Amplius Board

Emma Killick - Chair

During a thirty-year career working in the care sector Emma developed a particular interest in support for adults with learning disabilities who had, or were at risk of developing dementia. During her time as Operations Director with the MacIntyre Charity, Emma set up their award-winning Dementia Project and partnered with Dementia UK to appoint the first learning disability specialist Admiral Nurse.

Emma’s current area of focus is as Trustee for Towcester Foodbank supporting those experiencing the effects of poverty across the South Northants area while campaigning as part of the Trussell Trust Network for an end to the need for Foodbanks in the UK.

Emma is the Chair of the Amplius Board and also sits on the Integration Committee.

Damien Régent - Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee

After a first career as a financial analyst specialising in credit markets and financial institutions, Damien now works at board level with multiple organisations.

Since 2013, he’s worked across sectors as a non-executive director. He currently chairs the audit and risk committees at the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (London), Southern Housing and Pro Bono Economics (research charity).

He was previously on the board of two small high-growth internet businesses, having spent five years supporting internet start-ups.

Damien has significant experience in the not-for-profit sector. He’s been on the board of charities since 2011, including in the fields of homelessness and housing, human rights and international medical aid.

In addition to chairing the Audit & Risk Committee, Damien sits on the Integration Committee.

Julie Doyle - Chief Executive

Since taking on the role of Chief Executive, Julie has ensured there’s a strong platform for future success by reshaping the organisation, achieving considerable value for money savings and delivering substantial growth. 

With over 25 years' experience in the housing sector, Julie remains committed to ensuring that Amplius continues to realise its ambition of being a leading developer that improves people’s lives by providing high-quality housing and care and support services.  

Alongside her role as Chief Executive, Julie is also a Trustee for The Helping Harry Trust, a charity that supports families of children with disabilities.  

Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is a Temporary Accommodations Officer at North Northamptonshire Council. She is also a volunteer member of the Government’s Social Housing Quality Resident Panel, contributing how she feels improvements can be made to the sector.

Outside of work, Ashleigh’s young daughter keeps her extremely busy and thoroughly entertained.

Ashleigh is an Amplius customer and sits on the People & Governance Committee and the Customer Experience Committee.

Brendan Whitworth - Chair of Finance & Treasury Committee, Grand Union Group Funding plc, Libra (Longhurst Group) Treasury plc and Libra (Longhurst Group) Treasury No2 plc

In March 2024 Brendan retired from his day job as a relationship manager at The Housing Finance Corporation  after a 45-year career in financial services. For the last 20 years he has been a lender to a wide range of housing associations.

Prior to then his roles included General Manager of a UK-registered bank and Senior Credit Officer in Singapore. His voluntary activities include 4 years as the Loans Officer at the St Albans Credit Union and ex-board member and chair of the Treasury Committee at Golden Lane Housing, which provides housing to people with a learning disability.

Brendan is chair of the Finance & Treasury Committee and sits on the Development & Asset Investment Committee.

Craig Thornton - Chair of Keystone Developments (LG) Ltd, Grand Union Homes Ltd and GUHG Development Company Ltd

Craig has been in the social housing sector since joining Sovereign (now Sovereign Network Group) as its Director of Audit and Risk in 2020. 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 attracted to social housing by his strong sense of social justice and sees the sector playing a fundamental role in eradicating inequality.

Craig sits on the Audit & Risk Committee.

Elaine Barnes – Chair of Customer Experience Committee

Elaine is an experienced business leader and non-executive director in both housing and commercial environments. Her expertise is in customer experience, customer service, strategy development, strategy execution and organisation development.

Having lived and worked in three continents Elaine is culturally aware and loves supporting people and organisations to achieve their goals. Elaine has recently retired from full time employment to spend more time with her family, coaching and non-exec work.

She lives in Hampshire with her husband, rabbit, cat and dog having 2 grown up children and a new grand-baby.

Elaine is the chair of Customer Experience Committee and sits on the People & Governance Committee.

Parmjit Dhanda

Parmjit’s a former Government Minister with departmental responsibility for the Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Communities and Local Government - where his responsibilities encompassed local government, planning and the fire service. 

He’s a founding Board member of the Gloucester Urban Regeneration Company (2004-2010), which delivered the £1billion regeneration of the Gloucester Quays.

He’s also served as Chair of the Allied Health Professions Federation and as a non-executive Director for the Milton Keynes Hospital Trust, Hanover Housing Association and Swan Housing.

As Executive Director for Back Heathrow, he leads the campaign to build the world's largest privately funded infrastructure project - the plan for increased capacity at the UK's only hub airport, Heathrow. 

Parmjit sits on the People & Governance Committee.

Peter Hay CBE – Chair of People & Governance Committee

Peter is a highly experienced social care and public-sector services leader with a track record of service improvement and influence upon national policy.

Peter is a proven executive leader and non-executive director with the ability to work successfully in highly political environments at both a national and local level.

Having spent 20 years working as a Director in social care across a range of local authorities including in Birmingham, Peter stepped away from his executive career in 2017 and has since built up a portfolio of non-executive director and trustee roles as well as providing advice and support in his area of specialism – social care.

Peter, who in 2012 was awarded a CBE for his services to social and health care, is the Chair of Turning Point - a national social enterprise that supports over 105,000 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or addiction recovery. In addition, he also chairs the Board of Trustees for the Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Peter chairs the People & Governance Committee and sits on the Customer Experience Committee.

Stephen Lodge – Chair of Development & Asset Investment Committee

Having originally trained as building Surveyor, Stephen has more than 30 year’s experience working in the housing sector. He is Chief Executive of Westward Housing Group, delivering services to customers across Devon and Cornwall.

Stephen started out working in temporary accommodation for the homeless and then housing management. Since then, much of his career has been focused on development and the construction of new homes, with a focus on partnerships and collaboration.

Stephen has worked in regional and national housing associations and is particularly passionate about tackling inequality.

Together with his work in housing, Stephen is a listening and outreach volunteer with Bristol Samaritans.

Stephen chairs the Development & Asset Investment Committee.

Tony Oakley – Chair of Integration Committee

With more than 30 years’ experience in banking, including a spell as Head of the Lloyds Bank Social Housing finance team having national responsibility for over 200 clients and almost £13 billion of lending, Tony retired in 2022.

An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB), Tony also has a strong track record of holding senior management positions in several private companies, including Woodgate Fulfilment Limited and Leadfinder.

Tony hopes to bring his vast array of skills and experience to his role on the Board to help drive the strategic direction of Amplius and continue to deliver for our customers.

Tony chairs the Integration Committee and sits on the Finance & Treasury Committee.