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  1. About us
  2. Our team
  3. Our Directors

Our Directors

Mel Cox

Director of Human Resources

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Mel joined Hestia in April 2013, bringing more than 25 years’ experience of establishing and leading high performing HR teams within a breadth of sectors including: Manufacturing, Blue Chip, Facilities Management, Public Services and Third Sector incorporating Research, Pharmaceutical and Retail. Mel’s career to date has bridged both specialist and generalist areas of Human Resources with a particular focus on organisational change and development. She was formerly Human Resources Director at Cancer Research UK and HR Change Director at OCS.

She is a Psychology graduate and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Published: 26th April, 2018

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Christopher Clarke

Director of Finance

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After graduating with a degree in Business Studies and Accounting from Edinburgh University in 1985, Chris trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in their Edinburgh office.  Following qualification, Chris worked with a number of housing associations, including Berwickshire Housing Association, the first local authority transfer in Scotland.

Chris also spent time as a Finance Manager with Scottish Homes in Dundee, the national housing agency, working on regulation and investment.  In 2000 he moved to Surrey to take up the role of Finance Director with Elmbridge Housing Trust, and moved into the role of Group Finance Director at Paragon Community Housing Group, when Elmbridge merged with Richmond Upon Thames Churches Housing Trust.  He took up the role of Director of Finance with Hestia in 2009.

Published: 26th April, 2018

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Jo Tilley-Riley

Director of Fundraising and Communications

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Jo leads the Fundraising, Communications and Policy teams at Hestia. She is an expert in social sector strategy and communications, having led the communications team at Big Society Capital (where she was also founding Chair of Good Finance), worked as a communications consultant to social sector organisations and run a small digital agency that she helped found.

Jo began her career as a fundraiser, working first with the British Red Cross, and then for five years with The Irene Taylor Trust ‘Music in Prisons’. She is a Trustee of Pro Bono Economics and was Chair of Relate London SE until 2014. She is a Clore Social Fellow 2015 and as part of her Fellowship was seconded with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and published research on the impact of home raids on children.

Published: 26th April, 2018

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Gayle Lowery-Jones

Director of Performance & Development

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Gayle joined Hestia in 2014 as Deputy Director of Operations before becoming Regional Director in 2016. Gayle previously worked for St Mungo’s since 2001 and her previous roles included leading St Mungo’s national expansion programme, securing and implementing over £25m of new business across the South West. Gayle was previously the Substance Use Team Regional Manager for St Mungo’s, heading up organisational clinical governance around needle exchanges, BBV clinics and substitute prescribing provision and advising the organisational Alcohol Working Party.

Gayle started her professional career as a volunteer with a small independent charity and is dedicated to supporting volunteers to bring their experience to Hestia and in empowering service users to co-produce services with us.Gayle is a Psychology graduate, a qualified trainer and holds numerous Health and Social Care vocational qualifications

Published: 26th April, 2018

Updated: 19th November, 2021

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Patrick Ryan

Chief Executive

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Patrick Ryan Chief Executive Hestia

Patrick joined Hestia as CEO in March 2002 from Centrepoint, where he had managed services, development and statutory income. Since 2002 Hestia has grown from a £4 million West London agency to a pan-London £24 million turnover provider of a range of services, while retaining its focus on its service users.

Patrick has significant governance experience and has been trustee of a number of local, London wide and National agencies. Patrick has chaired a range of provider forums and has also been a co-opted to sit on Local Authority Oversight and Scrutiny committees. Patrick is a UKCP registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist and an NUI graduate.

Published: 26th April, 2018

Updated: 19th January, 2022

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Brian Willmore

Interim Regional Director of Operations

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Brian joined Hestia as Interim Regional Director of Operations in 2022.

Brian is a proud working-class northerner originally from Bradford in West Yorkshire, who has worked in London for almost 20 years in adult and children social care. He began his career volunteering at 16 before gaining a management position at Connexions. Brian has progressed his career in various local authorities, where he eventually became a Director. 

Outside of his day job, Brian is a board member for two charities and holds a public appointment at the Ministry of Defence. When he has free time, Brian volunteers at his local Shelter shop.

Published: 1st May, 2021

Updated: 31st January, 2022

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Nahar Choudhury

Regional Director of Operations

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Nahar joined Hestia in 2020 as Regional Director of Operations.

Nahar has worked in Housing and the Voluntary and Community Sector for over 20 years. She has worked as a Senior Manager for organisations across London and Sussex including Centrepoint and Nacro.

Nahar has always worked with a diverse client group with multiple and complex needs. As CEO of an Asian Women’s organisation - Nahar developed Domestic Abuse services for BAME women and a Forced Marriage programme in London schools.

Nahar has worked in Criminal Justice overseeing a national Ministry of Justice contract for Bail and Accommodation services.  She has led on transformation of mental health services in partnership with the NHS including implementation of a Lead Provider Model, development of an innovative Personality Disorder service and Recovery Services. 

Nahar has been a trustee and volunteer with services that support women and BAME communities including an RSL and BAME charities.

Published: 22nd June, 2021

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Hestia is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 20 20 165 and registered as a Charity number 294 555

Registered office Maya House, 134-138 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1LB 

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