Jeremy GrayChief Executive

Jeremy Gray was appointed as Chief Executive on 2 June 2008, having previously been Director of Services at Centrepoint. Jeremy has worked in the homelessness and supported housing sector in London since 1990, when he started working as a full time volunteer in a nightshelter in Richmond. Having spent 3 years working at the Depaul Trust’s hostel for young rough sleepers in the early 90’s, he then spent 9 years at Look Ahead Housing and Care, where he specialised in services for rough sleepers, working his way up to Head of Operations level. He then moved to the Novas Group as Director of Housing and Support before moving to Centrepoint in 2005.

Dennis SimmondsDirector of Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive

Dennis Simmonds joined Croydon YMCA in May 1998 and is also Company Secretary of South London YMCA and of Knights Millennium Foyer Limited. Dennis is a Chartered Management Accountant with almost forty years’ experience in commerce and charities. He has also held a number of senior non-executive roles in other charities. Dennis is currently Chairman of Governors of a local independent girls school - a post he has held for five years, having been a Governor for over fourteen years - and sits on a Whitgift Foundation School Committee. He was also Honorary Treasurer and Trustee of YMCA Training for five years and has chaired the YMCA Metropolitan Region Finance Group.

Bob BrownDirector of Asset Management

Bob Brown, Director of Development and Regeneration, is a chartered surveyor whose career combines the private sector and social housing. After a period as Business Development Director with Broomleigh Housing Association, Bob set up his own consultancy specialising in redevelopment work for smaller supported housing specialists. Bob joined SLYMCA as a Director in 2002 and has worked closely with residents, staff and Board Members to develop the current Asset Management Strategy.

Amanda PaulingDirector of Homelessness Services

Amanda Pauling joined South London YMCA in October 2008. Amanda started in the housing sector in 1996 as a Housing Officer in the East Midlands. In 2001 she progressed to Area Housing Manager and in 2004 joined Nottinghamshire YMCA, managing a large city centre direct access hostel. Since moving to London she has continued to work in the homelessness sector. At Broadway she was a Project Manager for a women’s homeless project in South London and then an Area Manager covering homelessness services across 7 London Boroughs.

Lisa Morris-TomkinsDirector of Specialist Services

Lisa Morris has worked in a wide range of specialist care and support services, since starting in young people’s drug services in 1998. After working for the National Probation Service, she went on to work with young people in care and then managed projects such as specialist semi independent accommodation for young people and a mother and baby unit. Lisa is a BACP accredited counsellor and holds various management qualifications for working in the care sector, both in adult and children’s settings. Lisa joined South London YMCA in October 2007.

Lee BussDirector of Business Services

Lee Buss was appointed as Assistant Director of Business Improvement on 4 January 2010, having previously been South London YMCA’s Head of Housing Management since October 2009. After careers in the military and NHS, Lee began his housing career in 2000 as a Mental Health Housing Support Worker for Open-door Housing Trust. He was Centre Manager of the Aldgate Advice Centre for just under a year, before moving to NACRO as an Assistant Area Manager in 2004. Between 2006 and 2009, Lee was an Area Manager with Broadway Homelessness and Support.