Our Trustees
Our Trustees come from a variety of professional backgrounds, meaning that Housing Matters benefits from a wealth of skill and experience. Passionate about driving change in Bristol and its surrounding communities, the Board ensures that achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients is at the centre of our work.
Andy Gibbard
Chair
Andy joined the Board as Trustee in September 2021, stepping up as Chair in April 2022. He is a marketing and communications professional with 15 years’ experience. At present, he is the Global Director of Digital and Brand at SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. On top of all of the professional specialisms he brings to Housing Matters, Andy is well positioned to advise the charity on recruitment and people management; budget management; and general business administrations and operations.
Jake Mathias
Secretary
Jake has been a Housing Matters Trustee since November 2019, and stepped up to the role of Secretary in 2020. Over his career, he has gained much expertise in the housing sector: He began his professional life as an Environmental Health Officer, specialising in private sector housing matters. Later, he moved into a social housing role, where he became involved in temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness. His career then evolved into the management of permanent social housing. Jake is retired from full-time work now, but does occasional consultancy work on a part-time basis.
Ben Banks
Trustee
Joining the Board in April 2022, Ben brings a wealth of experience in fundraising and project and relationship management to Housing Matters. He worked as a Senior Trusts Manager at Barnardo’s for six years and now manages grants at Somerset Community Foundation, helping fund individuals, groups and social enterprises. He volunteers for the Henry Smith Charity (grant-giving charity), playing an active role in their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy group as well as visiting organisations that have applied for funding. Ben is also training to be a psychotherapist.
Gary Jordan
Trustee
Gary has been a Trustee of Housing Matters since 2017, driven by wanting to support a local organisation that is making a real difference in the city he lives in. He is a retail operations professional with experience in project planning and implementation; people management; and business operations. Having completed a finance related degree, Gary is excellently positioned to support with budget management. He also sits on the Board’s Finance and Fundraising Committee.
Sam Martin
Trustee
Sam joined us in June 2023. Having worked for Lloyds Banking Group for over 20 years in a variety of roles, she currently works in the Group Sustainable Business Division’s Community Engagement team. One of her key roles is managing the relationship with the Group’s independent Charitable Foundations, helping connect the skills and experiences of bank colleagues to the charities they support. Sam is passionate about how both the business and charitable sectors can work together to the benefit of the communities they operate in.
Andrew Marshall-Jones
Trustee
Andrew joined the Board as Trustee in December 2022. He is Solicitor with 18 years’ experience in private practice as a corporate mergers and acquisition lawyer and as an in-house lawyer in the telecommunications sector. At present, Andrew works for BT and provides commercial legal support on wholesale, ventures, special projects and lobbying. Andrew has been an executive board member of a BT subsidiary company and brings to Housing Matters legal and business expertise.
Jasmin Matharu
Trustee
Jasmin has been a Trustee since September 2021. She is a creative brand, insight and marketing strategist, with 15 years’ experience in the industry. She has a solid commercial background in working with global retail, finance, technology, media and fast-moving consumer goods brands. She is experienced in qualitative and quantitative customer, brand and marketing research. Jasmin uses her expertise in brand, communications and campaign strategies to advise on Housing Matters‘ marketing strategy and branding.
Kim Mylchreest
Trustee
Joining us in June 2023, Kim brings over 35 years’ experience as a dedicated housing professional in local government and housing associations. Her expertise is in the development and operational delivery of housing and homelessness services. She is skilled in strategic planning and partnership formation to maximise access to housing for vulnerable people. Kim is also a qualified executive coach and is particularly interested in workforce development. Although now retired from permanent employment, she remains passionate about helping people into safe, secure housing.
Alice Parsons
Trustee
Alice joined the Board of Trustees in April 2022. She has worked in the third sector for eleven years, specialising in high value fundraising – a key skill that she brings to Housing Matters. Alice is passionate about ending homelessness and currently works as the Head of Philanthropy at Crisis. She has also previously worked for The Lullaby Trust and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. In 2019, she volunteered for The Genesis Trust, running Bath’s first coat collection for people experiencing/at risk of homelessness.