The Audit and Risk advisory board is formed of leaders in the sector and beyond, who use their expertise to help us create the best conference experience and content for delegates. We want to thank them for supporting this event.
Craig Thornton
Risk and Assurance Director, Sovereign Network GroupCraig has been in the social housing sector since joining Sovereign as its Director of Audit and Risk in 2020. He subsequently also joined the Board of Grand Union in 2021. Prior to that he spent the majority of his career in the telecoms sector. He has specialised in internal control disciplines for the past ten years, with senior roles in this field at Vodafone and as an independent consultant. He’s a chartered accountant with a broad range of experience in finance, operations and programme management. Craig was drawn to social housing by his strong sense of social justice and sees the sector playing a fundamental role in eradicating inequality.
Frances Herity
Director of Risk and Assurance, The Guinness PartnershipFrances is the Director of Risk and Assurance at the Guinness Partnership with responsibility for delivering the risk and assurance framework, and supporting controls compliance activity, and leading the data assurance team. Prior to joining Guinness, Frances worked for KPMG in the public sector audit and assurance team, as well at other housing associations and ALMOs where she started her career as a Housing Officer.
Mary Raymer
External Affairs Manager, National Housing FederationMary is an External Affairs Manager at the National Housing Federation, responsible for leading member engagement in the East of England region as well as for our members who provide Supported and Older Person’s Housing. Prior to joining the National housing Federation in January 2024, she worked in policy, research and public affairs for a number of years at Places for People.
Guy Stenson
Chief Executive, Gloucester City HomesGuy joined Gloucester City Homes as Chief Executive in March 2022 from Stonewater where he'd held a number of roles, most recently Director of Housing Operations.
Guy has held a number of Non Executive roles including Board Member of both Orbit Housing Association and Newport City Homes, having served as Chair of Audit & Risk Committee at Newport City Homes for 6 years. He is passionate about strengthening the impact and effectiveness of Audit & Risk committees., aligned to organisational purpose.
Guy’s career has spanned leadership roles in both the statutory and not-for-profit sector, often in roles working across the traditional boundaries of housing, health and social care and is passionate about the role housing associations can play working alongside citizens, partner agencies, as well the wider community, to improve quality of life, aspiration and opportunity for all, ensuring that everybody, regardless of their circumstances has a place where they feel safe and can be proud to call home.
John Wiss
Senior Risk Manager, Places for PeopleWith 30 years of experience in assurance, audit, and risk management, John has held leading roles in shaping these functions within both the housing and health sectors. John is currently Group Senior Manager for Risk Management at Places for People, a social enterprise that comprises market leading businesses in homes and communities, regeneration and development, investment management, property management, student accommodation and leisure.
John is driven by his passion for the future of social housing and has also contributed to the sector through previous roles as a non-executive audit committee member for both South Liverpool Homes and Weaverale Housing Trust.
