Meet The Founders

Mike Wilson – Sector Insight, Grounded Experience

Co-Founder of socialhousing.ai
Managing Director, Tristar Consulting
Director, Direct Works Group

Mike Wilson has been active in the UK social housing sector for almost 40 years, with a career that spans both housing management and repairs and maintenance — a rare combination that gives him a well-rounded perspective on the practical realities of service delivery.

For the past two decades, Mike has led Tristar Consulting, supporting housing providers across the country to improve repairs services, rethink operational models, and deliver better outcomes for residents. His approach is practical, no-nonsense, and deeply informed by frontline experience.

Mike is also a Director of the Direct Works Group, a national membership network originally founded over 25 years ago to drive improvement, learning, and collaboration in housing maintenance.

He co-founded socialhousing.ai to help housing professionals cut through the AI hype, challenge bold product claims, and make confident, informed decisions about new technologies. His voice on the platform reflects deep sector knowledge, grounded thinking, and a genuine commitment to improving services for residents.

Chris McKellar – Analytics, Strategy, and Performance Focus

Co-Founder of socialhousing.ai

Managing Director Formula Consulting
Consultant in Performance & Financial Management

Chris McKellar brings a sharp, analytical lens to socialhousing.ai, with a background in consultancy, performance management, and financial strategy. He has worked with housing organisations of all sizes to improve service efficiency, enhance data literacy, and ensure operational decisions are underpinned by meaningful insight.

While newer to the sector than Mike, Chris has worked alongside him for many years on complex consultancy projects, combining operational awareness with a strong grasp of numbers, outcomes, and digital strategy.

Chris's interest in AI comes from his work with data , seeing how the right tools, used responsibly, can empower teams, uncover blind spots, and support smarter service design. On socialhousing.ai, he brings a critical eye to AI adoption, focused on value for money, measurable impact, and informed implementation.

Together, Mike and Chris created socialhousing.ai to provide housing professionals with something that’s often missing in the AI conversation: clarity.

This site is built for housing people — not tech people — and aims to help organisations lead with confidence, not get dragged along by trends. Whether you're just starting your AI journey or deep into digital transformation, this platform is here to support you.