Our people

As Chief Executive, Lawrence is responsible for leading the effective strategic and operational management of Transform. Through leading the Executive and Senior Leadership Team Lawrence ensures that Transform achieves the highest possible standards of performance and accountability when delivering excellent outcomes for clients.

Lawrence was appointed Transform’s Chief Executive in August 2018 – bringing with him a wealth of strategic leadership experience shaping and developing housing, care and support services. This includes having led Genesis Housing Association’s care and support business for seven years, and having been a director leading policy, strategy and business development for 10 years at Stonham Housing Association (now part of the Home Group).

Lawrence has more than 30 years’ experience working in the housing and social care sectors. He holds trustee positions at BHT Sussex and Surrey Youth Focus and is a co-opted member of the housing committee for the Church of England’s Pension Board.

Contact Lawrence: lsantcross@transformhousing.org.uk

As the Director of Client Services for Transform, Bex is responsible for leading the delivery of all our housing and support services to provide excellent outcomes for clients. This role is pivotal in driving Transform's focus on client engagement as well as leading on our business improvement and fundraising activities.

Bex joined Transform in December 2023. She has worked in housing, homelessness and social care for more than 30 years, starting as a volunteer on the Southampton Resettlement Project in 1989.

Her career has included a spell as Strategic Commissioning Manager for Surrey County Council, being Head of Support and Neighbourhoods for the National Housing Federation and Chief Executive of the Surrey Care Association, acting as a specialist advisor to Government on youth homelessness and rough sleeping and senior roles within housing associations and at major homeless charities Crisis, Centrepoint and Shelter.

Bex has served on a number of voluntary Boards including at Hestia, The Richmond Fellowship and Evolve Housing + Support. She is passionate about involving people with lived experience – alongside colleagues and commissioners – to help produce effective services which transform the lives of those we support.

Contact Bex: rpritchard@transformhousing.org.uk

As Director of Asset Management & Capital Development Kevin is responsible for overseeing Transform's supported housing property portfolio and ensuring all homes are comfortable, safe and compliant with all statutory health and safety obligations.

This involves leading on property maintenance, strategic planning for investment to maintain homes above the Decent Homes Standard and for improvements to meet net zero carbon targets.

Kevin joined Transform in April 2023. MRICS and MCIOB qualified, he has worked in Social and Supported Housing for over 25 years within Property Services and Asset Management.

Kevin has also worked with several housing associations and local authorities, and prior to joining Transform, he worked at YMCA Downslink Group.

Contact Kevin: kstephens@transformhousing.org.uk

As Transform's Director of Finance Amanda Soobrayan leads our finance team and is the organisation’s accountable person for effective management of Transform’s financial resources. This role develops and implements finance strategies and approaches that enable the value for money delivery of organisational objectives.

Amanda services the Finance & Audit Committee and reports to the committee and wider Board of Trustees on financial related matters and strategy progress.

Amanda joined Transform Housing in September 2022. She brings 16 years of financial experience working in blue chip private sector companies and 15 years in the charity and housing association sector. She is a member of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Prior to joining Transform, Amanda was the Director of Finance at the veterans’ charity Stoll. Amanda is passionate about finding homes for homeless people.

Contact Amanda: asoobrayan@transformhousing.org.uk

As Director of Corporate Services Simone is responsible for the management of our People team and our Digital and Information Services.

On the HR side, this involves recruiting and supporting Transform staff, leading team and individual development, promoting health and wellbeing and helping ensure diversity and inclusion is embedded across the organisation.

Simone is also responsible for ensuring that Transform's digital and technical function is aligned to the organisation's purpose of providing housing and support for clients.

At Transform our work matters and our people matter, too. There’s little Simone is more passionate about than creating the environment where people can reach their full potential.

Simone brings her expertise to Transform following her extensive experience working in HR in the public and not for profit sectors, including Jisc, English Heritage, and the NHS.

Contact Simone: sbartley@transformhousing.org.uk

As Head of External Affairs & Communications Anita is responsible for delivering impactful communications that foster effective relationships with all Transform stakeholders. Anita joined Transform in March 2020 having worked in communications and marketing within the education and training sector for the past 28 years.

