Arvinda Gohil OBE, BA (Hons)
Group Vice Chair & Chair of Group Housing Board
Arvinda Gohil is an experienced executive and non-executive, having started her career in housing. She brings significant experience of working in the housing, homelessness, charity and social enterprise sectors. Her long history includes the Chief Executive of Central YMCA, the founder YMCA; Community Links, a place-based charity in Newham London; Emmaus UK, umbrella body for homeless charity and social enterprise; Director for Membership, Governance, and Regions for the National Housing Federation; Assistant Director for London at the Housing Corporation; setting up a capacity-building agency in South Africa for emerging housing organisations; and Chief Executive of two black led housing associations. She was instrumental in setting up Unity Housing Association in Leeds, where she was its first Chief Executive.
Arvinda also has significant experience in the voluntary sector, working for a women’s refuge, running a positive action programme to enable access to employment, and running a regeneration partnership. In addition to the executive roles, Arvinda has held several non-executive and trustee roles including in housing associations, refugee organisations, a university, and a social investment charity. She is currently Chair of the Future Economy Alliance; Chair of the British Gas Energy Trust; and Co-Convenor of the Better Way Network. Arvinda is passionate about supporting young leaders, particularly women of colour, and provides mentoring and coaching support in their leadership journey.