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.

Barbara Coventry
Barbara.Coventry@homesforislington.org.uk

Barbara is a leaseholder who, for fifteen years, has been secretary and co-ordinator of the Popham Tenants’ & Residents’ Association. She has been a member of the Upper Street area housing panel for six years and was chair for two years. Barbara is currently a school governor at Islington Green School and has been an auditor for the New River Playgroup for many years. She has also been a member of the 'Islington Lay Visitors Panel' for six years during which period she was, at various times, Chair and Vice Chair. Barbara worked for the Islington Health Authority as Personal Assistant to the administrator for 10 years.

Theresa Coyle
theresa.coyle@homesforislington.org.uk

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 on her estate, 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 a director of FITA (Federation of Islington’s Tenants Associations) and is the current Chair of the Board’s Investment and Delivery Committee.

Caroline Jenkinson
caroline.jenkinson@homesforislington.org.uk

Caroline has lived in Islington since 2003 and is presently head of arts and tourism in Camden. She previously worked for the London boroughs of Brent, Hackney and Lambeth running events, festivals, strategic arts developments, education activities and public art commissions. Caroline has worked as an arts consultant and education tutor across London, after being an artist in residence for Hammersmith and Fulham. She originally trained as a painter and printmaker at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, and Camberwell College of Arts. Caroline was appointed to HFI Board 19 June 2006.

Eddie Niles
eddie.niles@homesforislington.org.uk

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.

Desmond Smith
desmond.smith@homesforislington.org.uk

Desmond is a secure tenant who was the second tenant Director to be appointed by interview. He has lived in Finsbury Park for over 5 years and has been the Secretary of Clifton & Haden Tenants' & Residents' Association since 1998 with one year from 2002/3 spent as Chair. He is also on the Links Association, which comprises the 3 estates in the Tollington Area that works with tenants on the estates looking at the possible stock transfer of homes on the estates. Des has been a project manager with a local youth club based on the Andover Estate since March 2001. He has also been on a steering group of the proposed Islington Credit Union since 2002.

Joe Trotter

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. Joe stood for election in 2007 and was formally appointed to HFI Board 17 December 2007.

Jessie White
jessie.white@homesforislington.org.uk

Jessie was appointed as vice-chair of the Board on 1st December 2003. 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 Managed Property Sub-Board.