After honing her skills at three London training and enterprise councils, Anita joined Kingston University in 1999 where she established and led the University's nationally recognised press office. Anita was also responsible for championing staff engagement campaigns, delivering digital/social media activity and spearheading a community enquiries function.

Before joining Transform, a brief spell volunteering at a community charity supporting homeless people and those with mental health challenges increased Anita’s interest in helping vulnerable people in society. She is proud to be contributing to enabling so many people to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

Contact Anita: agupta@transformhousing.org.uk

As Head of Governance and Assurance, Mandy fulfils the role of Company Secretary and provides leadership in all governance activities, including board and committees as well as statutory and regulatory compliance. In addition Mandy leads on risk management, data protection and overseeing internal audit arrangements.

Mandy joined Transform in September 2021. She is a qualified chartered secretary and has 25 years’ experience working in housing governance, with eight years as Group Company Secretary.

Previously she held the role of Head of Service and was a key member of the senior management team contributing to the corporate management and leadership of a large social housing provider in the South West.

Contact Mandy: marnold@transformhousing.org.uk

In addition to governance and company secretarial matters Mandy has a breadth of experience in Microsoft 365, data protection, business continuity management and central services.

As Executive Assistant, Caroline supports the Chief Executive and Executive team to deliver Transform's business objectives including takes minutes at Board, committee and several other Transform meetings.

She is also responsible for pulling together information, facts and figures, organising visits and events and generally being a critical lynchpin for the organisation.

Caroline joined Transform as PA to the Chief Executive in August 2003, having held several PA roles in the education and regulatory sectors. She has a keen eye for detail, which is used extensively in her role, and a degree in maths and accounting, which isn’t, though she does love a spreadsheet and can follow most of what’s going on in finance meetings.

Caroline dreams of the day when her inbox is empty!

Contact Caroline: cfelton@transformhousing.org.uk

Ollie joined Transform as a Trustee in November 2019 and was appointed as Chair of the Board in 2023.

His background is drawn from 25 years of operational and commercial experience within some well known brands including ExxonMobil, Alliance, Boots, Accenture and most recently Centrica (British Gas). Initially qualifying as an accountant he’s held a range of leadership roles as Finance Director, latterly transitioning to Managing Director. He’s now a qualified and accredited coach and runs his own business coaching leaders and teams in London and the South East.

Ollie lives in Surrey with his wife and two teenage daughters.

Julie is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. After a successful career in a boutique London law firm where she held various positions including Managing Partner and Head of the Property Department, Julie retired in 2017 to pursue her various leisure interests. In addition to her position on the Board of Transform she is Vice Chair of Inclusive Education Trust, a multi-site Academy in Surrey, and Governor of Colfe’s School, an independent school in Lewisham.

Karen is a social housing resident and works as a Training Officer for Aster Group – a Housing Association based in the South.

“I feel passionately that social housing is a necessity and is an essential part of our current environment. I also firmly believe that everyone has a right to a safe and secure home, and nobody should be homeless. I bring a strong commitment to, and experience of, community engagement and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by tenants in today’s housing environment.”

Natalia is an experienced real estate professional with 20 years of track record within property investment and development, previously working in leadership positions across public and private sectors. She is currently driving the performance of a specialist asset management team at LaSalle Investment Management within operational sectors, including housing (BtR, PRS and student accommodation) and hospitality. Starting her career on the hotel consultancy side at TRI and JLL Hotels/JLL Capital Markets, she then moved into the asset management for two open-ended funds at Legal & General, followed by lead surveying role at London Borough of Lewisham and later becoming the head of investments for Asia Pacific Investment Partners, running multiple teams across various property disciplines and geographies.

Natalia graduated from University of Surrey with BSc in International Hospitality Management, followed by receiving her MSc in Real Estate Finance from Cass Business School at City, University of London. She is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a certified person under FCA. Natalia also serves on several Advisory and Governing Boards of not-for-profit organisations.

Find out more about Natalia's views on joining Transform as a Trustee, here. https://transformhousing.org.uk/news/journey-net-carbon-zero-and-new-bu…

Paul Rees joined the Transform Board in November 2019. He qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and spent over 30 years with the firm, 20 as a partner within the audit division. For much of his career he was involved in auditing and advising companies in the telecoms industry and was the global telecoms industry leader for the firm.

