Who leads Origin

Executive leadership

Chief Executive – Karen Wilson, BA (Hons), FCIH

Karen Wilson has been Chief Executive of Origin Housing since November 2004. Karen has extensive experience in Housing, gained from over 25 years in the industry. She started her career with Sheffield City Council and her first senior role was with London Borough of Greenwich as an Area Manager. Karen then moved into the housing association sector, spending 10 years with Metropolitan Housing Trust, firstly as Regional Director and then as the Director of Planning and Operations. Prior to joining Origin she worked for  English Churches Housing Group as their Operations Director.

Karen works with an executive team that includes:

• Manpreet Dillon - Director of Housing Services:

  Manpreet has worked within the social housing sector for 18 years in a variety of roles. He was previously the Managing Director of Kensington Housing Trust, part of the Catalyst Housing Group and prior to this worked for the Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation. Manpreet has also worked for a number of other London based housing associations and has recently been providing consultancy and interim management support.

• Cathy McCarthy - Director of People Services:

  Cathy worked previously as the Elderly Services Manager at PCHA with earlier posts in housing advice with CHAS and London of Islington. She was appointed Director of Care & Support in July 2003 following roles of Community Care Manager and Deputy Director with SPH Housing.

• Gareth Jones - Director of Development:

  Gareth has 25 years experience in housing development work. He joined Origin as Development Director in early 2006 from Genesis Housing Association, where he held the post of Assistant Director of Development.

• Chris Trebilcock - Director of Finance & ICS:
  Chris qualified as a chartered accountant with Binder Hamlyn and remained in public practice until 1992 when he joined British Rail where he was involved in the privatization of its rail freight business.  He remained within the rail freight industry as financial controller of EWS until 2004. A period as financial controller with Plan International was followed by a post as Group Business Support Director for Hanover Housing Association prior to joining Origin in November 2007.

The Company Secretary for Origin Housing is Caroline Waterer.

The board

Origin is led by a board of individuals who have a breadth of experience relevant to running an effective housing business. This includes residents and people committed to the affordable housing sector. The names and brief biographies are set out below.

Chair – Colin Sherriff

Colin has over thirty years’ experience in housing and is now working as a freelance coach and consultant, providing support and advice to Chief Executives and Boards of housing associations. His previous roles include: Chief Executive of Parkside Housing Group (1998-2006) and of Windsor & District Housing Association (1995-1998); Interim Chief Executive, Watford Community Housing Trust (2007), where he was responsible to the Shadow Board for initiating a newly-established stock transfer housing association; and Director of Housing & Development for English Churches Housing Group. His voluntary activities have included Chair of Housing for the London Borough of Haringey, Chair of the South East Executive of the National Housing Federation, Chair of Life-long Learning Partnership, and Vice Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. 

Vice Chair - Alison Lowton

Alison is a solicitor and worked in London local government for many years, including 8 years as Director of Law and Administration for LB of Camden. After leaving Camden she undertook investigations and interim management roles and is now Head of Governance and Legal for the General Social Care Council, the social work regulator.

Other Origin Housing board members:

• Philip Dawson: Phillip is a Director of Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects, an award winning practice which designs new homes for housing associations and developers. Phillip lives in Enfield. He is a Community Governor at Walker Primary School, a member of his local Parish Council and a trustee and secretary of two charities including Enfield Talking Newspaper for the Blind. He was previously a board member of SPH Housing.
• Michael Dear: Michael has a background in IT. He was a leaseholder when he joined the board in 2007.
• Mike De'Ath: Mike is a Director of HTA, a design-led housing and regeneration consultancy. An architect by background, he specialises in resident engagement and estate regeneration but works in the full spectrum of master-planning and housing provision throughout the UK.  His prime focus is on emerging policy and contributing to the debate regarding delivery of sustainable places.
• David Fryman: David is a Partner of Edward Charles and Partners, Chartered Surveyors, where he is responsible for the Landlord and Tenant Team. He specialises in the Central London office market, the conduct of rent reviews and lease renewals, and corporate strategic advice.
• Paulette Rose: Paulette has experience as a legal executive, and is also a qualified teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has been involved in various panels and meetings as an Origin Housing tenant. 
• Suzanne Davies: Suzanne is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in the corporate finance sector for 19 years where she acted as a financial advisor raising private equity and banking finance. She now runs her own property management business and has several non-executive roles in charitable organisations, including the London Early Years Foundation, where she holds chairing roles on finance and audit committees

• Jolyon Griffiths: Jolyon is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a fellow of the Institute of Directors with 18 years of experience in the financial services sector. He has extensive experience as a Chief Finance Officer and 12 years of experience in investment banking, covering a wide range of products including equities, corporate finance and fund management. Jolyon currently has a portfolio of part-time and consultancy roles.

• Karen Wilson: Karen is the Chief Executive of Origin Housing.