Governance

Melanie Lombard is Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography and Planning at University of Sheffield, UK. Her research explores how communities make neighbourhoods in Latin American, African and European cities. She has recently published a book on urban informality. Melanie has been a member of the CLASS Board of Trustees since 2020 and has been Chair of the Board since 2023.

Diana Mitlin is Professor of Global Urbanism at the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester. From 2020, Diana has been CEO of the FCDO-funded African Cities Research Consortium, a multi-agency initiative working closely with SDI affiliates. Diana’s work focuses on inequality including urban poverty reduction programming and the contribution of collective action by low-income and otherwise disadvantaged groups. This has included issues of basic services, tenure, and housing. Diana has worked closely with SDI and its affiliates since 1996 to learn from the expertise and experiences of grassroots organisations. She has been on the Board of CLASS since its inception and was chair from 2018 to 2023.

Melony Pentreath was appointed as Treasurer of CLASS in 2022. She lives in Whalley Range with her husband and three children. Melony qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2001 and has worked at a number of accountancy firms including two of the ‘Big 4’. She currently works as Commercial Director of a Manchester based Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancy set up by her and her husband in 2012.

Julie has been involved with CLASS since its inception.  Julie has spent her working life almost totally in the voluntary sector working on anti-poverty projects both in the UK and in International Development primarily for Water Aid and Oxfam. More recently, she has held roles at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. She is a a Non-Executive Director of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust, and she is a Trustee at Mind in Salford and Home Workers Worldwide.

Georgie has been involved with CLASS and the Community Savers Network for four and a half years. She is the Chair of a Group within the Network called Women In Community Action Arbourthorne. The group is made up of women from Arbourthorne who all aspire to make it a better place to live.

Bernard Sudlow is a long-term community activist based in Hulme, Manchester. He is Secretary of Aquarius Tenants and Residents Association, Co-Treasurer of Aquarius Community Savers, as well as being an active member of Hulme Community Forum and several other local community initiatives. Bernard is also a tenant representative on One Manchester housing association’s Customer Scrutiny Panel.