Charlotte Norman

Chair

Charlie was appointed to the SLH Chair role from 1st April 2026, having served as a non-executive director on the Board of SLH since September 2024.

Charlie has worked in the local authority and social housing sector  for over 30 years, across the North West and in Vancouver, Canada, with a background in community and co-operative development, neighbourhood management, supported housing and regeneration.

Charlie is honoured to be CEO of MSV, having worked for the business for over 20 years and committed to providing the best service possible for customers and communities. Charlie is proud to be the Chair of the Greater Manchester Housing Providers Partnership and Chair of the Northern Housing Consortium, as well as a charity trustee.

Working with a wide range of colleagues, customers, partners and community and voluntary sector colleagues, Charlie is a campaigner for social justice and tackling inequality.  She is also a firm believer in building a great work environment where people can flourish with a focus on flexibility, agility and creativity.

Steve Bentley

Deputy Chair

Steve has over 35 years of experience in corporate banking, having qualified with the institute of bankers and was the former Relationship Director for Barclays specialised in supporting Social Housing providers in the North West before retiring in 2019.

He brings considerable corporate governance, finance and treasury management experience to South Lakes Housing. Steve lives just outside of Kirkby Lonsdale and is also the senior independent director at the ForViva Group, a social housing provider with wide-reaching commercial activities based in Salford.

Silas Heys

Chair of Development Committee

Nicola Haywood-Cleverly

Board member

With a background in engineering, Nicola has extensive knowledge of the technology industry and a wealth of expertise in implementing large-scale, complex change, often digitally enabled to deliver improvements and innovation across the public sector. She has been a Chief Digital and Information Officer in the NHS, integrated care, and policing.

With a passion for sustainability, supporting communities and doing what is right to care for and protect people, Nicola works as an advisor to the digital health and care sector, including the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

An experienced governor, NED and chair, her contribution to strategic development, resourcing and investment, risk and assurance, and the use of business intelligence and data is highly valued. She is a board member at OnGo Homes and a NED at University Hospitals Morecambe Bay, which complement and benefit her work at South Lakes Housing.

Nicola has a lifelong relationship with the region and welcomes this opportunity to give something back.

Tony Muir

Board member

Tony is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and he has worked in property asset management for over 30 years. His roles have spanned the private sector, public sector and over the last five years, Social Housing. Tony has worked in property consultancy working with various nationwide clients, advising on both the client side and delivering as a contractor or supply chain partner.

Tony is an experienced Statutory Company Director previously managing several property services companies delivering to major local authorities and housing providers. His most recent roles in housing have seen him operating at Director and Executive level reporting to the Board.

Tony now runs his own Asset Management Consultancy providing expertise to the Housing, Public and Private Sectors.

Steve Hughes

Board Member

Steve Hughes leads Oldham Council’s Strategy, Public Affairs and Engagement, Transformation, Governance, and Data & Insight functions. He also serves as the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the council’s digital programme, driving innovation and modernisation.

With 12 years’ experience in Chief Officer and Chair roles within the Citizens Advice network, alongside senior non-executive positions in housing and education, Steve brings extensive expertise in transformation, customer-focused services, operational management, and change leadership.

His 12-year tenure as a local government cabinet member highlights his deep commitment to public service. A passionate advocate for HIV awareness, Steve also serves as a trustee for national Citizens Advice, reflecting his dedication to social justice and community empowerment.

Claire Stone

Board Member

Claire has worked in social housing for over 30 years, starting as a housing assistant through to an executive director in a national housing association. She has led housing, estate and tenancy management teams as well as teams delivering development and R&M with responsibility for building and customer safety. Claire also delivered large scale construction and facilities management projects alongside the NHS in both the primary and acute care settings.

Claire is currently a board member of a wholly council owned private sector landlord, Blackpool Housing Company (now a joint board with Blackpool Coastal Homes) and is Chair of Lumen, their registered housing association subsidiary. Claire is Chair of Harrogate Housing Association and is also a member of the board of ForHousing, based in Salford.

As well as a wealth of experience on both governance and operations, Claire brings a passion for working with residents and their communities to provide the affordable, safe and secure homes people need to thrive and build healthy and happy lives. Her work with consultancy 4point2 includes mentoring residents and those with lived experience of social housing who are, or want to become board members.

John Walker

Board Member

John has 30 years experience working in a range of roles and housing organisations within the social housing sector.

Experience and key skill areas include corporate and asset strategy, business planning,  regulatory compliance, change management, stock rationalisation and growth. Further experience in policy development, research, public affairs and external engagement. Previous senior housing experience with Gentoo Group, Home Group, Derwent Housing Association and Director of JPW housing consultancy. Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

David Butcher

Independent Member of Audit and Risk Committee

David is a chartered accountant and has held various financial management positions in both private and public sectors.

He was recently the Director of Finance and University Secretary at Leeds Trinity University, with responsibilities including strategic and operational financial management, strategic business planning and leading on the risk management processes. David grew up in and still has ties to the South Lakes area and is keen to support SLH in the key role it plays in the area.

Martyn Nicholson

Board Member

Martyn was the Managing Director of a local housebuilding company (Russell Armer Homes) for 30 years before retiring in 2021. He originally trained as a quantity surveyor and was a Fellow of the RICS. He has lived in Kendal for over 40 years and has been on the board of Queen Katherine School, Kendal College and Kendal Futures. 

Nick Paxman

Board Member

Nick has over 40 years’ experience in residential land and development, predominantly across North Lancashire and Cumbria. His early career included 15 years in property agency work, during which he specialised for several years in residential land sales and new-build housing.