Subsequently he has been the Chair of the audit committee of the Royal College of Nursing, Greensleeves Homes Trust, a care home group, and Southern Housing Group. He is currently chair of the audit committee of Surrey Police and chair of Citizens Advice Waverley.

Mike Ryan joined the Transform Board in 2020. Mike has worked in social housing for over 20 years, specialising in repairs, voids, asset management and estate services. He started his career with Raven Housing Trust as an Apprentice Electrician. Having worked across the business in Voids, Repairs, Asset Management and the Commercial Subsidiary. His current role is Head of Property Services at Raven, overseeing Responsive, Major & Commercial Repairs; Damp, Mould & Disrepair; Voids; Electrical Testing; Gas Compliance and Estate Services.

Alec is an entrepreneur, business person and engineer.

An apprenticed avionics engineer from school and started his first venture in 1986 when he founded Hicom Technology, a software company. Alec’s current venture is also in the tech space, advising and troubleshooting in technology for companies of all sizes from multi-nationals to start-ups.

He has also been a founder of several other businesses and has sat on several Boards as a Non-exec Director and as a trustee of several charities.
He is also an Adjunct Lecturer at UCL School of Management on the Masters Entrepreneurship course teaching the Technology Entrepreneurship module.

A Chartered Engineer, a Chartered IT Professional and a Chartered Director, Fellow of the British Computer Society and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Learn more about Alec's views on becoming a Transform Trustee, here. https://transformhousing.org.uk/news/meet-trustee-alec-sanderson

Katie is Chief Product and Commercial Officer for Wesleyan – a Birmingham-based financial services mutual company for doctors, dentists and teachers. She previously worked in a number of senior roles across Retail and Insurance. Starting her career in audit at Arthur Andersen, she has worked predominantly in Customer focused roles including as Customer Experience Director at Tesco, Chief Customer Officer at LV and Group Customer Director at Aviva Plc.

Katie also sits as a Non Executive Director of Capital and Regional Plc and a trustee for Onside Youth Zones – West.

As well as being a full-time working member of the Royal Family, The Duchess of Edinburgh supports a large number of her own charities and organisations. She has a wide range of interests which include supporting people with disabilities, the prevention of blindness in developing countries, agriculture and fashion.

Much of the day-to-day working life of The Duchess of Edinburgh is taken up with her roles as Patron of more than 70 charities and organisations. Each year, Her Royal Highness undertakes hundreds of visits to schools, universities, military bases and charity headquarters in order to learn more about their work, and to highlight it to the wider world.

The Duchess became Royal Patron of Transform in May 2006.

Virginia Bottomley, Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, is a British Conservative Party politician. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons from 1984 to 2005. She was raised to the peerage in 2005.

Baroness Bottomley was a member of the Supervisory Board of Akzo Nobel NV for 12 years and is a Trustee of The Economist Newspaper. Virginia is Chancellor of the University of Hull and is a member of the UK Advisory Council of the International Chamber of Commerce. She has been Chair of the Board Practice at executive head-hunting firm Odgers Berndtson since 2000.

Baroness Bottomley is involved with a number of charitable and academic bodies. She is a Lay Canon of Guildford Cathedral, and a Freeman of the City of London. She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey in March 2006 and Sheriff of Hull in 2013. Virginia has been a Patron of Transform since 2005.

Andrew Watson served in parishes in the West Midlands and London before becoming the Bishop of Aston in 2008 and Bishop of Guildford in 2015. He is married to Beverly and they have four children, two girls and two boys. Andrew has served as a trustee on a number of housing and welfare charities, and has written three books on the themes of leadership, discipleship and confidence. He became Patron of Transform in June 2015.

Sally Varah trained as a national features and fashion journalist with Thomson Newspapers, before launching her own copywriting and communications business. She has worked with national and international companies, graphic designers and advertising agencies.

In 2008, following the sudden death of her husband, Michael Varah (former Surrey Chief Probation Officer and Trustee of Transform), she took over the role of High Sheriff of Surrey in his place. This confirmed her commitment to the power of restorative interventions across communities, and connected her with a series of charities linked to this work. Since then she has been a Trustee, Patron or Adviser to charities working to support the vulnerable and marginalised in our society – including three years as a Trustee of Transform. She chairs the Michael Varah Memorial Fund, set up after Michael’s death. It works to give individuals, who have been affected by crime in different ways, opportunities to rebuild and transform their lives.

