Board Members
Our board members come from a wide range of disciplines and give their time voluntarily to assist the Women’s Pioneer organisation.
Kim Vernau, Chair of the Board
Kim is currently a Non- Executive Director of Women’s Pioneer Housing and the Housing Association Property Mutual. She is also Chair of acumen7, a unique network of senior executives and independent consultants who offer their skills and experience to help businesses and other organisations solve the challenges of development and change. Further, she is a committee member of the Next Generation Services Advisory Group for Innovate UK and is providing consultancy for a legal guide on residential construction law.
Louise Wolfson, Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of Remuneration & Nominations Committee
Louise is a senior corporate lawyer who currently works on a freelance basis. She also sits as a Tribunal Judge hearing social security and immigration appeals. She previously worked for Allen & Overy, spending some time in New York, and was also seconded to Virgin and Merrill Lynch.
Claire Thurston
Claire is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor (MRICS) and Town Planner (MRTPI).Claire currently works for Altair Ltd and specialises in planning applications, consultations, consents, project appraisals, budget monitoring and management of multi-disciplinary project teams.
Vivienne King
Vivienne, formerly of The Crown Estate, is CEO of Revo, following four years as CEO at Soho Housing Association. Vivienne has worked extensively in London’s West End. Vivienne was also Chair of Real Estate Balance, a non-profit membership organisation working to improve the gender balance at senior levels in the property sector.
Caroline Portsmouth
Caroline is a former journalist who specialised in legal reporting. She is currently working at St Paul’s Cathedral. Caroline is a tenant of Women’s Pioneer.
Kasia Kwilecka
Kasia is a tenant with Women’s Pioneer and a full time student reading for a Screenwriting and Producing Degree. She has a background in financial market research and system testing. She used to be a therapist for a charitable foundation and Chair for Women’s Pioneer Scrutiny Panel.
Michael Reed, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Mike is an experienced finance and internal audit professional who prior to retirement held a number of corporate and policy roles in the Senior Civil Service. He now works part-time conducting specialist reviews for the Government Internal Audit Agency and governance seminars for private and public sector organisations
Ruth Buckingham
Ruth is a successful Strategic Planner and Project Management Office Lead with a background in planning, performance monitoring, project management and business improvement. She has a track record of successfully delivering corporate transformation programmes, service reviews and business improvement projects.
Judith Page
Judith has over 20 years’ experience working in property-related roles in Social Housing and Local Government. She has 15 years’ experience as a senior manager at Executive/Director level. Achievements include Designing and delivering and restructure which delivers £500k worth of savings. Putting in place action plans to improve service delivery for the repairs service. Producing a procurement strategy including IT plan for the contract procurement.
Yemi Aladerun
Yemi is a chartered architect who specialises in residential developments. She currently works for Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association as a Major Project Manager and Quality Assurance Champion. Yemi’s other advisory position is as a trustee for Olmec, a Social Enterprise which champions race equality through economic and social justice.