This was followed by a further 15 years working on private speculative housing projects, giving him extensive hands-on experience across the full development lifecycle. For the past decade, Nick has focused on residential project management for both private and corporate clients, with his more recent work increasingly centred on new technologies, renewable energy, and the Net Zero agenda. Alongside his professional career, Nick has significant governance experience. He served as a board member and later Chair of Lune Valley Rural Housing Association. Following its merger with South Lakes Housing, he joined the SLH Board at the end of March 2026.

Fiona Martin

Board Member

Fiona has over two decades of senior leadership experience within a major service organisation, delivering essential services across the public sector markets. 

She brings extensive commercial, contractual and operational expertise, with a strong track record of leading large, multi‑disciplinary teams and improving service quality, customer experience and organisational performance. 

Her career has been shaped by a commitment to improving experiences and ensuring services positively impact people’s lives.  

Fiona offers board‑level insight in workforce leadership, stakeholder engagement, and transformation with a particular focus on customer‑centred service delivery. 

Now transitioning into non-executive role, she is focused on contributing strategically within organisations with a strong social impact. 

A long‑term resident of Cumbria, Fiona has a deep connection to the region and welcomes the opportunity to support local communities and give something back. 

Paul Jones

Independent Member of Audit and Risk Committee

Paul is the Company Secretary for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, bringing a wealth of experience from previous roles at large complex public sector organisations across the North of England. 

Paul has successfully brought several organisations back into compliance following governance failures or regulatory warnings.  

Paul is proud of his public sector service and brings a commitment  to providing safe, affordable, and high-quality homes, with a focus on tenant welfare, community improvement, and social purpose. 

Alison Benson

Independent Member of Housing and Communities Committee

Alison is a South Lakes Housing resident who is passionate about improving homes and strengthening communities. She brings empathy, strong listening skills and first-hand experience of the housing system, helping to ensure tenants’ voices are heard in decisions that affect them. 

With a background in retail management and customer service, Alison understands the importance of clear communication and practical problem-solving. Following significant life changes, she is committed to fairness and wellbeing, and to representing Residents, particularly those who may find it harder to engage, so services and support are more accessible for everyone. 

Chelsea Turrell

Independent Member of Housing and Communities Committee

Chelsea is passionate about ensuring residents receive value for money from SLH and are provided with a high-standard repairs service. As a resident, she is keen to share her experience and contribute to improving services. 

Chelsea has been an SLH resident for two years. Outside of her committee role, she enjoys spending time with her children and running her charity organisation, ‘Remembering Romeo’. Chelsea brings dedication and a straightforward communication style, with a focus on practical outcomes for residents.

Peter Miles

Independent Member of Housing and Communities Committee

Peter is originally from Liverpool and has lived in Milnthorpe for over 30 years. He is a husband, father and grandfather, with nine grandchildren living around the world and a great-grandchild locally. 

With excellent IT skills  and a strong eye for detail, Peter values listening and understanding different perspectives. He hopes to make a practical difference for both residents and SLH colleagues by supporting improvements that strengthen services and day-to-day experiences across the organisation. 

Karl Tchumak

Independent Member of Housing and Communities Committee

Karl is a shared owner and has lived in Cumbria for 21 years. He brings almost 20 years of management experience and is committed to using it to support his role on the Housing & Communities Committee. 

Karl’s focus is on helping SLH provide better services and improving quality and standards across homes and neighbourhoods. He aims to be approachable and constructive, balancing residents’ lived experience with a practical understanding of how teams deliver services and drive continuous improvement.

Godfrey (Geoff) Evans

Independent Member of Housing and Communities Committee

Royal Marines to a Maritime Captain operating worldwide I have had a life of service.  

Geoff has had a lifelong commitment to service, beginning with a career in the Royal Marines before moving into a maritime role as a Captain operating worldwide. He and his wife, Jan, met while living and working in Hong Kong, where they developed a shared love of Asian cuisine. 

A passionate sailor, Geoff keeps a yacht on the Crinan Canal on the west coast of Scotland and regularly explores the surrounding islands. Alongside his maritime work, he spent many years supporting hard‑to‑reach young people and adults, including running an innovative outreach programme at Stanford University in California, working with communities affected by gang activity and drug misuse. 

Geoff has been an SLH resident for six years at Drummermire in Ambleside. He remains driven by a strong desire to serve his community and is excited to support the Board’s work to provide safe, high‑quality and affordable homes. 

Pauline Vaughan

Independent Member of Housing and Communities Committee

Pauline has been a South Lakes Housing resident for nearly six years and has been actively involved in resident meetings and the Repairs Committee throughout that time. She has developed a strong understanding of housing services, governance and the importance of effective scrutiny, contributing to activities such as reviewing communications, supporting recruitment processes and participating in complaints reviews. 

Alongside this, Pauline has built strong digital and community engagement skills through founding and managing an online support group for older people. She organises events, facilitates discussions and handles sensitive matters with professionalism and confidentiality. 

Pauline is passionate about ensuring everyone has access to safe, secure and affordable housing, and she is committed to representing residents’ voices while supporting the delivery of responsive, accountable and inclusive services. 

Sue Cooper

Housing & Communities Committee - Observer

Sue is local to the Ambleside area and can trace her family roots in the Lake District back to the late 1400s. She married her husband from Coniston more than 51 years ago and has long been involved in community life. 

After leaving school without qualifications, Sue returned to education through college and university, then worked for nearly 30 years with Cumbria Children’s Services. She has volunteered with groups including Girlguiding, St John Ambulance and Cancer Care, and has served as a school governor and committee chair. Sue is keen to use this experience to support the work of SLH’s Housing & Community Committee.