association.

Ross Houston BA (Hons), MBA, AIRPM, ACIH, FRSA

Ross is Deputy Head of Housing at The Crown Estate, Vice Chair of West Euston Partnership, Chair of West Euston Healthly Community Project, and the Director of the Third Age Project in Camden. Ross is also a councillor in the London Borough of Barnet, a governor of two schools and is a director of Barnet Homes.

Eric Witchall
Tenant Board Member
Eric has been a PCHA tenant for the last 20 years and former trustee of the Knowles Trust. He was the previous Chair of the Tenants Consultative Forum and the first recipient to receive the Kate Wilson Memorial Award in 2006. He was the founder Director of a housing association for people with special needs. He is an active tenant serving on various PCHA committees.

James Roberts

Tenant Board member

James has been a political activist and union founder, musician, consultant audio engineer, author and yachtsman. Nowadays, he is mostly engaged in running a computer consultancy, working as a therapist, and the Board of PCHA. He has a long-term interest in the ramifications of policy changes in Public Housing, and has a non-partisan interest in political decision-making and its unintended side-effects. He is qualified to degree level in psychology and holds a management qualification.

Esther Foreman

Co-opted Member

After completing an MSc in Anthropology from the University of London, Esther went to work in the charity sector campaigning for a variety of causes including Medecins Sans Frontieres and Shelter, the homeless and housing charity. She currently works for Help the Aged. Esther was involved with Sutherland since and now is a member of the PCHA board. Esther lives in Erin Court, Willesden Green where she started the first Residents Association in 2004. Having grown up in Brent, she is also involved in other community initiatives.

Jin IL Kim

Tenant member

Jin runs his own architectural office and works as an architectural and planning consultant. Jin is the current president of the KSEAUK (Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in the UK).