Thrive Homes appoints Kate Still as Chair of the Board
02 July 2024
Thrive Homes, a leading housing association with over 5,500 homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, has announced the appointment of Kate Still as the new Chair of its Board.
Kate brings over 15 years of experience to the role, having worked in Government, within housing associations and for private sector developers. During her career, Kate has served as Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director, and as an executive in various large housing associations. She has also served as a board advisor to the Homes and Communities Agency, where she focused on the role of intersectional economic inequality in housing policy.
Kate grew up on Hemel Hempstead’s Highfield Estate and has 25 years of lived experience in social housing – something which she says has allowed her to maintain a tenant focused perspective throughout her career.
As Chair, Kate will lead the Board and Chairs' Group, helping Thrive to continue delivering on its commitment to increasing housing availability and affordability across some of the UK’s most expensive regions.
The organisation is built on the belief that home is the foundation that enables individuals and families to thrive and is committed to delivering much-needed homes to rent or purchase through shared ownership.
Kate Still, Chair, Thrive Homes said:
“I am thrilled to become Chair of Thrive Homes and relish the challenge of helping the organisation to drive forward its mission of improving access to affordable housing in some of the least affordable parts of the UK. Thrive Homes is well known for its commitment to quality and innovation – and it is the organisation’s clarity of product, commitment to community, and vision for the future that made me want to take up this role. High quality homes provide the foundation for good lives and thriving families, so I am looking forward to supporting the organisation as it continues to evolve and grow”.
Kate holds an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from the London School of Economics, where she focused her research on the impact of social housing on mental health and educational outcomes. She is an alumnus of Oxford University Business School and is also an executive coach with a portfolio of international clients.
Elspeth Mackenzie, Chief Executive said:
“We are delighted to welcome Kate as our new chair. Her career history speaks for itself, and her blend of professional expertise and lived experience means that she is a great addition to Thrive’s board.”
