The Audit and Risk Committee provides assurance to the Board on the systems of internal control, risk management and the internal and external audit functions to ensure that they are effective and well managed.
It also takes the lead role in providing assurance to the Board that legal and regulatory requirements are being met in the areas of procurement, business continuity, safeguarding, data protection and IT security.
Chair: Neil Perrins
We welcomed Neil as a Saxon Weald Board member in November 2024. He brings a wide range of experience from holding senior roles in the housing sector and beyond, and is Chief Financial Officer at housing association CHP, based in Essex.
Neil previously worked at Barking Riverside, a Joint Venture between the Mayor of London and L&Q, where he was Finance Director. Prior to that he was the Executive Director of Resources at Golding Homes and spent 15 years at Transport for London, his final role being the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis.
Neil is an experienced Non-Executive Director. He is a Board member and Chair of Audit & Risk Committee at Croydon Churches Housing Association, and an Independent Board Member at LHC, a Procurement organisation operating across the public sector in all of England, Wales and Scotland.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and recently completed a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Warwick.
Jo Boswell
Jo is an independent consultant providing advisory and coaching services to Boards and senior leaders to help them drive improvements in customer experience. She helps organisations work out how to utilise customer data, insight, and technology; and supports them in leading the cultural change needed to transform customer experience and improve business results. Jo previously enjoyed a career with British Airways spanning 27 years where she held a number of senior leadership roles within the Commercial and Customer functions and led a successful initiative that embedded personalisation into the customer experience and service strategy. Jo is also an independent member of the Customer Services Committee of Town and Country Housing Association.
As a keen amateur violinist, Jo performs regularly with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra where she is also Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Kalwant Grewal
Kalwant has extensive experience across healthcare, social housing and not-for-profit sectors, with strong expertise in governance, strategic leadership, and financial management. Throughout his career, he has held numerous senior roles, including Non-Executive Director, Committee Chair, and Executive-level positions, where he has led transformative initiatives that significantly impacted community development and organisational success. Kalwant has overseen substantial operations, managed large-scale projects, and navigated complex financial and regulatory landscapes. He has guided organisations through strategic planning, risk management, and governance excellence, always with a focus on delivering tangible social value and fostering vibrant, inclusive communities.
Laila Court
Laila joined the Board in July 2024, bringing broad experience from her time working at British Airways and Shell. She has extensive experience in overseeing large-scale digital transformation programmes across various industries, always placing the customer at the core of any delivery initiatives.
Laila has held senior leadership and advisory roles in numerous digital transformation initiatives, guiding them from inception and strategic planning to successful implementation. Her deep passion for technology and digital innovation drives her commitment to enhancing customer experiences and achieving business excellence.
Throughout her career, Laila has been a fervent advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I). She has leveraged her leadership platform to foster dialogue, promote inclusivity, and champion meaningful change.
Laila enjoys spending time with her large family, her very ‘energetic’ dog, travelling and her work at Save the Children and Smart Works.
Andrew Wiseman
Andrew joined Saxon Weald as an independent member of the Audit & Risk committee in February 2026. He is a lawyer by profession and currently General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at a large public body where he manages a number of teams including legal, governance, health & safety and internal audit. Prior to this, he had been a partner in a number of law firms specialising in environmental, planning & health & safety.
He has been a Board member of various organisations including Deputy Chair & Senior Independent Director of a housing association. His interests include watching most sports and cooking. He was awarded an OBE in 2012.
