Our Board Members

Chair

Reena Purchase

Reena became Chair of the Board in September 2022.

She is an accomplished leader and senior manager in the charity and housing association sectors. This includes fifteen years leading and growing the Octavia Foundation, a registered charity supporting people affected by ill-health, social isolation, low income or unemployment. Reena is known for successfully developing strategy and increasing income through fundraising and from charity retail to grow organisations and reach more people. Her previous roles within the housing and charity sectors include Director, Octavia Foundation, Head of Corporate Services, Presentation Housing and Grants Manager/Assessor HACT working with Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need.

As well as being multi-lingual, Reena is a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and provides mindfulness training and coaching to individuals.

Reena is passionate about supporting migrants and refugees and adding value through the services Arhag provides. As well as leading Arhag’s strategy to be the go-to organisation for migrant and immigrant issues, her vision is to create a positive narrative around the huge contribution migrants and refugees make to our society.

 

Member of the Board and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee

David Maitland

David is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience working for a number of Registered Providers in London, the Midlands, and the North. He recently retired as “Head of Treasury & Business Planning” at Octavia Housing Association and has previously undertaken a number of roles at a senior level in finance, treasury, and company secretarial.

He is a founder Trustee, Chairman and Secretary of a small Trust involved in the rescue of Border Collies and has been a member of Lions Clubs International for over 30 years.

Member of the Board and Chair of the Operations Committee

Bulbul Ali

Bulbul was appointed as a Board member on 28th September 2017.  Bulbul has a BA in Housing Studies and MSc in Real Estate & Development.  He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Bulbul has worked for several G15 housing associations, including L&Q and Notting Hill, in a career spanning twenty years.  He specialises in development and land acquisitions and is currently Head of New Business at Origin HA.

 

Member of the Board and Audit & Risk Committee

Pat Davies

Pat was appointed as a Board Member on 26th September 2014.  She is a graduate in Management Sciences and trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London with Coopers & Lybrand, a major international accountancy practice. On qualification she transferred to the Harare office in the newly independent Zimbabwe.  When Pat returned to England she moved from external audit to internal audit, working as an audit manager for BT and the Department for Work & Pensions and as Head of Internal Audit at Oxfam, and Genesis Housing Association.  For many years Pat served as the Treasurer for Brent Mencap.

Member of the Board and Operations Committee

Boe Williams

Boe has held several roles in corporate governance within the Housing sector. As Chair of a London ALMO, she worked closely with the Local Authority and led the organisation through a period of immense organisational and operational change. She has held a governance role in a subsidiary Board of a G15 RP and in an umbrella ALMO representing four separate TMOs.

Member of the Board and Operations Committee

Abdul Basith

Abdul was appointed as a Board Member on 26th September 2014.  Abdul is a Trading Standards Officer, having worked in Local Government for over ten years.  He has been responsible for projects management, including the Approved Trader Scheme for the London Borough of Hackney. For the past eight years Abdul has been a management committee member for Malmesbury Community Projects and since 2013, he has served as a parent governor at Sandringham Primary School. Abdul is an ARHAG resident and is a passionate advocate of community engagement and improving the standard of living for residents.  Abdul has volunteered as Ward Panel Member for his local Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Member of the Board and Member of the Audit & Risk Committee

Diana Hamilton

Diana was appointed as a Board member on 23rd September 2021 and has over 35 years’ experience in Social Housing and Social Care.  Diane has been the Head of Housing in a Local Authority with responsibility for housing stock and the management of over five thousand tenancies.

Diana was also Group Director of Operations in a large social care organisation with a budget of £30m and a staff group of 650 – leading the delivery of housing and social care services to people throughout England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.   She was the Chair of the Watford Domestic Violence Forum, as well as the Health and Safety Committee.  Diana holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Social Care Leadership.

Member of the Board and Member of the Operations Committee

Amarjit Bains

Amarjit was appointed to the Board on 23^rd September 2021.  Amarjit is the Programme Director for the homelessness support and prevention contracts across London. She is a senior leader with extensive experience of delivering strategy, operations, and transformation in both the private and public sectors. She is well versed at collaborating across diverse and multiple stakeholders.  Amarjit has held leadership roles for more than a decade, managing central government contracts, leading teams in social housing and the private sector. She is a Board member at grassroots and mainstream organisations and an active member of Women in Social Housing (WISH).

Member of the Board and Member of the Operations

Helen Gribble

Helen was appointed to the Board on 23^rd September 2021.  Helen is a Board level Company Director with a track record of developing and implementing projects in support of strategic business goals. Her industry experience has included Travel & Hospitality, Rail Construction & Engineering, Financial Services, Not-for-profit, Retail and Professional Services within both the UK, Europe and Internationally. With deep experience in HR and Organisational Development in her current role Helen has responsibility for both the people and legal functions as well as opening new operating markets globally. Helen has post-graduate qualifications in HR and general business. Helen also has an active interest in Refugee & Migrant Issues including being a Board member of the CARAS (Community Action for Refugees and Asylum seekers) charity Board for over 5 years.

Member of the Board and Member of the Audit and Risk Operations Committee

Keith Best

Keith was appointed to the Board on 23^rd September 2021.  Keith has been Chief Executive of complex organisations and a NED on various bodies for more than 30 years. Currently, adviser to London Hotel Group, Executive Chair WFM/IGP (international NGO) Chair Wyndham Place Charlemagne Trust, Chair Charity 2020, Universal Peace Federation (UK); Secretary Parliamentary Outreach Trust, European Movement, St James’s Piccadilly; housing involvement since Brighton Housing Trust, current NED Commonwealth Country League; Patron of European-Atlantic Movement; frequent media appearances on migration and other matters; Freeman City of London; liveryman (Loriner).

Formerly CEO of the following national charities, Survivors UK, Freedom from Torture, IAS (Immigration Advisory Service), Prisoners Abroad; Vice Chair of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles; served on Foreign Secretary’s Advisory Panel on Torture Prevention; practising barrister.  He was also a Member of Parliament (Anglesey/Ynys Môn); Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Wales; named in the Society Guardian as one of the 100 most influential people in public services in the UK; Major in airborne and commando forces.

Author of several books and articles; keynote speeches both in the UK and abroad; university lecturer. Speaks French and Welsh; married, two daughters. Ran London Marathon and abseiled down the highest hospital tower in the world (Guy’s) for charity. Enjoys being useful!