Our Team

Paul has a wealth of experience as a successful senior finance professional including 28 years in investment banking. He also has significant strategic leadership experience as a former MD and Chair within the financial services sector with deep knowledge of M&A, equity capital markets and advisory plus management of investment portfolios. Paul is the founder of one of the fastest growing challenger banks, Cambridge & Counties Bank, a specialist SME lender. A former Bursar of Trinity Hall, Cambridge he chaired the University's Board of Scrutiny and the Bursar’s Sub-Committee on Investments.

Councillor Bassett has been a district councillor at Epping Forest District Council for 13 years and has served on the Council’s Cabinet for eight years and as Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny and Chairman of Council for two years. He is currently Chairman of Stronger Places Select Committee and brings a wealth of experience on local planning, sustainability and transport issues. Cllr Bassett’s professional career spanned over 40 years as an executive in the IT sector working for blue chip companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His outside activities include being Chairman of trustees for Epping Forest and Harlow Community Transport and Chairman of the Business Advisory group for New City College.

Peter is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director and Chair of Qualis’ Audit Committee with extensive experience of compliance and risk gained in the housing and property, financial services and government sectors. A qualified chartered accountant, corporate treasurer and a former partner of a global consultancy Peter brings a blend of deep knowledge and expertise from his executive and non-executive career combined with strategic leadership and change management experience.

Georgina brings significant strategic leadership experience to the Board of Qualis gained in both local government and senior executive positions in her commercial career where she developed expertise in setting up and running successful businesses within the retail sector. As CEO of the Group’s shareholder she plays a significant role in supporting the Group’s development whilst ensuring that effective governance, community benefit and commercial return on investment is achieved for Epping Forest residents, businesses and communities.

Councillor Kauffman brings over 30 years’ experience working within the London Commercial Investment and Development market specialising in strategic advice, investment acquisitions and disposals and large-scale regeneration projects. He brings excellent working knowledge of property values, investment yields and market risks and is well versed in undertaking due diligence in respect of property acquisitions, both from a technical and legal perspective. He was first elected to Epping Forest District Council in 2014 and is a member of the District Development Management Committee. Cllr Kauffman has been involved in helping to set up the Qualis Group of companies from its inception. He chairs the Investment & Development Committee.

A chartered property professional, Farooq brings over 25 years’ experience as a strategic leader and Non-Executive Director. He has deep knowledge and expertise in public sector property services and asset management combined with strong commercial acumen gained in senior executive positions with two FTSE listed construction, infrastructure and energy services companies. Farooq is also adviser to government on SME inclusion and procurement regulations within public sector supply chains, and jointly leads a national membership network supporting local authority trading companies. He is also a passionate advocate for increased diversity within corporate supply chains. Farooq Chairs the Remuneration Committee.

Sacha has been seconded from her role as Strategic Director at Epping Forest District Council into the position of Group Managing Director to provide strategic direction and continuity to the Group’s organisational structure. Sacha is an experienced leader having held a range of Executive and Non-Executive roles in the public and private sectors and brings experience of setting up a subsidiary company within a group structure combined with expertise in delivering complex business change projects.

Paul has a wealth of expertise in real estate and property asset management having worked for world leading property companies and investors over the last two decades. This includes delivering developments of up to £500 million and managing complex mixed-use portfolios of up to £3bn. His multi-faceted background includes business set-up, strategic planning and significant operational leadership experience gained primarily in complex commercial entities. Paul has a strong interest in bringing community value and social impact being a former Trustee and Board Member of a number of charitable organisations as well as having an impressive fund raising track record.

A qualified accountant and currently Chief Operating Officer at Epping Forest District Council, Nick has extensive experience in leading public sector finance and broader corporate resources and transformation services in local government, financial services and the NHS. This has included directly managing property and estates portfolios. Nick brings a blend of deep public sector financial experience and commercial expertise and has been involved in the start up phase of Qualis and a large number of public and commercial companies during his career.

Ben is a Fellow of the RICS and has extensive leadership experience of working in executive and non-executive roles. This has been gained through a mix of roles in housing associations, charities and consultancy. He has significant experience of managing residential homes in the social housing sector context, including leading successful in-sourced maintenance services. Through innovation, Ben has transformed the customer experience in his previous organisations.

Simon is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years regeneration development and investment experience. He has spent most of his career in the Plc property world delivering projects across a broad range of commercial and residential uses. His particular focus has been with joint ventures alongside both funding partners, local authorities and public sector bodies. In particular a multi-site predominantly high rise residential JV with a value in excess of £750m. Simon believes that local community engagement is important for the future of our Towns and Cities. Developers must rise to this challenge in the constantly changing environment we find ourselves.

Madeleine is a senior chartered secretary and manager with wide ranging experience gained in industry, professional services and financial services sectors, in the UK and abroad. A Fellow of The Governance Institute, she is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the Qualis Group Board’s governance arrangements. In addition, she brings significant experience of company law and broader legislative and regulatory frameworks and provides advice on commercial and contractual issues. Madeleine acts as mentor for company secretaries.