Board of Trustees

Kelvin MacDonald

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Kelvin is a Senior Fellow at the Department of Land Economy, Cambridge and a bye-Fellow of Christ’s College. He is currently the specialist adviser to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee and is part-time Senior Lecturer at the School of Applied Sciences at the University of Brighton.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Shelter for six years and was the interim Chair of Shelter Scotland.

From 2003 until 2024, he was the Specialist Adviser on planning and related policy to the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee having been appointed its permanent adviser in 2017.

He was an Examining Inspector dealing with major infrastructure projects for the Planning Inspectorate. Previously, he was the Director of Policy and Research and then the Chief Policy Adviser to the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and of the Royal Town Planning Institute and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

He has run marathons and half-marathons in support of BHT Sussex.

Sarah Butler

Sarah had a career in higher education management. Nine of those years were as a senior manager (director of a division) and part of the senior professional services team, at the University of Sussex.

Although she specialised in academic affairs and quality assurance in the last fifteen years, she also had extensive experience of university governance and strategic planning. From 2006 to 2014, she was seconded half time to the national Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), working as an Assistant Director in the areas of standards, quality and enhancement.

Mary Davies

Mary has a BA, previous experience in TV and film, and a PGDip in Health Through Occupation.

Mary worked as an Occupational Therapist in physical and mental health throughout North West London and East and West Sussex. Mary is passionate about giving a voice to the most marginalised in our society; those struggling with addiction, mental health and homelessness. .

As a current client of BHT Sussex's Addiction Services, she brings a wealth of lived experience to this role. She believes in the power of a nurturing environment and engagement in meaningful activity to enable individuals to reach their full potential. Currently working as a recovery coach for Cascade Creative Recovery and volunteering with the Recovery Project, she is an enthusiastic gardener and a fitness devotee.

Lee Davies

Lee is an architect with nearly 30 years of professional and practical experience with a comprehensive understanding of the housing and property field.

Lee is a director at HNW Architects, previously a director at Conran and Partners and has lived in Brighton and Hove for over 20 years. Throughout his career, Lee has specialised in social housing and has an extensive knowledge and experience of leading residential projects for both affordable housing providers and local councils. Lee is passionate about creating homes and environments that make a positive contribution to a neighbourhood and make a difference to the quality of people’s lives.

Lee is also a RIBA accredited Conservation Architect and brings an expertise in working with existing buildings and challenging sites in sensitive and historic locations. In addition, Lee is a regional RIBA jury panel member, as well as a student mentor and guest critic at the University of Brighton’s School of Architecture.

Melanie Davis

Chair of the Operations and Personnel Committee

Melanie Davis’s background is in TV and media, and as a social justice campaigner.

She has been involved with many committees, as a volunteer member and Chair and as an elected Brighton & Hove City Councillor.

The committees included environment, community centres, schools, Citizens Advice Bureau, and several arts organisations.

Her strengths include motivating teams, recruiting volunteers, fund raising and improving communications. She is currently on the board of the new Brighton & Hove Green Spaces Forum and the Chair of the Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens. She is also a representative on Community Works.

Paul Featherstone

Paul joined the Board in April 2020, having previously been on the Board at Sussex Oakleaf.

In his early career, Paul was employed in local government and in 2001 was appointed as the Director of Support Services for Martlet Homes, a housing association in Chichester - later becoming Deputy Chief Executive.

Paul guided Martlet’s admission into the Hyde Group and became the Group’s Director of Risk and Compliance before returning to Chichester as Managing Director of Hyde Martlet. Paul is qualified as a Chartered Company Secretary and has a Master’s degree in Employment Law.

Paul retired in 2014 and enjoys spending time on his sailing boat and loves to travel. As well as other voluntary roles, Paul also enjoys occasionally working as the relief skipper of a small ferry in Chichester Harbour.

Gerry Main

Gerry Main is a current BHT tenant and former BHT client, and brings a wealth of valuable experience and insight to the Board.

Gerry is currently a Project Support Worker for Turning Tides, a community-based homelessness organisation that is active across Sussex. He brings knowledge gained from courses in business, mental health awareness and counselling, as well as an internship with Routes focused on fundraising and promotional activities. He has first-hand experience of the positive role that work and learning can play in recovery. He has also volunteered with local charity Impetus, linking people to community services and groups that improve their health and wellbeing.

Gerry said:

I think having tenants on the Board will really help with keeping BHT in touch with its roots and commitment towards supporting and working with the most vulnerable people in our society.

Andrew Rose

Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

Andrew has recently retired to the Brighton area having worked for much of his career as a Technology Director for a major financial institution.

He is a member of the Association of Project Management Professionals, and has extensive experience of project and programme management, investment management, strategic planning and risk management.

Andrew has been involved in a voluntary capacity in combatting homelessness for many years. He has served as a board member at two other Housing Associations, and was also a District Councillor where he was Chair of the Housing Service Committee.

Lawrence Santcross

Lawrence is currently the Chief Executive of Transform Housing & Support, a Surrey based supported housing association.

Prior to this he held Director level positions at both Notting Hill Genesis and the Home Group, where he has held a number of strategic and operational leadership roles. He is also currently a trustee of Surrey Youth Focus and a co-opted member of the Church of England’s Pension’s Board Housing Committee. In his spare time he particular enjoys spending time climbing mountains, cooking and travelling.

Angeline Walker

Angeline is a Consultant in Public Health, employed by NHS England.

For several years before undertaking Public Health specialty training in London, Angeline worked at Brighton & Hove Primary Care Trust alongside services for people experiencing problems with drug and alcohol use, mental health and those at risk of suicide.

During training and after qualifying, Angeline worked in managing the response to health emergencies and infectious diseases in the South East. Angeline’s current work includes supporting NHS England in commissioning evidence-based treatments for specialist services and tackling inequalities in health.

Angeline spends as much of her free time as she can out on the Downs, walking with her rescued greyhound, Bernard.