Our People

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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.

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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.

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John Joannou

Director of Assets, Customer Services and Populo Homes

John is Populo’s Director of Assets, Customer Service and Populo Homes. He was previously L&Q's Resident Services Director for the East Region. John reported directly to the Executive Group Director and I has over 30 years experience in social housing and management roles.

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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.

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Abishake KC

Head of Finance

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Fiona Shankland

Head of Design

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Mark Nevshehir

Head of Construction

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Nick Clough

Carpenters Project Director

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Victor Chamberlain

Head of Communications

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Raihan Ali

Communications Officer

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Olivia Brunt

Executive Assistant

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Bhavisha Dabasia

Corporate Finance Manager

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David Chalmers

Senior Development Manager

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Emma Eady

Senior Design Manager

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Francis Narweh

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Gareth Ahier

Senior Construction Manager

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Guy Powell

Senior Construction Manager

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Lerato Marema

Community Wealth Building Manager

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Foysol Uddin

Community Development Officer

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Robert Shirt

Procurement Manager

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Sesen Ghezai

Development Manager

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Vu Luong

Financial Planning and Investment Analyst

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Hina Kazmi

Assistant Accountant

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Afsana Begum

Housing Officer

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Yuanshi Li

Development Manager

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Algi Dyer

Office Manager

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Nasima Begum

Income Officer

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Zainul Patel

Lettings Manager

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Calum Moore

Development Manager

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Chris Dancer

Senior Design Manager

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Ruby May

Information Manager

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Mike Stott

Senior Programme Manager, Carpenters Estate (James Riley Point Phase 1)

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Jacqui Adams Hooker

Commercial Manager

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Sasha Grant

Project Administrator

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Saudat Adinani

Resident Liaison Officer

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Joe Kowalski

Senior Project and Construction Manager

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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.

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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.

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Tony Travers

Non Executive 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.

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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).

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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.

Our people

Governance (The Board)

Meet the Executive Team

Deborah Heenan

Michael Holland

John Joannou

Hardeep Bhermi

Meet our Team

Abishake KC

Fiona Shankland

Mark Nevshehir

Nick Clough

Victor Chamberlain

Raihan Ali

Olivia Brunt

Bhavisha Dabasia

David Chalmers

Emma Eady

Francis Narweh

Gareth Ahier

Guy Powell

Lerato Marema

Foysol Uddin

Robert Shirt

Sesen Ghezai

Vu Luong

Hina Kazmi

Afsana Begum

Yuanshi Li

Algi Dyer

Nasima Begum

Zainul Patel

Calum Moore

Chris Dancer

Ruby May

Mike Stott

Jacqui Adams Hooker

Sasha Grant

Saudat Adinani

Joe Kowalski

Meet the Board Members

Steve Quartermain

Suzanne Forster

Tony Travers

Ruchira Neotia

Tim Seddon

Careers at Populo

Working with us

The Carpenters

About Populo

Our Offer

Deborah Heenan

Michael Holland

John Joannou

Hardeep Bhermi

Abishake KC

Fiona Shankland

Mark Nevshehir

Nick Clough

Victor Chamberlain

Raihan Ali

Olivia Brunt

Bhavisha Dabasia

David Chalmers

Emma Eady

Francis Narweh

Gareth Ahier

Guy Powell

Lerato Marema

Foysol Uddin

Robert Shirt

Sesen Ghezai

Vu Luong

Hina Kazmi

Afsana Begum

Yuanshi Li

Algi Dyer

Nasima Begum

Zainul Patel

Calum Moore