Our board

Board Trustee

Ian Johnson is Executive Director of Customer Services at Karbon Group, where he leads customer experience, involvement, housing management, repairs and maintenance and strategic planning and insight.
 
With over 25 years’ experience in the housing sector, Ian has built a career spanning local government and housing associations. He began as a Housing Assistant at Sunderland City Council before progressing to senior leadership roles including Head of Safer Neighbourhoods at Blyth Valley Council, Executive Director of Operations at Homes for Northumberland and Chief Executive of Tyne Housing. He joined Karbon in 2018 as Director of Pre-Tenancy and Property Services and was appointed to his current Executive role in May 2022.
 
Ian has a strong track record of driving organisational performance and enhancing both customer and colleague engagement. He brings extensive experience in neighbourhood and property services, alongside specialist expertise in safer communities and homelessness.
 
He is an active contributor to the wider sector, currently serving as Chair of Prosper and as a member of Highstone Homes’ Board. He has previously served as Chair of Age Concern Tyneside South and held a number of other board roles.

Board Trustee

Russell Hall is Group Director of Governance at Karbon Group and the Group Company Secretary, where he is responsible for leading the organisation’s governance, assurance and risk frameworks. He oversees regulatory compliance and legal services, ensuring the Group maintains robust standards while delivering high-quality services to its customers.

A qualified solicitor with over 25 years’ experience, Russell has spent most of his career working within the social housing sector advising housing providers on governance, regulatory and compliance matters. Russell has also held senior governance roles at Home Group and at the Riverside Group. He brings extensive expertise in managing complex legal and governance structures.

Alongside his executive role, Russell has a strong track record of board-level leadership. He has held a number of trustee and non-executive positions across the sector, including roles with a large regional housing provider, an ALMO (Arms-Length Management Organisation) and a North East-based charity supporting young people with housing and support needs.

As a Trustee of the Karbon Foundation, Russell contributes his deep governance knowledge and strategic insight to support the Foundation’s mission and ensure strong stewardship of its work and impact.

Board Member

Clare is a qualified commercial solicitor now working as an experienced leader in the sport, physical activity and health arenas. This includes both executive and non-executive roles in the charity and sport sectors. She is passionate about the role that movement and physical activity can play in improving lives for our most disadvantaged communities. She is also a keen runner and netballer.

Board Member

Jon is an experienced Charity Leader, currently the Chief Executive of the Together Initiative. Previously having held senior roles at St John Ambulance and the RNLI. As a trustee, Jon has chaired the Audit & Risk Committee at South Tyneside Homes, chaired Healthwatch Newcastle and served on the board of Just Fair.

Jon is a proud resident of Newcastle, who grew up in social housing in Four Lane Ends and knows first-hand the value of community and high quality homes. He lives in Gosforth with his partner and dog.

Board Member

Tessa is a qualified Chartered Account for 25+ years and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts (ICAEW). She has experience in Public, Private and Charity sectors. Her current role is the Director of Finance, Control with a remit for Financial Accounts, Tax, Treasury, Accounts Receivable, Procurement and Shared Services.

Tessa has presented to Audit and Finance committees for a number of years both in her current role and in her previous role as Financial Controller at Sunderland University. This has given Tessa a wealth of experience in the trusteeship and stewardship of organisations and she's looking forward to being on the 'other side of the table' as a trustee for Karbon Foundation.

Tessa has experience working in the Charity sector as a Finance Manager for a local charity 'At Home in the Community' early in her career and more recently was active in managing the finances and investments for the University of Sunderland Development Trust a Charitable body set up to raise funds for scholarships and bursaries to benefit students at the university.