Board of Directors

Brian graduated in chemical engineering at Cambridge University and worked in ICI for 15 years doing research work, technology development, site production management and business restructuring leadership. After a short spell in Tate and Lyle, he moved to Remploy for 4 years, a company employing 6,000 disabled people in its extensive manufacturing activities around 80 UK sites, where he was Operations Director. Brian then moved to the affordable housing sector where he was CEO of 3 companies over 13 years. Most recently of Metropolitan. Over 5 years, he led a team that turned around Metropolitan from near collapse to a sector high performer - substantially increasing its annual profits from a break even position and re-establishing a large new build programme Brian retired from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency in October 2022 where he was CEO for four years.

Sacha is Group Managing Director providing strategic direction and continuity to the Group’s organisational structure. She 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Alan brings a wealth of operational and strategic knowledge to the Board. He has extensive experience in regeneration and development having spent 35 years in the social housing sector, including as the former Chief Executive Officer of one of the UK’s largest affordable housing providers. Previous roles held in the sector include Asset Investment Director and Group Regional Director. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.