Haven Board & Staff

The Haven has a Board of 12 members which meets bi-monthly and are responsible, with the Chief Executive, for the strategic direction and policy of the Charity. In addition, Wolverhampton City Council nominates a Councillor with observer status on The Board.

The Haven Wolverhampton Board Members

The Haven Wolverhampton Senior Management Team
The Haven Wolverhampton Senior Management Team consists of the Chief Executive Officer and four Heads of Services (Head of Accommodation and Support Services, Head of Community Support Services, Head of Economic Development Services and Head of Business Support Services).
Heads of Service meet on a fortnightly basis to maintain a consistent approach across the organisation and to share information. Heads of Service oversee the effective and efficient delivery of the organisation’s outcomes on a day to day basis and report against the Business Plan. They also discuss and advise on business and corporate strategies of the organisation.

Biography: Kath Rees: Chief Executive: The Haven Wolverhampton
Following a range of different employment opportunities in the North East in Health, including roles within Social Services and Education, Kath joined The Haven Wolverhampton as a Hostel Coordinator in 1992 and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in 1993.

Kath undertook one of the first Voluntary Sector management courses at CASS Business School in 2001, and has since achieved an MBA in 2006, attended Executive Coaching Training in Manchester 2008 and achieved Leadership Development at Henley Business School. 

As Chief Executive of The Haven Wolverhampton Kath is active in developing Third Sector initiatives in Wolverhampton.  Kath is an Executive Member of: Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council, a Member of the Local Strategic Partnership as a Representative of the Third Sector Partnership, a Member of The Third Sector Partnership representing The Haven and a Member of Safeguarding Children’s Board. Regionally, she is an Executive Member Regional Action West Midlands as well as IOD and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In a volunteer capacity Kath is a Visitor for The Henry Smith Charity for the Black Country area; a Member of West Midland Charitable Trust Group and a Member of Soroptimist International - Wolverhampton Club. Kath is a Board Member of Wow (Women of Wolverhampton) network and a Chair of the Residential Home for 30 elderly people - Soroptimist House.

Biography : Kath Farmer : Head of Community Support Services
Kath joined The Haven as Volunteer Co-ordinator and moved to the Referral Line and later to Refuge Services. Kath is currently Head of Community Support Services responsible for the development, delivery and strategic direction of the Community and Advocacy Support Team, Counselling and Volunteering Services.

Kath was involved in preparing for Supporting People and later the introduction of Contact Point. Following a secondment to South Staffordshire District Council Kath produced the first Domestic Abuse Strategy for the area. Kath’s background in the voluntary sector began in 1988 as a volunteer advisor at her local Citizen Advice Bureau. Kath qualified as a Welfare Officer and has worked as a Co-ordinator for Mencap in South Staffordshire, and was Chief Executive for Victim Support in Wolverhampton.

Kath has been Chair of the WoW (Women Organising in Wolverhampton) and in 2007 Kath represented WoW at the Nordic Conference on Women’s Entrepreneurship and Regional Development in Stockholm.

Biography : Michaila Tope : Head of Residential and Support Services
Prior to coming to The Haven Wolverhampton in May 2003, Michaila had worked in the voluntary sector for 16 years, 9 of which were in the provision of services for people experiencing Mental Ill Health. The introduction of the National Service Framework for Mental Health gave her the opportunity to become involved in ‘Women only day services’. She was the first to set up a women only service in Day Centre provision in the Dudley borough.

Michaila has a Degree in Social Science, a Diploma in Management, a diploma in Performance coaching, Diploma in DV studies also has a teaching and NVQ Assessors qualification. She has worked for The Haven Wolverhampton for 7 years supporting vulnerable women and children who are escaping Domestic Violence and/or homelessness, firstly as the Senior Manager of Residential Services, now as Head of Accommodation and Support Services she is responsible for the Haven’s 5 accommodation sites and support services to women and children, strategic and performance developments of The Haven Wolverhampton.

Michaila manages the Children & Young People’s services and has been instrumental in the operational development of ContactPoint into the organisation. She has also managed the introduction of the Haven’s Helpline.Michaila is a Trustee of the Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum and member of Soroptimist International.

Biography: Popinder Kaur : Head of Economic Development
Popinder joined The Haven in June 2004 as Economic Development Officer.  Popinder is currently Head of Economic Development responsible for the development, delivery and strategic direction of the Fundraising and Public Relations. She has been responsible for the management and development key pieces of work at the Haven including international projects, counselling, advocacy, research, financial inclusion and development of Shirlin House.  Popinder is lead for coordinating research and consultation responses for the Haven.  Popinder was the lead for the equality and diversity task group and is currently leading on the performance group.

Popinder’s background in the voluntary sector began 2002 as an ICT Manager at a local college, where she managed and developed franchise and partnership agreements with local education providers. Previously she worked at colleges delivering ICT and Business Studies courses and tutoring.  Popinder has a Business Studies (Hons) Degree and qualifications in teaching and external verification.

Popinder is currently Chair of the Fate Trust and member of the West Midlands Charitable Trust Group.  As a matter of personal interest, Popinder is also an accredited provider of the Listening Programme and has worked with local schools on delivery special educational programmes for children who have speech and language difficulties.

Biography: Elvira Wilson : Head of Business Support Services
The first fourteen years of her professional career (1988-2002) Elvira spent in Education. A qualified PGCE lecturer, she worked at several Further and Higher Educational establishments in both Russia and the UK, specialising in Higher Mathematics and ICT, developing, delivering, moderating and co-ordinating training programmes at levels 3 and 4.
Elvira’s involvement with the voluntary sector began in 2002 when she joined The Haven Wolverhampton. Over the years her role in the organisation evolved and currently she oversees Business Services, including Human Resources, Finance, ICT, Performance Monitoring and Training. In the past she has also managed Publicity and Marketing and is proud to being able to contribute to the development of The Haven profile. Elvira completed an MBA in 2006.

Russian by birth, Elvira is passionate about the Haven’s International work. Elvira believes that empowerment of women is an essential tool for promoting gender equality and the realisation of human rights for all in United Kingdom and worldwide.

Elvira has been a member of the Women of Wolverhampton (WOW) network since 2005 and in January 2009 was appointed as Chair of the WOW Steering Group. Elvira is a Trustee of the Wolverhampton CAB (Citizen’s Advise Bureau) and has been a member of British Computer Society since 2003.

To contact the Chief Executive or Heads of Service please call 01902 572140 or email info@havenrefuge.org.uk