All our Board Members are voluntary, they attend quarterly Board meetings and attend subcommittee in areas such as audit, remuneration and estate management.

They give their time to provide guidance, direction and constructive challenge to the plans and decisions we make to ensure we’re doing the right things in the right way.

 Their extensive knowledge and experience in housing, property, design, law, and the charity sector means they can provide us with governance to make sure we stay on track and are working within the relevant laws and regulations.

Wendy Tonge

Chair

Wendy is a Chartered Surveyor who has been involved with property for over 30 years. She has held various roles in companies and was latterly a Partner in a firm of Chartered Surveyors. Wendy chaired the Estate Management Committee before taking on the role of Chair in 2024.

Laurinda Hornblow

Vice Chair & Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Laurinda has worked in the public and private housing sector for 30 years and has extensive experience leading teams who delver excellent service to tenants. Laurinda is currently employed as Head of Operations and Growth at Twenty11 where she leads the strategic and operational direction of Twenty11.

Jim Ellison

Chair of the Estate Management Committee

Jim spent 45 years working in the Architectural Profession, becoming a Senior Design Associate for two major practices, running their housing departments, with projects all over the UK, working for major developers, Local Authorities and Housing Associations.

Brian Lipscombe

Chair of the Audit Committee

Brian has extensive housing experience, which includes chairing housing committees for local authorities. Brian currently chairs Thame and District Council’s Audit Committee. 

Maggie Smart

Resident representative 

Maggie taught languages and English as a foreign language in France and Germany. She took early retirement from teaching to care for her mother in Thame. Having previously taught life skills to adults with learning difficulties she began a new career helping adults with disabilities live independently in the local community. 

Sarah Peplow

Board Member

Sarah has spent most of her career in the independent and state education sectors as a teacher of Modern Languages and Head of Department. Since retiring she has volunteered for several community groups. Sarah is a member of the Estate Management and Renumeration Committees.

Charlotte Buckingham

Customer Service Lead Member

Charlotte has been working in the housing sector for over 20 years. Formerly a chief executive officer for a small charity that specialises in working with people with multiple and complex needs, she now is part of the executive team for a regional registered social housing provider. 

Derek Clarke

Board Member

Having previously served as a Regional Development Director for a national specialist housing association, Derek now leverages his extensive knowledge through private consultancy. He works with Local Authorities, Housing Associations, and Private House Builders to provide strategic advice and guidance on housing development and policy. Derek is dual-qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer, as well as a Chartered Town Planner. 

Mark Oliver

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead Member. Data Lead Member.

Mark is an experienced lawyer, starting his career in private practice (where he specialised in major projects); he now works for an international airport advising the business on a wide variety of issues including commercial, operations and regulation. Mark is an experienced Board member and Company Secretary with compliance and governance expertise. His responsibilities also include being a diversity champion, where he is the director sponsor for the disability network and has spoken on issues such as social mobility.