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.
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.
Gayle Lowery-Jones Executive Director of Services Expand Gayle joined Hestia in 2014 as Deputy Director of Operations before becoming Regional Director in 2016 and Executive Director of Services in 2022. 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 Chief Executive Expand Patrick joined Hestia as CEO in March 2002 during which time it has grown from a small West London charity, to delivering life changing services across London, including supporting survivors of domestic abuse, modern slavery and those struggling with their mental health. It is the home of domestic abuse and sexual violence campaign UK SAYS NO MORE which developed Safe Spaces to enable victims of domestic abuse to access support on their local high street. Under Patrick’s leadership, Hestia developed the Bright Sky domestic abuse app with Vodafone and its Everyone’s Business programme offers bespoke domestic abuse support to employers, running alongside the free Respond to Abuse advice line and website. Patrick is a UKCP registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist with a particular interest in trauma.