proactive in our desire for change
Concept was born out of a desire to make a positive contribution to the affordable housing crisis. Our priority is to provide desperately needed homes for social and affordable rent whilst supporting residents who aspire to a home for life.
Everyone that works for Concept is committed to this shared vision and has the attitude and the skill to deliver on it. Our board, management and operational teams have been built with experienced people including many who bring a strong growth mindset from the commercial sector.
We are proud to have built a reputation for having a team that can think flexibly and act with intent and pace.
the board
Akhlaq Ahmed – Chair
Akhlaq Ahmed is a chartered accountant and has previously led regional forensic and compliance practices for a number of global accountancies (including two of the ‘Big 4′).
Akhlaq’s sector knowledge covers both public and private clients as well as working with regulators and government agencies. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and has over 20 years’ experience in assisting businesses and organisations in governance, compliance reviews, financial audits and assessments. He has led a number of independent board reviews in the public and private sector, supporting organisations with independent assessment of effectiveness of its boards.
Safraz Hussain
Safraz joined the board after he saw first-hand the good work that the organisation was doing in Birmingham.
Safraz was a founder member of, and has been involved with, a Homeless Outreach Project in the City for over 10 years and is dedicated to helping homeless people and developing anti-homeless strategies. Safraz joined the board to help maintain, challenge and develop the reach and standards of that service and also has a strong background in project management, particularly I.T. which is vital to the continued success and efficient, responsible growth of the organisation.
Abdus (Jeb) Samad
Jeb is a Non-Executive Director with over 25 years of experience across telecoms, adult learning, and the public sector. He brings strategic insight and a strong commitment to social impact.
Jeb supports Concept Housing’s mission to provide safe, secure homes and person-centred services. His collaborative approach and focus on transparency and accountability help drive positive change and long-term value for communities.
Raj Shroff
Raj has over 30 years’ experience in the Care and Support sector starting as a volunteer in a large Direct Access Hostel for homeless men and leading a Midlands based Housing Association as Director of its Supported Services and Deputy Director of Care and Support.
Raj is a director of a consultancy company working with organisations who deliver care and support services in the public, private and voluntary sector. He has an MBA and an Executive Leadership Certificate awarded by Cranfield University’s School of Management.
Raj is a Non-Executive Director of a CIC supported housing association having previously served on a national learning disabilities charity board, been a director of a bond scheme and a trustee of two local homelessness charities. He is currently a custody visitor for West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and a Cadet Forces Instructor.
Commercially focussed Raj is interested in ensuring Care and Support services are viable and are quality driven for focussed outcomes for customers. Having managed budgets in excess of £70 million p.a. with large staff teams and been a New Business Manager, Raj has the ability to see solutions to problems and deliver operationally to strategic objectives.
Raj has a keen interest in enabling colleagues to see the potential for services when they are efficiently resourced and is passionate about future proofing services.
Shakoor Khan
Shakoor brings experience across regulated healthcare, community engagement and charitable outreach. His professional background has given him a strong understanding of working within regulated environments, with a focus on safeguarding, compliance, quality, risk management and evidence-based decision-making.
Alongside his professional work, Shakoor has been involved in community and charitable initiatives, working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and supporting activities focused on wellbeing, inclusion and community resilience. He has also contributed to local community and neighbourhood discussions, giving him valuable insight into the issues affecting residents and the importance of listening to diverse perspectives.
He brings a calm, practical and people-focused approach to the Board, with a particular interest in good governance, accountability, service quality and positive outcomes for residents and communities. His experience supports the Board’s oversight of safeguarding, risk management, quality assurance and resident-focused decision-making.
Arsalan Aslam
Arsalan is an experienced quality assurance, compliance and risk professional with more than nine years’ experience across FCA-regulated financial services. His career has spanned wealth management, retail banking, fraud operations, complaints and motor finance, providing him with a strong understanding of regulated environments, regulatory expectations and the importance of achieving fair and consistent customer outcomes.
