Board of Management
St Martin’s board members reflect a broad spectrum of experience and expertise. We have a range of distinguished individuals with extensive and professional knowledge of mental health, governance, finance and management.
Claire-Elaine Arthurs PayneIan ChildCarlos ThibautChyrel BrownNick JonesGavin HaynesAngela NeblettCarla KingKekul ShahNicola Tindale
Chair
Claire-Elaine Arthurs Payne
Claire has more than twenty years’ experience working across housing, property, governance, and organisational leadership. She studied Cultural Studies and Sociology before qualifying as a Solicitor and Business Consultant. Alongside her professional legal and consultancy practices, she is an experienced Non-Executive Director and sits as a Judge in the Property Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal.
Claire has significant governance experience within regulated housing settings. Her roles have included serving as Chair of a Housing Association, Audit and Risk Committee Chair, Member Responsible for Complaints, and sitting on Remuneration and Performance Committees. Through these roles, she has worked closely with Chief Executives and Senior Leadership Teams in developing Board oversight of strategy, risk, performance, and organisational culture.
Claire’s professional background combines legal and regulatory expertise with practical business insight and a long-standing interest in leadership, organisational, and systems development. She is a passionate advocate for the integration of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in organisations. She is also involved in designing and delivering award-winning consultancy projects, training programmes, and university postgraduate programmes.
Claire joins St Martins as Chair of the Board in April 2026.
Deputy Chair
Ian Child
BA, ACA
Ian is a qualified accountant with wide experience in finance and management from both the public and private sectors. His recent experience is within the healthcare sector supporting improvements in governance and efficiencies.
Ian is also part of the East of England HFMA committee supporting learning and development for finance personnel in healthcare and a treasurer for his local cricket club.
Board Member
Carlos Thibaut
Carlos has over 35 years’ experience in Financial Services. His career began in Building Societies, he then went on to hold a number of senior leadership roles in Legal and General, including Direct Sales, Housing, Estate Agency and Bancassurance. He became a Board Director of various Legal and General subsidiaries and a Non-Executive Director of Alliance and Leicester Life Assurance Company. He became Group Managing Director of Lifetime Group in 2004 and became CEO of 360Dotnet Ltd,leading the business from specialised back office system to the fastest growing CRM in the mortgage market,with over 20% market share.He is a Board Trustee of St Martin of Tours Housing Association and NED and advisor for a number of start up businesses in the leisure and edtech sectors.he has been a Board Member of the SMP since 2019. Carlos was appointed Chair of the Society of Mortgage Professionals in January 2022
Board Member
Chyrel Brown
BA (Hons), Foundation Degree, CIPD 7
Chyrel Brown is the Chief Operating Officer at One Housing, now part of The Riverside housing Group. Since joining in July 2019, Chyrel has made some important changes to the teams to improve responsiveness and the services provided and ensure that teams deliver excellent customer service. She leads on key operational areas of the business including property, housing, and repairs, and is responsible for building and fire safety.
Previously, Chyrel was Director of Resident Services at Hyde Housing Group and, prior to that, Interim Group Director of Housing. Chyrel also held the role of Assistant Director at Circle Housing and has also worked at L&Q and Asra Housing.
She is currently a Non-Executive Director at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)and University College Hospital (UCLH) and a Board Member of Barnsbury Housing Association.
Board Member
Nick Jones
Appointed as Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) in February 2019, responsible to the Council for the running of the organisation ensuring that the GCC meets its UK-wide statutory responsibilities.
Early career in social housing, working in local authority, homelessness services, and consultancy. Joined the the UK housing regulator in 1999 and in 2002 switched to ‘system healthcare regulation’ in the UK working in a range of senior roles. From 2010 he was a Director at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the government regulator responsible for making sure fertility clinics and centres undertaking embryo research met legal requirements, leaving in 2019 to join the GCC.
He has served as a non-executive Director of East Thames Housing Group for five years and from 2007-2017 was a board member of Clarion Housing Group, chairing the community foundation and serving on the Treasury Committee, as well as Chairing resident committee for several years.
Board Member
Gavin Haynes
BSc, CIHCM, MRICS
Gavin is the Director of Property Management for Camden Council, covering asset management, capital works, repairs and FM functions. He has worked in the housing sector for 30 years for both local authorities and housing associations. He is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Housing (CIHCM) and a Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor (MRICS).
Board Member
Angela Neblett
LLB, MA, CIPD
Angela is an Organisational Development Consultant and coach. Previously, Angela spent 24 years gaining a wealth of experience across health and social care in leadership roles, with responsibility for commissioning services to support and enable vulnerable adults with mental health, and substance misuse needs to get the best possible outcomes.
Board Member
Carla King
BA, CIMA
Carla joined the St Martins of Tour Board in August 2023 and chairs the Audit and Risk committee.
A chartered accountant, Carla has worked in the social housing sector for 20 years, including senior leadership roles at Peabody and Catalyst housing groups.
Carla has extensive experience leading the finance function, most recently focusing on financial transformation, with a particular interest in performance improvement and financial sustainability.
Board Member
Kekul Shah
I&S (Investment and sustainability)
Joining the St Martins of Tours Board in September 2025, Kekul brings a wealth of over 20 years of experience in real estate investment, finance, and senior board advisory roles. His professional journey encompasses significant positions at Citi, Heron International, AXA Investment Managers, and Strawberry Star Group. As a Chartered Accountant, Kekul has effectively contributed to both executive and non-executive roles within the property, care, and investment sectors. His expertise lies in strategic growth, financial structuring, and social impact investment.
Board Member
Nicola Tindale
Bsc (Hons) MRICS
I am a very experienced property professional, particularly in property development and in working in joint venture.
I am also an experienced board member, both at executive level and as a NED.