We're thrilled to announce speakers for the Community Access agenda.
Kate Abson
Director of Assets and Development, Believe HousingFoluke Ajayi
Regional Director Localities – Customer and Neighbourhood and Governing Board, CIHJill Allcoat
Strategic Engagement Manager, Chartered Institute of HousingMario Ambrosi
Director of Communications and Marketing, Anchor and Chair, Housing and Ageing AllianceGossica Anichebe
Social Housing Resident, Peabody and Group Member, G15 Residents Group, Peabody and G15 Residents GroupGossica is a social housing resident who brings extensive lived experience to her role as an active member of the G15 Resident User Group. She works closely with residents across housing associations to strengthen engagement, share best practice, address common challenges and advocate for national policy changes that improve outcomes for residents. She has five years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director on Peabody’s Resident Experience Committee, where she champions residents’ voices at Executive and Board level. In this role, she helps ensure that feedback from residents’ shapes decision-making and drives meaningful policy and service improvements. Gossica also serves as a Trustee on the Peabody Communities Foundation Board, supporting initiatives that build stronger communities, with a particular focus on care in the community and improving outcomes for people, including those with disabilities. Alongside her housing work, Gossica has over 18 years’ experience in local government across communications, engagement, project management, complaints, policy, performance and service improvement. This breadth of experience enables her to navigate complex systems, influence decision-makers and deliver impactful change. She is passionate about housing and committed to promoting organisational cultures that reflect residents’ priorities, helping to deliver better services and outcomes for communities.

Dr Tom Arnold
Regional Engagement and Devolution Policy Manager, Chartered Institute of HousingTom Arnold is a policy manager at the Chartered Institute of Housing. He leads the organisation’s work on devolution, planning, regional engagement and rural housing in England.

Ryan Barclay
Vice Chair and Housing Options Broker, CIH Futures and Housing Options ScotlandRyan Barclay is a housing options broker at Housing Options Scotland, where his role involves providing housing options information and advice to older adults, disabled people, and members of the armed forces community across Scotland. He started his career as an equality, diversity and inclusion intern at Clyde Valley Housing Association in 2023. He then began his current role at Housing Options Scotland as a Housing Options Broker in April 2023. Since October 2025, he has been Vice Chair of the UK CIH Futures Board. CIH Futures advises the Chartered Institute of Housing on how to create a more diverse and inclusive housing sector and promote housing as a career of choice. In 2025, he was a finalist in the HQN Housing Next Generation 2025 Awards and was named a Top 30 Housing Champion by Housing Today. He is a chartered member of CIH, having graduated with an MSc in Housing Studies from the University of Stirling in 2022.

John Barnes
Director, Savills Affordable HousingJohn is a Director within Savills' Housing Division, advising affordable housing providers on asset management strategy, investment planning, compliance, repairs and maintenance, energy efficiency and procurement. He specialises in supporting organisations to make evidence-led decisions about asset investment and long-term planning. John joined Savills in 2016 and previously held senior roles within the housing sector. He works with housing associations and local authorities across the UK on a wide range of asset management challenges.

Tanya Bass
Policy Leader, National Housing FederationTanya Bass leads policy on Supply and Planning at the National Housing Federation. She joined in June 2025 from Canada’s Ontario public service, where she shaped social housing policy.

James Batchelor MBE
Chief Executive and Founder, AlertacallJames Batchelor MBE, CEO and Founder of Alertacall, is a serial entrepreneur and has dedicated the last two decades to using technology and a specially trained, friendly team to help housing providers have better two-way contact with older people. The company’s first ever customer was James’ own gran, Eveline, and today tens of thousands of customers use Alertacall’s products to keep them safe, connected and informed every day. James has recently been awarded an MBE for Services to Technology For Older People, recognition for his commitment and tireless campaigning to improve the lives of vulnerable people, reducing isolation and loneliness. He is also a big believer in sustainability and Alertacall has planted tens of thousands of treesin the Lake District, where the company is headquartered.

