Coastline is governed by a Board of Non-Executive Directors and the CEO who are appointed to our Group Committees.
Additional expert knowledge and experience is provided by additional Independent Committee Members.
Customer representation is actively reflected throughout our governance structure including within the Customer Experience Committee of the Board.
Francesca Rhodes
Group Chair
Joined the Board: 01/06/2024
Background: Francesca has dedicated the last 18 years of her career to the social housing sector, specialising in financial strategy. She has extensive consultancy, senior executive and board level experience with numerous social housing providers and commercial organisations. Francesca will be taking up her position as Chair in September, following the retirement of Steve Harrison.
David Barlow
Group Vice Chair
Joined the Board: 01/01/22
Other positions held within Coastline Group: Chair of Property & Investment Committee, member of Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee.
Background: David is a chartered accountant having trained and qualified with KPMG. He joined Penwith Housing Association prior to the transfer from the local authority in 1994 and was promoted to the position of PHA Director of Finance in 1997. His final career position as LiveWest Director of Business Finance was created as part of the amalgamation of the DCH group with Knightstone Housing Group in April 2018 and the formation of a group finance department.
Karen Harris
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/09/20
Other positions held within Coastline Group: Chair of Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee; member of People Committee.
Background: Karen was born and brought up in Cornwall and has worked in senior board positions for over 20 years in both Finance and Operations within international financial services. On her return to Cornwall she has taken on roles within a number of local charities.
Kelly Kemp
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/01/22
Other positions held within Coastline Group: Chair of Customer Experience Committee and Board Member Responsible for Complaints; member of People Committee; Member, delegated from the Housing Ombudsman Service, responsible for complaints within the Group.
Background: Kelly has been a customer of Coastline Housing for over 11 years and recently joined the Board having previously been appointed to the Customer Experience Committee since its introduction in January 2020. Kelly has a BSc (hons) in Social Science and subsequently studied paradigms and theories surrounding the sense of community. She has academic knowledge and understanding of overarching theories and the implementation of policies and procedures that can affect social housing. More recently Kelly has completed a teaching qualification.
Michelle Tucker
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/01/24
Other positions held within the Coastline Group: Chair of People Committee; member of Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee.
Background: Michelle worked for a global IT services organisation in programme and portfolio management, culminating in accountability for all Business as Usual and programme delivery to largely public sector customers such as The Home Office and Bristol City Council. Her roles included implementing best practice, risk management, governance and quality assurance, and providing support to customers to ensure successful outcomes.
Michelle is passionate about supporting Cornish communities, currently volunteers for Newquay Foodbank and has been an independent member of our Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee since 2023.
Gill Pipkin
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/01/24
Other positions held within Coastline Group: member of Customer Experience Committee; member of Audit & Risk Committee.
Background: Gill has been a senior leader in private, public and voluntary sector organisations in Cornwall. As CEO at Citizens Advice Cornwall, she was acutely aware of the need for good quality, affordable housing as well as the wider impacts from a lack of housing availability.
Gill feels strongly that provision of good quality housing helps address many of the challenges people face in their lives and is keen to help Coastline perform as well as possible. She currently coaches and mentors leaders and managers to realise their full potential.
Keith Surgenor
Co-opted Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 26/09/24
Other positions held within Coastline Group: member of People Committee.
Background: Keith practised as a solicitor specialising in planning and public law, before moving into recruitment and human resources. Most of his career was spent in the professional services sector in the City and New Zealand, before moving to Cornwall in 2018 and joining Seasalt Cornwall where he is the Director of HR Operations. Keith is a CIPD Fellow and is a Councillor for Chacewater and Twelveheads Parish Council.
Jonathan Layzell
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/04/25
Other positions held within the Coastline Group: member of Property & Investment Committee.
Background: Jonathan has worked in the affordable housing sector for more than 20 years, operating at executive level since 2016, and has an extensive background in developing and delivering new homes with a particular personal interest in rural housing and the long-term sustainability of rural communities. He is also committed to using investment in new homes to support both customers and the wider construction sector, ensuring housing growth benefits entire communities. Jonathan currently works for Stonewater as their Chief Growth & Development Officer.
Justin Fisher
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/04/25
Other positions held within the Coastline Group: member of Property & Investment Committee.
Background: Justin brings over 33 years of experience in the housing sector, including 13 years as a Non-Executive Director. He has worked with more than 130 housing providers on transformation projects and has designed some of the sector’s most widely used software. Deeply knowledgeable about systems, processes and housing data – which he describes as a personal “obsession” – he is now looking to further his expertise by undertaking a PhD in AI ethics and society, exploring future challenges and opportunities for social housing.
Becky Lloyd-King
Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board: 01/04/25
Other positions held within the Coastline Group: member of Audit & Risk Committee; member of People Committee.
Background: Becky Lloyd-King is a qualified solicitor, leadership coach, and experienced board member with a strong commitment to public service and community wellbeing. She has spent much of her career supporting the residents of Cornwall through senior roles in the public sector, guided by a values-led approach that puts people first.
She holds a Public Sector MBA from Warwick Business School and is an accredited coach with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Through her business, FERN Coaching, Becky supports individuals to thrive - whether that’s in leadership, work, or broader life goals - by helping them unlock performance in a way that’s authentic, sustainable, and meaningful.
Becky is Chair of the Active Cornwall Board, supporting the mission for a Cornwall, where inequalities are no longer a barrier to an active life - meaning everyone can live longer & healthier lives. She also serves as on the leadership Council of the British Functional Fitness Federation, a sports governing body, and sees her role with Coastline Housing as a further opportunity to contribute to inclusive, community-focused leadership.
Allister Young
Chief Executive
Other positions held within Coastline Group: member of Property & Investment Committee.
Background: Allister originally joined Coastline as Director of Finance in 2012, before becoming CEO in 2014. After studying Physics at the University of Edinburgh he qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in London.
His previous roles include Assistant Director of Finance at the Peabody Trust, and Director of Finance & Resources at Tree Aid. He was a board member of PlaceShapers from 2017 to 2023, is a member of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Strategic Housing Group, and vice-chair of the National Housing Federation’s South West region.
Darren Willcocks
Independent Committee Member
Joined the Property & Investment Committee: 26/09/24
Background: As a Cornishman, Darren has been lucky to benefit from a great local education and enjoy his whole career in Cornwall as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. He served as a Partner/Director of the largest surveying firm in Cornwall, with over 30 years professional experience across the private and public sector for a range of local and national clients.
More recently, Darren has taken on community centred roles as a Parish Councillor, with Falmouth and Penryn Community Area Partnership and as a school governor. He feels it is now time to give back something to the community he has benefitted so much from.
Yvie Stephens MBE
Independent Committee Member
Joined the Audit & Risk Committee: 26/09/24
Background: A former Army Officer, Yvie works in technology in financial services. She was born and raised in Cornwall and is passionate about regional growth.
Yvie specialises in programme delivery, risk management and systems transformation, holding a BA in Geography from the University of Liverpool, an MSc in African Studies from Oxford University, and an MA in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College London.
Jullian Marshall-James
Independent Committee Member
Joined the Customer Experience Committee: 01/04/2025
Background: Jullian is driven by a passion for social justice and a desire to drive improvement in social housing.
With over 35 years of experience in senior roles within the financial services industry, he currently operates as a self-employed Business Consultant and Executive Coach. Jullian empowers boards and business owners of all sizes to optimise their operational efficiency and enhance their customer experience.
Outside of work Jullian is a proud father and grandfather who enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He is keen cricketer who also enjoys listening to music and keeping fit!
