Leadership

Liliana Shanbhag

Liliana brings over 15 years of experience in residential development and investment, with a particular focus on intermediate affordable housing and Build to Rent. A Chartered Surveyor trained in Planning and Development, she is committed to mentoring the next generation of professionals, serving as an APC Counsellor and Assessor. 

Liliana has a multidisciplinary background and holds an MA(Cantab) in Architecture, an MPhil in Real Estate Finance and an MSc in Climate Change and Development. She is also an Associate of ISEP.  Her experience spans both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, giving her a broad perspective on how to deliver positive social outcomes through housing investment.

Liliana joined HYELM as a Board Member Trainee in early 2024 and was appointed Trustee in March 2025. In her current role, she serves as the Board’s Safeguarding Lead, championing the organisation’s commitment to resident welfare and safe, inclusive communities.

David Capel

David is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and Chartered Builder (MCIOB) with extensive experience in construction and development, predominantly within the residential sector. 

David is a Director at Hunters a ‘Building Top 150 Consultant’ practice and SME, overseeing the Building Consultancy team. David has strong professional networks and relationships with a demonstrable track record of delivering complex large-scale regeneration, new-build and refurbishment projects from inception to completion.  David is an affordable housing specialist with expertise working alongside Registered Providers, local authorities and not-for-profit organisations to provide affordable homes in all forms including general needs, extra care, keyworker and student housing. 

David is passionate about supporting the next generation and heads up Hunters Social Value strategy, ensuring the practice demonstrates a visible impact in key areas including volunteering, community engagement and charitable work.  David is also an RICS APC Supervisor, Counsellor and Assessor, providing mentoring and guidance to support graduates through to chartered status.

Andy Brainin

Andy is experienced finance professional and a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He has a background in ESG investing and a keen interest in natural capital. He co-founded Biofarm to commercialise and scale habitat restoration in the UK, in order to combat the recent, dramatic decline in the country’s biodiversity. Before founding Biofarm, he spent six years at KPMG within the Management Consulting division, specialising in Finance Function Re-organisation, Transformation Programme Management and Risk Management for banks and insurance companies. In 2013 he co-founded South Hill Capital and has been instrumental in growing the company into an international, multi-sector real estate investment portfolio and asset management business.

Febechi Chukwu

Febechi is a solicitor with over a decade of experience working in law firms and international companies as a commercial lawyer, advising on energy and infrastructure contracts and projects. He is currently in-house counsel for a leading global power company where he advises on commercial structures, sales contracts and other commercial agreements, compliance, and general governance.  Experience has taught him that things don’t always go to plan and that unfortunately everyone has a different starting line in life.  

He is keen to support initiatives that promote social mobility, having been drawn to the mission of HYELM as an organization that helps young working professionals, including in particular key workers, find reasonable accommodation in Central London to enable them to pursue their careers.  As an enthusiastic member of the board of HYELM, he supports with the governance of the organization, the management of risks and strategic development to ensure the continued success of HYELM.  

Rhiannon Meredith

Coming Soon

Isla Haigh

Isla has over 26 years’ experience working in the third sector.  She set up on her own early 2021 and has been helping third sector organisations make a bigger impact in the world by helping them to evaluate, develop and secure funding for services based on evidence of need and impact as well as advising on the best systems to use to do so.  

Isla has both depth and breadth of experience as a Consultant, Trustee and Deputy-Chair, Global Programme Director, Trainer, M&E Specialist, Change expert, Risk expert, Governance advisor and Fundraiser.  She is a critical friend and can help to bridge the gap between fundraising and project delivery teams, as well as front-line staff, Directors, CEOs and Boards. 

Jayesh Doshi

Coming Soon

Jon Clowes

Coming Soon

Debra Ives

Position: CEO

Debra Ives was appointed Chief Executive of HYELM in 2024 to provide strategic and operational leadership to help the organisation deliver high-quality, affordable housing for young working people. She works closely with the Board, colleagues, residents and partners to strengthen HYELM’s impact, sustainability and long-term development.

Debra has more than 20 years’ experience working in housing and charities. Before joining HYELM, she held senior leadership roles at Hestia, Evolve Housing + Support and Thames Reach. Her career has encompassed housing and homelessness, mental health, domestic abuse, modern slavery, criminal justice and services for people experiencing complex needs.

Debra is particularly committed to ensuring that the experiences and views of residents inform decision-making and service improvement. She has also developed new housing and community services, secured significant grant funding and worked with local authorities, funders, regulators and voluntary-sector partners to improve outcomes and influence wider change.

Debra has also served as a charity trustee and volunteer.

Martin Grundy

Position: Finance Director

Martin is a qualified accountant with many years’ experience working in public and private practice. He spent much of the earlier part of his career working in accounting practices providing audit and financial consultancy services and worked as a partner with both RSM Robson Rhodes and Grant Thornton. For the past 10 years Martin has worked as the Finance Director for organisations working in the education and housing sectors.

Martin has in-depth knowledge of accounting and financial control arrangements, option appraisal, fundraising and corporate governance. In addition to his financial capabilities Martin has been responsible for estate management, human resource management, Information Technology and GDPR issues.

He first worked for HYELM between 2010 and 2012 and re-joined the organisation in 2020.

He is a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Yvonne Stoney

Position: Housing Manager

Coming Soon