Our team
Our team
Our senior management team meets every month and is responsible for delivering our business plan and managing their individual teams.
Tracy Evans
Chief Executive
Tracy Evans joined Sussex Housing & Care as Chief Executive on 3 January 2017. As a qualified Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, she has 35 years experience in Sussex and London in housing and support, starting as a trainee housing officer at Octavia Hill Housing Trust. Tracy has held the positions of Housing Director and Head of Housing for Affinity Sutton and Eastbourne Homes and was the manager for lead regulation of Southeast Housing Associations at the Regulator for Social Housing.
As well as housing management, repairs and policy experience, she has taken a governance lead with housing association boards as well as being a board member prior to joining Sussex Housing and Care.
Amanda Hodge
Operations Director
Amanda joined our team on 27 February 2017 as Director of Housing & Care. She has nearly 40 years’ experience in social housing, covering housing management, development, housing options working for a number of housing associations (including a national older person’s provider) and two local authorities.
In her last post at Wealden District Council she carried out a review of the sheltered housing stock which was refurbished and re-branded as Retirement Living. Amanda was responsible for creating a development programme for the housing service at the authority which included building new sheltered housing alongside general needs accommodation. Amanda is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Helen Tracey
Finance Director
Helen joined our team on 13 June 2022 as Finance Director. She has over 25 years experience as a finance professional and her experience spans financial services, aviation, education and charitable organisations. Helen has spent her career both in the UK and overseas. Her last role was Finance Director for East Sussex College Group.
Helen grew up in Sussex and she enjoys walking with her two rescue dogs. She is Trustee and Treasurer for Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare.
Helen is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Elina Langley
Finance Manager
Elina (Eli) joined the team in November 2022 and has over 35 years experience working in finance. She has worked for accountants, an entertainment agency, national charities and has also been self-employed.
Eli’s focus is to make efficiencies and streamline processes, ensuring value for money and smart working. She finds leading the finance team at Sussex Housing & Care rewarding and focuses on making sure residents get the best service possible.
Outside of work Eli enjoys singing, walking and spending time with family and friends
Vafa Hurst
Head of Care
Vafa joined Sussex Housing & Care in 2003 as a Care Assistant having previously worked as a registered nurse. Her passion and operational expertise within housing and care has seen her progress rapidly within the organisation including managing a care home, managing a region, and now our Head of Care.
Vafa oversees the management and service delivery of our three care homes in Battle, Haywards Heath and Crowborough.
Carl Lewis
Head of Housing
Carl joined our team in November 2017. Carl has worked in the housing sector since 2001 with experience working within a large housing association and a local authority.
Carl has extensive experience in delivering a wide range of housing management services, new homes and in resident and community engagement. Carl's passion is in ensuring residents have their say and are meaningfully involved in influencing the delivery of services. Carl is responsible for our tenant and leadsehold housing service across all of our housing schemes.
Paul Williams
Property Services Manager
Paul Williams joined on 16th July 2018 as Property Services Manager. As a property specialist Paul has over 30 years’ experience in repairs, maintenance, adaption, refurbishment and development in both the private and public sectors.
Most recently Paul has held the position of Property Services Team Leader at Wealden District Council and Project Surveyor at Lewes District Council.
Outside of work Paul spends time with his daughter, has two pet lizards and enjoys keeping fit.
Debbe Wordley
HR Manager
Debbe joined our team on 15 May 2017. She brings with her seven years experience of working in the not for profit health and social care sector at RSAS Age Care, as well as experience of working in the commercial sector.
Debbe particularly enjoys working in HR and in this sector, as it's about people and supporting them in their day to day work - making sure they have all the correct resources in place to enable them to provide an effective and efficient service to all our customers.