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.
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.
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’.
Karen has over 30 years’ experience as a planning and housing lawyer. She has worked on transformational riverside regeneration schemes such as Liverpool Waters (the regeneration of the Mersey Maritime Dock and its hinterland) and Battersea Power Station, Imperial Wharf and St George Wharf in London, plus key iconic projects which have included Wembley Stadium, the London Eye and Docklands Light Railway.
Karen has been involved in affordable housing structuring, new product development and delivery throughout her career. She is a trustee of Maritime Belfast Trust and a director of several development related companies. A specialist in reputational risk management, social value and governance, Karen is also a successful mentor and coach in the legal and property professions.
DJ was appointed as Edmond de Rothschild REIM (UK)’s Chief Investment Officer Residential in April 2024, with oversight of all UK residential strategies.
He has a 25-year residential track record covering design, development management, capital raising and deployment, and has investment managed large-scale global client portfolios. He has experience of both direct and indirect global investment strategies for pension funds, sovereign wealth clients, local authorities and insurance companies.
Previously, he was at Royal London Asset Management and CBREIM, with responsibility for strategy and investments in build to rent, affordable housing, senior living, and healthcare sectors. DJ’s early career involved delivering national housing programmes, acquiring surplus public sector land portfolios, housing-led regeneration strategies and mixed-use urban development projects. His career started as an architect designing and delivering low-cost housing communities.