THCH Board

The governing body of THCH is the Board. There are 18 Board members in total, made up from:

• eight resident members (six tenants and two leaseholder)
• six independent members
• four Council nominated members

The decision to have eight resident Board members is to ensure THCH is a resident-led organisation. These eight residents, who have a major say in how THCH works, are elected by the Area Residents Boars and the Leaseholder Steering Group (more about these two groups later). The Board is responsible for all decision making at THCH – it is the principle body that decides on how we run our business, setting of rent, investment and every other area of service that THCH delivers.

The resident representation on the Board puts resident participation at the forefront of the THCH agenda. In addition, resident Board members sit on our service committees – that have the decision making powers delegated from the Board and which are responsible for making our policies. The committees are:

• Finance & Audit
• Personnel
• Service Delivery
• Technical Services

Area Residents Boards (ARB)

THCH organises ARB meetings in all 3 areas (Bethnal Green, Spitalfields and Shadwell & Wapping) to give residents a chance to influence and comment on all services that THCH are responsible for. Meetings are publicised in Update – THCH resident’s magazine.

ARB’s are also the body we will approach if there are major initiatives or development issues that require resident input.All residents are welcome to attend their local ARB.

Leaseholder Steering Group (LSG)

The LSG usually meets quarterly and consists of THCH leaseholders. The LSG will discuss all issues that affect leaseholders – such as service charges and major works.

LSG meetings are published in Update and open to all THCH leaseholders.

THCH Board

The THCH Board is as follows:

Anne Ambrose - Vice Chair

Resident Director

Anne has served on the Board since November 1999.

Anne has spent many years as a community representative, starting in 1985 when she helped set up the Tenants & Residents Association for the Minerva Estate, where Anne has lived all her life.  Anne is a civil servant and brings supervisory and managerial skills together with knowledge of IT skills to the Board.  Anne was previously Chair of THCH until her tenure ended in July 2007.

Mosabbir Ali

Resident Director

Mosabbir has served on the Board since January 2002.

Mosabbir is a resident in the Spitalfields area and through his interest in helping other residents, Chairs the Spitalfields ARB

Christina Chesterman

Resident Director (L/H)

Christina has served on the Board since April 2004.

Christina is a resident leaseholder living in the Shadwell & Wapping area and is Chair of the Leaseholder Steering Group.

Mike Meir MA (Oxon)

Resident Director (L/H)

Mike has served on the Board since July 2006.

Mike, a resident living on the Mansford Estate, played a prominent role in assisting with the Estate Steering Group prior to the stock transfer of the Mansford & Avebury East Estates to THCH in January 2006.  Having devoted many years to community related activities, Mike is keen to work with THCH to develop links with all residents across all our Estates.

Mike is a director of the Union Chapel Project.

Herman Vitalis

Resident Director

Herman has served on the Board since September 2005.

Herman is a resident in the Shadwell and Wapping area and through his interest in the community as an active member of the Shadwell and Wapping ARB, was elected to the Board in 2005.

Councillor Helal Uddin Abbas

Council Nominated Director

Councillor Abbas has served on the Board since the Summer of 2006.

Councillor Abbas is a local resident and Councillor representing the Spitalfields & Banglatown Ward.

Councillor Sirajul Islam

Council Nominated Director

Councillor Islam has served on the Board since July 2002.

Councillor Islam is a local tenant and Councillor for the Bethnal Green area.  Councillor Islam is an active member in the Bengali Educational Society, Baitul Aman Mosque and Cultural Centre Ltd and trustee of Parminters (Bethnal Green) Eduation Charity.  Councillor Islam is also Chair of LAP2, Associate Non-Executive Director of Tower Hamlets PCT and governor at John Scurr School.

Councillor Waiseul Islam

Council Nominated Director

Councillor Islam has served on the Board since the Spring of 2008.

Councillor Islam is a resident of the Borough and represents the Whitechapel Ward.

Councillor Shafiqul Haque

Council Nominated Director

Councillor Haque has served on the Board since the Summer of 2008.

Councillor Haque is a local resident and Councillor representing the St Katharine's and Wapping Ward.

Roger Booth MRICS MCIOB MCMI

Independent Director

Roger has served on the Board since September 2005.

Roger has lived in Tower Hamlets since 1977 and brings a wealth of experience in social housing and educational projects to the organisation.  Roger is a member of three professional institutions, including the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and treasurer of The Care for St Anne's - a charity raising funds for the restoration of the historic St Anne's Church, Limehouse.

John Lau BA BSc (Econ) - Chair

Indepenent Director

John has served on the Board since November 1999 and became Chair of THCH in July 2007.

John is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and has worked in the housing sector for over 20 years, most recently an Assistant Director of Regeneration for the Strategic Health Authority and has previously worked for Lewisham, Lambeth, Islington and Tower Hamlets as well as for the Peabody Trust Network Housing Group and Haig Homes.

John is a member of the London Housing Federation, and has been a representative of the East London Business Alliance, London First, and a member of GOL's Affordable Housing Group. John is also a Board member of Greenwich Housing Society.

Gillian Seabright MBA MCSP

Independent Director

Gillian has served on the Board since September 2005.

Gillian runs an independent management consultancy business providing advice and practical support to public and private sector organisations on economic and social regeneration, organisational development and partnership working.  Gillian's extensive experience will support THCH to deliver our aim to contribute social wellbeing and economic regeneration of the area.

Gillian takes a particular interest in staff development and goverance issues.

Sharon Sheen ACIB BA

Independent Director

Sharon has served on the Board since September 2006.

Sharon is the Director for Relationship & Asset Management in Housing Finance for HBOS and will bring experience and expertise to the organisation.

New Board Directors

THCH would like to welcome Bilkis Bahar and Jusna Begum to the Board. Both Bilkis and Jusna are Resident Directors, representing Spitalfields and Shadell & Wapping respectively. Full biopics will follow shortly.