Canon Adebimpe (Ade) Osunsanmi joins CDA Board
The Church Development Agency (CDA) is delighted to welcome Canon Adebimpe (Ade) Osunsanmi to its Board of Directors. With over 20 years of experience in logistics, procurement, and supply chain management, Ade brings extensive expertise across multiple sectors, alongside many years of professional involvement in the UK housing sector.
Ade is a mechanical engineer by training. She began her career in logistics and inventory control before moving into procurement roles across a range of industries, including aerospace, food, and higher education.
She’s worked in the UK housing sector for the past nine years, where her focus on sustainability and social impact has shaped the way organisations deliver housing and services.
“When I joined the housing sector, I quickly realised how far-reaching the impact could be,” Ade said. “It’s not just about providing homes but it’s about supporting people and communities.”
From 2016 to 2023, Ade worked at Sanctuary Housing Association, which provides a wide range of housing services – from supported living to student accommodation and care homes. She led projects on environmental sustainability and procurement strategy, ensuring that developments met both regulatory and community needs.
Part of her role allowed her to engage directly with the communities served by Sanctuary, including visiting care homes during Christmas to bring festive cheer.
“Those moments reminded me why this work matters,” she said. “It wasn’t just about contracts or compliance, but it was about people. Being able to connect with residents and see the impact of our work in their lives showed me that housing is about creating spaces where people feel valued, cared for, and part of a community.”
She went on to work for CHIC Ltd, consortium of over 280 housing associations, where she implemented resource planning to ensure that development and facility management needs were met across organisations with very different requirements and priorities.
“We had to make sure we kept everybody happy and that each project was organised according to each organisation’s requirements. I learned that effective resource management isn’t just about systems and processes but about balancing priorities and understanding people,” she said.
Ade currently works with Two Rivers Housing Association and serves on the Glebe Committee for the Diocese of Gloucester, helping to guide how church land can best serve local communities. This role connects closely with CDA’s purpose – supporting dioceses to turn church land into well-designed, affordable homes that meet real need.
She said: “I aim to strengthen CDA’s effectiveness as it continues to deliver projects that serve both church and society. It’s about turning plans into action, not just talking big numbers, but creating homes and communities that comply with the 5S standards.
“For me, CDA is more than a development agency, it’s a ministry. Housing is about dignity, safety, and belonging. If the homes I help create make people feel warm, secure, and valued, then I am living out my Christian purpose.”