We are a social impact investment company investing in UK government regulated affordable housing. We have close partnerships with housing associations and local authorities. Working with local partners we use our capital to promote the delivery of additional homes and aim to provide a balanced return to our shareholders comprising an attractive mix of income yield and capital appreciation.
Paul has held executive roles in affordable housing organisations for more than 20 years. He has been managing director of commercial organisations in both the private and affordable housing sectors developing and purchasing more than 10,000 Affordable Homes. Paul has developed housing related funding arrangements of up to £500 million and 30-year investment plans of up to £1.6bn. He has held responsibility for implementing and managing a suite of housing construction contracts with a value of up to £1.25bn. He is a non-executive director of Clarion Housing Association. Paul has strategic responsibility for identifying opportunities and ensuring that suitable investments are offered for consideration by the FAH Board. He has brought together a team of professional staff to manage the business.
Jaume Sabater Martos is Vice Chairman of Varia US Properties AG (“Varia US”), a Swiss based company investing in the US residential real estate market. Varia US is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. Jaume represents Varia Social Impact Investing, the registered shareholder of a 19.6% interest in the Fund Jaume is also the Chief Executive Officer & Founding Partner of Stoneweg, the asset manager of Varia US. Stoneweg is a Geneva based international real estate asset manager with over CHF 2 billion of real estate assets and projects under management. From 2003 to 2014, Mr. Sabater worked for Edmond de Rothschild Group, between 2003 and 2007 as First Vice President of the asset management team, and between 2007 and 2014, as Senior Portfolio Manager and as Head of Dedicated Accounts and Real Estate. Mr. Sabater holds a Masters degree in international management from the Community of European Management Schools in St. Gallen University and ESADE Barcelona.
Mark Weeden, is an experienced independent real estate finance professional resident in Luxembourg. Mark has extensive experience in the management and accounting of Luxembourg real estate structures. He has previously held senior positions at JER Real Estate and ProLogis European Properties Fund. Mark is a graduate in Economics from the London School of Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Arnaud Schellenberger is Client Director at Funds Avenue S.A, following his Head of Relationship Management position. He is a CSSF registered Director for various UCITS and AIF’s. Prior to joining Fuchs Asset Management S.A. in January 2021, Arnaud was Deputy Head of Relationship Management at Lemanik Asset Management from 2014 to 2021 with a strong focus on UK, Swiss, German, Austrian and Nordic clients. Before that, he worked as Relationship Manager at RBC Investor Services and CACEIS Bank.
Keith has over 40 years of legal experience focusing on housing associations and local authority housing. A former Senior Partner at Winckworth Sherwood LLP, Keith is currently a consultant at Devonshires solicitors.
He was part of the HCA senior advisor team working on restructuring for two G15 associations and four local authorities (including two in London) and dealt with the transfer of several Lewisham estates and acted on property acquisitions for a range of housing associations.
Keith has worked on new models of housing finance, particularly Real Estate Investment Trusts, pension funds, and market renting vehicles. Keith’s non-executive roles include Richmond Housing Partnership (Chair), 2022-present, Coin Street Secondary Co-op (Chair) 2015 to present, Homes for Haringey ALMO (Chair) 2011 to 2016; previously Battersea Churches Housing Association through to Servite Houses (now Viridian), and Poplar HARCA (vice chair 2001-2008).
Richard retired in 2021 from the role of Senior Director – Government Affairs at Capita plc. In this role he provided leadership and insight to the Capita Group on engagement and future business activity with Central Government. He has been retained by Capita to Chair Capita’s Smart Meters Data and Communications Company (DCC) and a Capita/ DEFRA joint venture company, Fera Science.
In addition to the above, Richard is the Chairman of the Jersey Government owned Andium Homes which is the dominant provider of social housing on the Island. He is also a non-executive director of Horder Healthcare.
Richard joined Capita in 2012 as the Central Government and Housing Executive Director in its Property and Infrastructure Division. Prior to this, Richard was the Director General, Neighbourhoods at the Department for Communities and Local Government where he was responsible for housing and planning policy in England and for the establishment of the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England). Richard was also the Chief Executive of the Peabody Trust from 1999-2003, a major housing association and regeneration agency that operates across London. Richard was the Chair of the National Housing Federation from 2000-2003 and is a past member of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee.He received a CBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours for his services to housing and planning.
Debby is an experienced non-executive director with a career in the housing association, local authority, disability and care sectors.
A past Master of the Mercers’ Livery Company and current Court member, she chairs the Mercers’ Charitable Foundation, and the Social Investment Advisory Group and serves on the Philanthropy Committee. She is a Council Member of Gresham College where she chairs the Nominations Committee. She is a coopted member on the City of London Corporation’s Social Investment Board.
In June 2021 Debby was appointed a Commissioner on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s “Reimagining Social Care” group which reported in 2022. This is one of three Commissions set up to consider the future of UK social welfare.
Former roles include: Chair of Trustees, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Chair of Trustees, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust 2002-2011; Master of the Mercers’ Company 2014-15; Vice-Chair of Governors at Thomas Telford School; Governor at Hammersmith Academy 2009-2018; board member of various housing associations/charities concerned with disability and specialist housing. Independent Chair of Cottsway Resident Scrutiny Panel; Chief Executive, Octavia Hill Housing Trust; and Chief Executive at Habinteg Housing Association.
Debby was appointed CBE in 2013 for services to the charitable sector in the UK.
Graham retired from Barclays Bank PLC in June 2022, where his most recent role was as Head of Public Sector Debt Finance, covering Social Housing, Local Government, Universities and Charities.
Graham delivered growth of +10% year on year and was responsible for the strong governance and risk controls necessary for managing a growing and significant Public Sector debt portfolio.
With a detailed knowledge of the Social Housing sector Graham’s successful 41-year career with Barclays included Relationship Director, Debt Finance, Risk Management, Portfolio Management and Industry Policy roles.
Julia is a highly experienced housing professional with many years of experience at a senior level in the sector.
Former roles include 11 years as Chief Executive/Managing Director of York Housing Association and prior to that Julia worked in housing and regeneration for over 30 years, working with Housing Associations, Regeneration Companies and Local Authorities in the North East of England.
Julia sits on the Board and Audit & Risk Committee of York College and is also an associate with the Housing Diversity Network.
Abdul has over 30 years experience of procuring affordable housing and sustaining places, and extensive experience of local government, charity and third sector environments. In his role at Abbeyfield Society he has overseen asset management and development of over 750 new quality homes. In previous roles with the Housing Corporation / Homes & Communities Agency he was responsible for coordinating and representing to boards on regulatory engagement, assessment of performance and investment delivery.
Abdul’s non-executive director experience includes his roles as Ex-Vice Chair of Manningham Housing Association, Ex-Chair of Firebird Development Subsidiary and Growth & Assets Committee, member of Unity Homes & Enterprise (managing 52,000 sq. ft. of commercial workspaces on 3 sites, involving 50 businesses employing 760 people), Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust and InCommunities with a stock of 26,000 homes in Bradford, and other parts of Yorkshire.
He is a member of the National Housing Federation’s Delivering Great Homes and is now Chair of the Older Person’s Housing Group, shaping funding and policy solutions with government and sector, as well as an executive member of BME National, representing the interests of 45 BAME Housing Associations which collectively own 66,000 homes. Abdul is co-founder of the ‘Ageing Well Network’ established to ensure older people from all communities enjoy the benefits of living longer and living better, and has co-authored study entitled ‘Mortgage Rescue – Meeting the Requirements of Special Needs Groups’.