Mel Cox Director of Human Resources Expand 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.
Christopher Clarke Director of Finance Expand 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.
Paula Murphy Director of Performance & Development Expand Paula joined the Hestia Head Office team as Deputy Director in September 2015, before becoming Director of Performance and Development in December 2016. Previously, Paula was Director of the Hestia subsidiary, Healthwatch Central West London. Paula has significant experience of working in community engagement and represented the patient voice on the first Healthwatch England Special Inquiry on Unsafe Discharge. She also was instrumental in co-producing the award-winning ‘Dignity Champions’ programme supporting the peer assessment of care services. Paula has significant experience of disability equality having worked as a policy advisor for ten years in London, Australia and Ireland developing best practice initiatives in assessments, accessibility and training. Paula started her career in the private sector working for multi-nationals such as Accenture and Rentokil Initial. Paula graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with a degree in Social Policy and holds qualifications in training and human resource management.
Jo Tilley-Riley Director of Fundraising and Communications Expand 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.
Abigail Ampofo Regional Director of Operations Expand Abigail re-joined Hestia in 2017 as Director of Operations, having previously worked for the organisation in a variety of different roles. Abigail has worked in the housing and support sector since 2002 beginning her career within services for people living with HIV. She has also worked for local authorities developing training programmes for adult social care, designing a quality assurance development programme, has developed peer education programmes within health services and is a charity trustee. Abigail has a Master’s degree in Business Psychology and professional qualifications in substance misuse and programme management. Abigail is a Practitioner Member of the Association for Business Psychology.
Gayle Lowery-Jones Regional Director of Operations Expand 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
Patrick Ryan CEO Expand 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.
Nahar Choudhury Regional Director of Operations Expand 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.