Steve Veevers – Chief Executive Officer
Steve leads the leadership team at Hft and is responsible for overseeing the whole organisation. He has over 25 years of social care and health experience. He’s worked as a senior leader in national and regional not-for-profit care providers and local Government. He’s also done consultancy work to the benefit of social care.
Before joining Hft, Steve was the Managing Director of a large, community-based care provider in the South West of England. He was also Senior Executive of a national learning disability charity.
He brings with him a commitment to work with local communities, not-for-profit providers and statutory organisations to help people live their best lives.
Simon Hubble – Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO
Simon is an experienced leader and chartered accountant. He joined Hft in April 2023. Simon He has over 25 years of experience in a range of large and complex organisations in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors.
Simon has led multidisciplinary teams at executive level covering finance, IT, property development, payroll, people, recruitment and learning and development.
“I moved from the commercial to the not-for-profit sector because I wanted to contribute to society and do something which was about more than just making a profit.
“During my time in the learning disability sector I have been fortunate enough to do this. For example, by playing a part in the development of homes which have enabled people with learning disabilities and extremely challenging behaviours to move out of institutions.
“Receiving person-centred support and living in the community in quality housing can transform the lives of learning disabled people. I have seen the impact of this first-hand through visits to locations. I am also constantly blown away and humbled by the extraordinary efforts staff make across the sector to impact people’s lives. This is despite often not being properly rewarded for the work they do due to the lack of funding.”
Becky Speight – Chief Operating Officer
Becky brings over 20 years of experience in health and social care to her role. She began her career as a support worker for Mencap and has since gone on to lead national charities in the learning disability sector.
Throughout her career, Becky has been dedicated to driving meaningful change, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality, person-centred support. Under her leadership, services have achieved outstanding ratings. This shows her commitment to excellence and making sure that the people they support live full, meaningful lives.
Becky strongly believes in and fights for people to have real choice and control over their lives. She also supports and uplifts the voices of frontline colleagues. And she encourages a culture where our values are deeply embedded in everything we do. She is committed to creating workplaces where people feel valued, love their jobs, and take pride in the impact they make.
Outside of work, Becky is a proud mum to two busy girls and finds joy in spending time outdoors whenever she can.
Kate Jenkins – Chief People and Culture Officer
Kate oversees the work of our People and Organisational Development teams, within the Shared Services Portfolio.
She is an experienced People and Culture Director with extensive strategic and operational experience across private, public and not for profit sectors.
Kate is well-versed in taking on Director roles within charitable organisations such as:
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Interim Director of People and Culture at Ambitious about Autism
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Interim Director of People and Organisational Development at Crisis
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Interim Director of People and Culture at Prostate Cancer UK.
John Dickinson-Lilley – Interim Director of Comms and Marketing
John has a deep background in communications and public affairs strategy and campaigns across the public, private, and charity sectors. His approach is rooted in active listening, compassion, and determination. He makes sure strategies are not only effective, but resonate with an organisation’s ethos.
John has a strong track record of creating clear strategy, messaging frameworks, and action plans. He delivers high-value, impactful campaigns that engage audiences, whether that’s influential journalists, decision-makers and policy influencers, regulators, or political groups.
He has a wealth of skills and experiences across various sectors, disciplines and businesses. He’s held senior communications and advisory roles at many UK organisations over the last twenty years.
John has served as the Director of Communications at The British Museum and Goldsmiths, University of London, Prostate Cancer UK, and CITB. He has also held political advisory roles across large public bodies and local authorities, including as Director of External Relations at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and Head of Public Affairs at Sport England.
John has sat on a host of charity boards and served for nearly ten years as a global ambassador for Athlete Ally. He had a successful career as a Great British Blind para-ski racer, retiring as European Champion, Double British Champion, and in the World Top Ten. He was made a Freeman of the City of London due to his communications work.
Claire Morton – Interim Deputy Director of Housing and Assets
Claire is a senior leader with extensive experience in the non-profit sector. She brings over 15 years of professional experience in social housing, public services and charities. Claire has worked with a range of housing associations, public and charitable bodies focused on housing, communities and public safety.
Claire was Head of Service at One Housing (now Riverside) and then Deputy Director at the G15 Housing Association, Peabody, for 5 years, before moving into the world of consultancy and interim projects. She now provides interim support for the non-profit, charity and public sector.
Claire is known for her collaborative approach and commitment to ethical and fair leadership, which earned her a nomination and shortlisting for ‘Top 30 Under 30 Young Leaders 2018’, and won her an LPA Commander Recognition Team Award. She is passionate about working with values-driven organisations like Hft, and brings particular expertise in:
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strategy, policy and operations;
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transformation and change;
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navigating services under regulatory, public and political scrutiny.
Her strengths include service improvement, governance, and leading complex housing services.
Outside of her interim roles, Claire sits on the Metropolitan Police’s Violence Against Women & Girls Scrutiny Panel, the Board of a women’s housing association, and the Shadow Board of a domestic abuse and sexual violence charity. She also supports the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health on professional and ethical standards in public health.