Sally became a Patron in 2018.

Sir Richard Stilgoe has spent fifty years as a performer and writer in all forms of the performing arts. On television he appeared on Nationwide, That's Life and several series of his own. On stage he toured for many years with his one-man show and subsequently his two-man show with Peter Skellern.

He wrote lyrics for Cats, Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera, music and lyrics for Bodywork, Brilliant the Dinosaur, ‘Orpheus – the Mythical’ and the libretto for the community operas Road Rage and The Freedom Game. His broadcasting work has earned him the New York Radio Festival Gold Award, three Monaco Festival Prizes and the Prix Italia. In 1997 he founded the Orpheus Centre in Surrey, where young disabled people prepare for independent living through a series of performing arts courses.

He owns and drives a JCB digger, and has five children and 13 grandchildren. Sir Richard was knighted in the Jubilee honours list of 2012. He has been a Patron of Transform since 2002.

Michael More-Molyneux has lived in Surrey all his life. His family home, Loseley Park, was built by an ancestor for Queen Elizabeth I. Michael was managing partner of Loseley Park Farms for over twenty years, before handing it over to his son Alexander. Michael was made Lord Lieutenant of Surrey in August 2015. He is a former Chair of Visit Surrey, President of the Surrey County Agricultural Society, and board member of the Historic Houses Association and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. He gives active support to a number of voluntary causes, including . These include Shooting Star Children’s Hospices; the military; and as Chairman of the Guildford Cathedral Appeal. Michael became a Patron of Transform in August 2015.

Elizabeth Kennedy joined the Transform Board in 2008 and served as Chair from 2010 to 2013. Elizabeth has extensive business experience and has worked for several well-known retailers, including Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Debenhams. She ran her own retail business for nearly 20 years.

Her past charitable and voluntary work has included the Cobham community group Envisage, the Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust and she was a Chairman of African Revival. A former High Sheriff of Surrey (2015-16), she is a Trustee of Disability Initiative and Chairman of the Cobham Heritage Day Committee. Elizabeth became a Patron of Transform in 2018.

Professor Max Lu is currently President and Vice-Chancellor of University of Surrey, responsible for leading the University, defining its academic direction and strategy, and ensuring that it is well managed.

He is a Director of the Boards of UK Research and Innovation and National Physical Laboratory, and a member of the Leadership Council of the National Centre for Universities and Business. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey and active in many local arts, charitable and community organisations.

Professor Lu lectured at Nanyang Technological University from 1991 to 1994, and held academic and leadership positions at the University of Queensland from 1994 to 2016, rising from senior lecturer to chair professor. He founded the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials and served as its inaugural director for eight years. He was awarded the Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship in 2003 and 2008.

Professor Lu has published over 500 journal papers on nanomaterials and is co-inventor of more than 20 granted international patents. He has been honoured with numerous awards including Orica Award, RK Murphy Medal, Le Fevre Prize, ExxonMobil Award, China International Science and Technology Award, Japan Chemical Society Lecture Award, Chemeca Medal, and P.V. Danckwerts Lecture. He was also recently honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (Officer in the General Division) for his distinguished service to education and international research in the field of materials chemistry and nanotechnology, to engineering, and to Australia-China relations.

Professor Lu served on many Government committees in Australia. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Institution of Chemical Engineers, Royal Society of Chemistry, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, World Academy of Science, National Academy of Inventors, and a Foreign Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Penelope Keith began her career working in repertory theatre across the UK. Her career spans television dramas and documentaries, theatre and radio and she has appeared in many well-known TV and radio shows. She has been President of the Actors' Benevolent Fund since 1990, and is president of the South West Surrey National Trust. A former High Sheriff of Surrey (2002-3), she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to the arts and to charity in 2014. Penelope has been a Patron of Transform since 1998.

After 40 years in the investment business, David joined Transform in 2000. He remained a Trustee until 2011, serving as Chairman from 2004 to 2007 and as Vice Chairman for seven years.

A former High Sheriff of Surrey (2005-6), David was made an Officer of the British Empire for services to charities in 2014. David has been a Patron of Transform since 2014.

