New senior roles announced for Housing Rights

Housing Rights is delighted to announce the appointment of Peter McMahon and Kate McCauley to two new senior roles within the organization, Head of Services & Support and Head of Policy & Development.  

Peter McMahon, Head of Services and Support 

With over 30 year’s management experience in the voluntary sector, including 18 years at Housing Rights, Peter McMahon brings a depth of experience and dedication to the role of Head of Services and Support.  Since 2016, Peter has held the role of Head of Business Services, during which time he led the vast range of business service functions within the organisation, overseeing finance, corporate governance, human resources, ICT and facilities, as well as identifying appropriate opportunities for future business service development.  Prior to this he managed Housing Rights advice service project teams ensuring invaluable information and advice reached those affected by housing issues as well as other practitioners working in the housing sector.  

In taking up the new role of Head of Services and Support, Peter will lead the operational and business support functions within Housing Rights.  He will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high quality and efficient services to clients including our adviceline, casework department and mediation services; as well as overseeing support of our frontline practitioners who provide advice on housing and homelessness issues.  Additionally, he will be responsible for the management of organisational business support services including finance, human resources, and administration, helping Housing Rights to achieve our vision and deliver on strategic objectives.  

Regarding his new appointment, Peter commented; 

"I welcome this new opportunity to continue to develop personally and professionally and to helping lead our team of dedicated staff and volunteers to deliver on our vision.  As we move into the next phase of our journey and hopefully edge out of a pandemic there are many challenges and opportunities to grasp and I very much look forward to being a part of our Housing Rights journey.” 

Peter McMahon 
Head of Services and Support 
[email protected] 
02890 9024 5640 

Kate McCauley, Head of Policy and Development  

Kate McCauley brings over a decade’s experience in housing to the role of Head of Policy and Development. Since 2015, Kate has led the organisation’s policy work, influencing government decisions on a range of issues relating to housing and homelessness. She has worked in partnership with our colleagues across the sector, leading Housing Rights’ involvement in the CliffEdge Coalition and the campaign for a housing outcome in the Programme for Government. Kate’s passion for ensuring the meaningful involvement of people impacted by poor housing and homelessness in decisions made by government and others, has further developed the participative aspects of Housing Rights’ policy work.  In her role as Policy & Practice Manager, Kate has also managed the organisation’s research, training, and practitioner support functions where she has led a programme of income generation. 

In her new role, Kate will provide inspirational and visible leadership to the wide variety of roles which sit within the policy and development function. She will ensure that our policy and research work has a positive influence on the housing and homelessness agenda in Northern Ireland, as well as informing new business opportunities for the organisation and its services.  Kate will also lead the organisation’s communications, business development and digital development functions ensuring the organisation’s sustainability now and into the future.  

 Speaking about her appointment Kate said;   

 “I am delighted to be appointed to a new and exciting leadership role within the organisation. As we emerge from a pandemic, never has the work we are doing at Housing Rights to prevent homelessness felt more important. I look forward to continue leading our work to shape public policy decisions so that they best meet the needs of people at the sharp end of poor housing and homelessness. I’m also excited to work with partners to develop and deliver services which maximise the reach of our work.”   

Kate McCauley 
Head of Policy and Development 
[email protected] 
02890 9024 5640 

Both Peter and Kate will take up their new appointments on 1st July 2021.