About us

The Board

Resident Directors

The following are all directors of the Homes for Islington board who are either tenants in an Islington council property or leaseholders in a former council property.

Theresa Coyle MBE
theresa.coyle@homesforislington.org.uk

Theresa Coyle was appointed to the HFI Board in March 2004 and has been re-elected twice onto the Board. Theresa was elected as Chair of HFI's Board in November 2009.

Theresa is a secure council tenant who has lived in Islington all her life and works full time managing a multi-use community centre in Islington. For over ten years, Theresa has been involved in tenant consultation and participation, chairing the Tenants' Association and the local Area Housing Panel. Over the years, she has increasingly taken on more roles including being an Islington Strategic Partnership tenant representative. She also has extensive experience of managing and distributing budgets. Theresa was previously a director of FITA (Federation of Islington’s Tenants Associations) and has also worked for the Audit Commission as a resident inspector.

In 2009 Theresa was presented with the MBE for outstanding achievement and service to the local area.

Barbara Coventry
Barbara.Coventry@homesforislington.org.uk

Barbara was appointed to the HFI Board in March 2004.

Barbara has lived in Essex Road, Islington, all her life. She is a leaseholder who, for 15 years, was secretary and co-ordinator of the Popham Street TRA. During this time she acted as co-ordinator for the successful multi-use community centre, which was used by up to eight different groups each week.

She was a member of the Upper Street Area Housing Panel for six years, and chair for two. In addition, Barbara was a school governor at Islington Green School and has been an auditor for the New River Playgroup for many years. She has been involved in tenant consultation and participation with Islington Council for a number of years as well.

During her considerable years of voluntary involvement Barbara has, amongst other things, also been a member of the Islington Lay Visitors Panel for six years, during which time she served as chair and vice chair. As a result Barbara was commended by the Secretary of State for her sterling work to lay-visiting. Barbara worked for the Islington Health Authority as personal assistant to the administrator for 10 years.

Barbara is the Resident Involvement and Community Engagement Champion for the HFI Board.

Eddie Niles
eddie.niles@homesforislington.org.uk

Eddie was appointed to the HFI Board in March 2004.

Eddie, a secure tenant, is a former local councillor and former Chair of the Holland Walk Area Housing Panel. Eddie is also a former Islington Council NUPE Branch Secretary, and Chairperson of Hornsey Lane Estate Management Board. He was also one of three Greater London Authority members to the National Joint Council for Manual and Craft workers (employer side). Eddie has also held positions in a number of local voluntary organisations. Eddie was a director of FITA and IVAC (Islington Voluntary Action Council). He is also a delegate to Islington Community Network and a panel member to Cripplegate Foundation Community Chest. Eddie is the current Chair of the Board’s Human Resources Committee.

Joe Trotter

Joe was appointed to the HFI Board in December 2010.

Joe is both a former Islington Councillor and Mayor of the borough. During his time as Councillor he was chair of the Council's Housing Committee. He is a governor of the Cripplegate Foundation and a resident in Finsbury area of the borough.

Jessie White
jessie.white@homesforislington.org.uk

Jessie was appointed to the HFI Board in March 2004.

Jessie is a leaseholder and has been involved in tenant consultation and participation with Islington Council for 28 years, starting with the local tenant and residents association and for the last 16 years was a director of FITA. She was Chair of FITA for 13 years up to 2003. Amongst other things during her many years of voluntary involvement, Jessie has chaired the Tenants’ Liaison Committee and sat on the Housing Committee as a tenant representative. She is currently Chair of her local TRA and headed the negotiation of the current Tenant Compact with the Council. She is also Chair of the Performance Management Committee.

Rosa Bellino
rosa.bellino@homesforislington.org.uk

Rosa was appointed to the HFI Board in November 2009.

Rosa is a secure council tenant who has lived in Islington for over 20 years. Rosa gave up a successful career in business to become a full time carer six years ago.

Rosa is an artist and published poet and writer and has received a Millennium Award for her book on caring. She was also honoured by the former Mayor of London - Ken Livingstone - for her contribution to raising carers awareness. She is currently writing a new book, a collection of poetry, photographs and reflection on her time as a carer.