The Management Board
Aaron Whitaker
(Chairman)
Terry Rocque
(Vice Chair and Chair of Audit and Risk)
Terry has been involved in housing for more than 30 years and is currently a Director with a management consulting organisation. He holds an MBA (Marketing) and a BA in Computing. Terry has previously worked as a service head for a local authority and as a Chief Executive for a housing association based in south London.
Skills: Housing management, human resources, training, finance/budgetary control
Lexanna Anderson
(Board Member)
Lexanna has a number of years’ experience within the housing sector, where her role included income and tenancy management in large mainstream housing associations.
Vernon Clarke
(Board Member)
Vernon is a Principal Policy Officer working in tenant participation. He has an LLB(Hons) qualification and is also the author of Getting Black Tenants Back. Vernon’s work focuses on tenants’ rights and housing management. Vernon previously served on the board of another Registered Provider.
Skills: Tenancy law, tenant participation
Anton Kumar
(Board Member)
Anton is a civil/structural engineer. He holds an MSc (Structures) in structural engineering, a BE (Civil) degree, is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineering (FICE) and the Association for Project Management (FAPM).
Vera Tama
(Board Member)
Vera worked for a local authority in roles including Race Relations Supervisor, Housing Estate Manager, Homelessness/ Housing Needs Officer and Housing Advisor. Vera holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Studies from South Bank University.
Abisola Omodeni
(Board Member)
Abisola has a number of years’ experience as a Project Management Officer and is currently working at one of the big four consultancies. She holds a BSc in Finance from Portsmouth University.
Robert Temowo
(Board Member)
Robert is a careers coach and mentor in higher education, with 16 years’ experience in the education, charity and youth sector. He currently works for East London University. completing a MSc in Integrative counselling and Coaching.
Dr Bola Odepidan
(Board Member)
Bola is the Training Director at Housing Advocacy, which is an international regeneration, renewal and training organisation. He has more than 30 years of professional experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors – internationally and within the UK. Bola is also a visiting Business Tourism Lecturer, with a specific interest in community investment and social development strategy.
Skills: Regeneration, training, community investment and social development strategy.
Leslie Laniyan MBE
(Executive Board Member)
Leslie has been the Managing Director of Shian Housing Association since 1989. He is one of the most experienced chief executives of a Black and Minority Ethnic housing association. Leslie is the Chair of Odu-Dua Housing Association, Chair of Faith Regen, Chair of the Pentecostal Credit Union and on the Board of Global One.
Skills: Housing, finance, development
Indran Thavendra
(Executive Board Member)
Indran has been Shian’s Finance Director since 1992 and is a qualified Accountant (CIMA). He was previously a long-serving member of the Board of Apna Ghar and the Tamil Community Housing Association, where he was also Treasurer.
Skills: Finance, private finance