Hightown Housing Association has appointed Ashley Hook and Steve Valvona to its Board, bringing extensive expertise in housing, regeneration, governance, investment and finance to support the organisation's continued growth and delivery of high-quality homes and services.
The appointments further strengthen the Board's broad range of skills and experience, helping Hightown to deliver its strategic objectives, maintain strong governance and continue investing in homes and communities across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
Ashley Hook brings four decades of experience across the housing and regeneration sectors. Previously Chief Executive of MHS Homes Group, he has extensive board-level experience and a strong track record of leadership within social housing. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institute of Directors and the Chartered Institute of Housing and holds a master’s degree in urban and Regional Planning. Ashley also currently serves as independent chair of Wandsworth Housing Improvement & Transformation Board and is a board member at BRE Trust and Populo Homes, alongside several other governance and advisory roles.
Steve Valvona joins the Board with more than 20 years' experience in debt capital markets. During his career, Steve has played a significant role in raising long-term capital for housing associations, infrastructure projects and major corporates, bringing valuable expertise in funding, investment and financial strategy. He holds an MSc in Real Estate from the University of Reading and a BA in Economics and Finance from the University of Exeter.
Qadeer Kiani OBE, Chair of Hightown Housing Association, said:
"We are delighted to welcome Ashley and Steve to the Hightown Board. Together they bring an impressive combination of housing, regeneration, governance, funding and investment expertise. Their experience will be invaluable as we embark upon our vision for 2027-2032 with a refreshed corporate strategy that will shape our future customer offer and increase our resilience and sustainability.”
Maxine Espley MBE, Chief Executive of Hightown Housing Association, said:
"Ashley and Steve each bring significant experience and fresh perspectives that will complement the broad range of skills already represented across our Board.
Their appointments reinforce our commitment to strong governance and strategic leadership, ensuring Hightown remains well placed to meet the opportunities and challenges facing the housing sector while continuing to deliver for our customers and communities."
The new Board members were co-opted in July 2026 and their appointments confirmed at Hightown's Annual General Meeting in September 2026.