Throughout his career, Arsalan has developed extensive experience in quality assurance, compliance monitoring, risk and control assessment, customer journey reviews and the investigation of complex and systemic issues. His work involves independently evaluating business practices, testing the effectiveness of controls, and using evidence and data to identify areas of risk and improvement.
He brings a practical and analytical approach to the Board, with particular expertise in consumer protection, regulatory compliance, governance and operational risk. His experience supports the Board’s oversight of risk management, assurance, compliance and continuous improvement, helping to promote positive outcomes for residents and other stakeholders.
Mohammed Waseem Asif
Waseem is an ACCA part-qualified finance professional who has built his experience across housing-related care services, commercial organisations and facilities management. His background includes financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, audit assurance and internal controls, giving him a strong understanding of financial performance and risk management.
He has supported strategic and operational decision-making within complex, multi-site organisations and brings valuable insight into financial governance, organisational resilience and long-term sustainability. As a Board member, he provides constructive challenge and helps ensure strong financial oversight in support of Concept’s objectives.
Fortunate Mbeh Mbang
Fortunate brings considerable experience from highly regulated NHS and healthcare environments, with a strong understanding of safeguarding, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, ethical decision-making and organisational accountability.
Alongside her professional background, she offers the perspective of a long-term social housing resident, providing valuable insight into resident engagement, service quality and community wellbeing.
She brings a thoughtful and resident-focused perspective to the Board, with particular interests in safeguarding, health and wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, and service quality. Her combined professional and lived experience supports the Board’s consideration of resident-focused decision-making and positive outcomes for residents and communities.
Shakeel Ahmad
Shakeel is a senior business intelligence, data science and research professional with more than 15 years’ experience of turning complex information into clear and practical insight for senior leaders.
He has led the development of Power BI reporting, secure data environments, performance dashboards and data governance frameworks, helping organisations make effective use of data and technology.
He brings a strong analytical and evidence-based perspective to the Board, with particular interests in performance management, data quality, digital transformation, value for money and the responsible use of analytics. His experience supports effective scrutiny, informed decision-making and continuous organisational improvement.
the executive team
Morriam Jan – Interim Chief Executive Officer
Morriam brings more than 20 years’ of leadership experience across housing, governance, safeguarding and public service.
She has previously held Chief Executive roles within the housing sector and brings extensive experience in regulatory compliance, governance, organisational improvement, risk management and supporting vulnerable residents and communities.
Alongside her housing career, Morriam is an elected Birmingham City Councillor and was the first Muslim woman to become Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Birmingham City Council. Her public service experience also includes serving as Chief Group Whip, a member of the Education, Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and a substitute member of the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel.
Morriam brings a strategic and resident-focused approach to leadership, with a strong commitment to good governance, financial sustainability, service quality and positive outcomes for communities. Her experience supports the organisation’s focus on regulatory compliance, organisational resilience and continuous improvement.
Catherine Rogerson – Head of Governance & Human Resources
With 25 years’ experience in the social housing sector, Catherine joined Concept as Company Secretary & Governance Lead in 2022 having previously been Company Secretary for a large housing and care provider in the Midlands.
Her earlier career in local government and the private sector spanned human resources, training and payroll and she has recently been appointed as Head of Governance & Human Resources at Concept.
Catherine has undertaken voluntary work with various charities and schools and is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Governance.
Louise Price – Director of Resident Services
Louise has over 20 years’ experience of working in social housing in a range of organisations including local authorities and housing associations.
Louise has a passion for providing excellent resident centred services. She has a track record for empowering her teams to improve performance and service delivery to residents. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Nicola Williams – Director of Finance
Nicola has over 20 years’ experience in finance, specialising in governance, audit, risk, treasury, process improvement, and financial sustainability within complex public sector environments. She brings a strong focus on financial control, transparency, and organisational sustainability.
With more than 15 years of voluntary senior leadership, Nicola has contributed to poverty alleviation, homelessness, elderly care, and community engagement in Birmingham through organisations like the Society of St Vincent de Paul and The Ramblers, as well as arts, culture, and learning initiatives. Hard of hearing, she recently earned her British Sign Language Level 3 qualification, demonstrating her commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
Nicola also holds an MBA and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.