Hasan Okyar Bayraktar
Senior Vice President of Commercial, PlentificHasan Bayraktar is a senior commercial leader with deep expertise in strategy, growth, and digital transformation across the housing and residential real estate sector. As Senior Vice President of Commercial at Plentific, a leading proptech platform for housing providers and local authorities, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s commercial vision and leading its international and sector expansion strategy. Hasan has helped housing organisations digitise and modernise their operations and supply chains through technology—improving service delivery, boosting efficiency, and ultimately creating better outcomes for residents. With a background in strategy consulting and an MBA from Imperial College London, Hasan has consistently positioned organisations for sustainable success in fast-evolving markets throughout his career across multiple industries. At Plentific, he works closely with housing providers to co-create practical solutions, builds and leads high-performing teams, and champions innovation that drives systemic change in property services. With a passion for applying technology to improve housing outcomes, Hasan brings a unique perspective on how the right digital tools can create lasting impact for residents, communities, and housing professionals alike.

Ashley Beaton
Assistant Neighbourhood Director, Lancaster West, Royal Borough of Kensington and ChelseaDr Eve Blezard
Policy Lead, Chartered Institute of Housing
Nic Bliss
@nicblisscch
Campaign Director, Stop Social Housing Stigma CampaignNic Bliss is the Campaign Director for the Stop Social Housing Stigma campaign and the author of SSHS's Tackling Stigma Journey Planner, recently launched in Parliament as a flexible tool to help tenants and landlords work together to tackle stigma. As a former social housing tenant himself for thirty years and as the former Head of Policy for the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Nic has worked with numerous tenants and landlords on various tenant involvement programmes.

Dr Dan Bowers
Head of Psychology, University of South WalesDr Dan Bowers is Head of Psychology at the University of South Wales and a Board Member at United Welsh Housing Association. He leads the USW Housing and Health Research Network, bringing together partners to explore the relationship between housing, health and service delivery. His recent work focuses on understanding the wellbeing and experiences of frontline teams in social housing, particularly the psychological demands of working in complex environments. Dr Bowers has developed simulation-based training, to support reflective practice, decision-making and workforce development in high-pressure environments.

Bethan Buck
@NatFedBethan
External Affairs Manager, National Housing FederationBethan has worked for the NHF for eight years, having previously worked for a social enterprise specialising in community development and placemaking for areas undergoing regeneration. As External Affairs Manager for London, Bethan works closely with housing associations across the capital and is responsible for the NHFs offer for smaller housing associations. With significant programme management experience, Bethan is currently working across various specialisms at the NHF including supply and regeneration, building confidence and trust, the Better Social Housing Review, and community cohesion. Bethan also sits on the Advisory Board for the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge.

Francis Burrows
Executive Director of Customer and Operational Services, WandleFrancis Burrows leads all operational housing and property teams at Wandle, operating across South London. Additionally, Francis serves as Chair at Pioneer Group in Birmingham, bringing together expertise in operational and strategic leadership in housing.

Ashley Campbell
Policy and Practice Manager, Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland
Paul Cartwright
National Specification Manager, AicoPaul has worked in various roles within Aico since joining the company in 2001, including Relationship Manager, National Account Manager, Head of National Accounts, and currently National Specification Manager. Paul’s role forms part of the sales and specification team within the company, supporting and mentoring the regional specification managers at national level, whilst maintaining and building relationships with our national clients and contractors. Paul represents Aico on the FIA FIRESA Council, which provides vital communication between the Fire and Rescue Services and their suppliers, as well as liaising directly with the government and other external bodies.

Caritas Charles
Head of Policy, TPAS EnglandCaritas has worked in the sector for 24 years in numerous roles at a frontline and strategic level . In his current role he works with Tpas members in informing on and helping to shape national housing policy and ensuring that people who live in social housing have their voices heard. A scrutiny geek he also facilitates the National Scrutiny Club. