Our People

×

Steve Quartermain

Acting Chair and Non Executive Director

Steve is a chartered Town Planner. Steve worked for nearly 30 years on Local government, first as a professional planner, then as an executive Director responsible for all front line service delivery including economic development and community planning. The council was adjudged to be an “excellent" council. Steve has stepped down as Chief Planner to the government in 2020. In he twelve years in this post Steve was involved in a programme of reform which included the National Planning Policy Framework, the review of the guidance suite and the launch of the National Design Guide.

×

Suzanne Forster

Non Executive Director

A finance and business improvement professional, with over twenty five years experience advising and operating at a senior executive level within the affordable housing sector.

×

Tony Travers

Senior Independent Director

Tony has over 35 years of industry experience with John Laing Construction and as Managing Director at Countryside Properties PLC. He led Countryside’s drive into London, delivering projects such as the Hackney 5 estates, the Peckham Partnership and Greenwich Millennium Village. He has overseen all aspects of the development process and delivered in excess of 30,000 homes on both brown and greenfield sites, many of which have been recognised as award winning by the RIBA, RTPI and CABE. He is passionate about adding both economic and social value through the design process.

×

Ruchira Neotia

Non-executive Director

Ruchira is a brand and marketing leader with an 18+ year international career building high-performance teams. She is currently consulting with Ascential Plc. and is on the board of international charity Hope & Homes for Children. She was previously at American Express, where she led a variety of global marketing initiatives, including the brand launch for India, and has led regional marketing teams in Microsoft and Apple for their education and advertising businesses. In December 2021, Ruchira became the youngest ever Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors. On a personal front, Ruchira is a keen traveller and a wine enthusiast and collector. She is currently in pursuit of a Diploma in Wines with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

×

Tim Seddon

Non Executive Director

Tim is a member of the Executive Team at Retirement Villages Group (owned by Axa) to lead their ambitious nationwide development growth plans in the senior living field. Prior to that he acquired 25 years’ development experience working at Operational Board level with two of the country’s prominent public property companies garnering knowledge across many sectors but with a specific focus on urban regeneration. At St Modwen Properties Plc he was the Executive Director responsible for the London and SE Region, a position he held for 12 years, fronting its development and asset management activities. He joined there from Land Securities Plc where as Head of Urban Community Development he was responsible for running the strategic land team. This followed significant periods as a Development Director in both the Central London and Retail teams where he spearheaded a number of major projects. Tim brings a wealth of experience in leading large complex development programmes with a particular interest in community and place-making principles and we look forward to harnessing this experience at Populo Homes.

×

Malcolm Levi

Chair

Malcolm has spent most of his career working in affordable housing. He was Chief Executive of Home Group for 10 years and previously of PCHA (Genesis and now Notting Hill Genesis) and Warden. He was also Finance Director of Merseyside Improved Houses (now Riverside Housing Group) and an Assistant Director at the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. He has held various non-executive and advisory roles, including for Richmond Housing Partnership and Peabody, where he was Vice Chair. He was also Advisor to Savills Affordable Housing team. He has been Chair of Populo Homes since January 2020.

×

Suzanne Forster

Board Member

A finance and business improvement professional, with over twenty five years experience advising and operating at a senior executive level within the affordable housing sector.

×

Tonia Secker

Board Member

Tonia's sector of expertise lies in social and affordable housing and she advises across the sector. She has over 20 years' experience advising both the public and private sectors on joint ventures, outsourcings and regeneration schemes and has particular experience of advising government agencies on funding arrangements for the delivery of affordable housing.

×

Deborah Heenan

CEO

Deborah is the Chief Executive Officer of Populo Living, building new homes in Newham, East London, on behalf of Newham Council. Newham is one of London’s most exciting, diverse and fastest growing boroughs; Deborah and the Populo Living team are committed to providing more homes that are affordable and high quality places that will stand the test of time. Her career ranges from Strategy Director for a major residential developer, to advising the former PM on Housing Policy, to delivering large scale residential schemes directly. Deb is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Wales, Trinity St David.

×

Michael Holland

Deputy CEO

Michael is Deputy CEO and part of the Executive Team. He is responsible for all development and construction activities across Populo Living. Michael has previously worked for both private and public sector organisations and has extensive experience of development over his career to date.

×

Hardeep Bhermi

Director of Finance

Hardeep is Populo’s Director of Finance and Resources. He was previously Director of Finance for Housing Plus Group and over 20 years experience in senior finance and management roles across the housing and property sector.

×