Our Chair of Trustees is Karen Ayling
Initially a history teacher, Karen has worked in the Housing sector since the mid 1980’s for Local Authorities and Housing Associations. She has held Executive Director roles at Thames Valley Housing Association based in London & SE and was Managing Director at Westcountry Housing Association based in Devon & Cornwall. From 2014, Karen has undertaken interim roles including as Regional Director for Stonewater, operating across the South, and as Managing Director for Circle 33 and Old Ford in London, where she assisted with the governance processes required when become part of Clarion – one of the largest Housing Associations in the UK.
Karen has strategic and operational experience across most areas of housing including Asset Management and development, support structures for effective customer insight and influence, as well as the delivery of statutory functions including Homelessness and Housing Registers, Shared Ownership, and accommodation-based support. Latterly she has focused on supporting boards to develop robust decision making and monitoring practices alongside service redesign /implementation.
Karen has also been a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk for Cornwall Housing since 2022.
Susan Bennett
Susan is a Director of Operations for a Law Firm established in 2022. She brings a wealth of management and organisational skills from her years of running teams who have to deliver an exceptional client service and facilities management. She has been an avid supporter of Arc for a number of years, and is keen to continue working with the Board and team at Arc.
Susan enjoys spending time with her friends and family – including her two crazy dogs. She also volunteers for Avon & Somerset Police Force, as a victim support chaperone.
If you are interested in joining our Board, please contact Andy: [email protected]
Sean Canavan
I am a charted town planner who has worked in the public sector for over 30 years ranging from local authorities to my current role as Director of Strategy at the Planning Inspectorate based in Bristol. I have experience in a range of areas including performance improvement, change management, strategic delivery, governance as well as programme and project management.
I am passionate about the need for basic safe accommodation for everyone. I want to help change the perception about housing to being seen as a basic human right, where with the right support people can thrive. Living close to Taunton, I am delighted to be able to provide some help to this incredibly important local organisation.
Martin Lyne
Martin is a business leader and chartered accountant with a successful 30-year career developed in visionary, values defined organisations across the Retail, Telecommunications and Healthcare sectors. He is experienced in business strategy, financial management and organisational leadership. In 1998 he and his family relocated to Somerset attracted by the quality of family life and the opportunity to join Orange. Over a 13-year tenure he played a leading role establishing the commercial culture of the business during a period of unprecedented growth to market leadership and integration into EE.
In the last decade he led the transformation of Alexandra supplying the health and social services sector, witnessing the inspiring work that front line workers carry out to improve the quality of lives. Martin is a champion of health and well-being and believes that everyone has the right to have a roof over their head and the opportunity to lead an independent life. He is a board member of the Avon Wildlife Trust and a community volunteer at Dorothy House.
Jo Reece
I am a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and have worked in both public and commercial sectors including the energy industry, facilities management and healthcare.
I have worked in social housing for 25 years and have been the Chief Executive of a housing association in Devon for the last 5 years.
I believe that good housing is fundamental to well-being and I am keen to support Arc in its work to achieve this.