David began his career as a teacher. He joined local government in 1998 and set up an award winning approach to lifelong learning. He was asked to share his approach to this with colleagues across Europe and Australia.

In 2003 he became a Strategic Director at Walsall MBC and subsequently held Chief Executive roles at Trafford MBC from 2005 and at Surrey CC from 2009 to 2017.

Malcolm is the Group Chairman and Chief Executive of The Wilky Group. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.

His entire career of over 50 years has been spent in commercial property development and investment, nearly 45 of them with The Wilky Group, which he joined in 1973 as Property Director to build up its portfolio of developments and investments, completing over 80 projects in all. In the early '90s he was seconded to become the first UK Managing Director of McArthur Glen, where he helped to establish six UK Designer Outlet Centres for what has become Europe's leading factory outlet operator.

Malcolm’s lifelong interest in revitalising communities by improving the quality of their built environment is reflected in his role as deputy chairman of the national RICS Social Impact Awards. He is serving his third term on the CBI South East Regional Council and has joined their National SME committee. At a regional level Malcolm was vice chairman of Enterprise First until 2019, the South East’s leading enterprise agency. In January 2017 he completed a five-year term as chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership Enterprise M3’s Land & Property Group, a key forum for planning, development and investment issues, having previously chaired the former Hampshire Economic Partnership’s Land & Property Task Group.

Cllr Fiona White has been Surrey County Council’s representative for Transform (then Surrey Community Development Trust) since 2005.

Paul joined Wates Limited in 1962 after two years as a Lieutenant in the 14th/20th King’s Hussars. In 1969 he became a Director of the Main Board of Wates Group, then in 1984 Managing Director of Wates City of London Properties, and Chairman in 1994 until 2001. Paul was then a Director of Wates Group from 2001 until his retirement in 2008.

Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Charted Surveyors, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and became an Honorary Fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute following a term as Chairman of the Institute. Paul has been involved with Transform for over 15 years.

Desmond joined Price Waterhouse (now PwC) from Cambridge University in 1970 becoming an audit Partner in 1983 and working mainly with large oil companies. He retired in 2004.

Since retirement he spent nine years as a member of the Financial Reporting Review Panel. He is a Governor of Abbots Hospital in Guildford.

Dame Elizabeth Anson is a former JP, Immigration Judge and Magistrate. She was invested as a Dame Commander, Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1995. Elizabeth has been involved with Transform for more than 30 years.

The Lady (Elizabeth) Toulson is a lawyer by training; her service in the voluntary sector includes the National Chairmanship of both the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and the Children's Society; governorship of Charterhouse School, Pond Meadow Academy and the Queen Elizabeth Foundation; chairmanship of Guildford Cathedral Council, and a year as High Sheriff of Surrey (2009-10). In addition, she has been a trustee of the Elizabeth Finn Trust and the Music of Life Foundation.

Bernard is a Chartered Accountant, and was a partner at Wilkins Kennedy until his retirement in 2006. Bernard was a Trustee of Transform from 2006 until 2015; following his retirement from the Board he joined our Advisory Council. He has a keen and active interest in supporting local organisations and charities.

Lavinia Sealy is a previous Chairman of Surrey CC, and is heavily committed to working with the voluntary and business sectors. She is particularly interested in helping to educate and train young people and disabled young people and has a keen interest in the Arts. Lavinia is a Patron of the Community Foundation for Surrey, President of Age UK Surrey, and has been an Ambassador of Transform since 2018.

Lesley Myles, a magistrate in adult and youth courts for over 30 years, has had a lifelong interest in the rehabilitation of offenders and supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Surrey.

She is a former chairman of a number of organisations such as Surrey Probation Service, Surrey Magistrates’ Association, Surrey Care Trust, Surrey Jobmatch and Woking Alzheimer’s Society, Surrey Youth Focus, and the High Sheriff Youth Awards. Lesley has been a member of our Advisory Council since 2008.

Greg has a commercial background, joining the University of Surrey in 2002 from the private sector where he worked in banking, electricity, telecommunications and satellite industries in South Africa, UK and mainland Europe.

Greg is currently the University’s Senior Vice-President, Advancement and Partnerships. In this role he is responsible for engagement with civil and civic society, including Alumni and Strategic Partners so as to advance the University’s growth through collaboration. The role includes sponsorship of large-scale strategic projects.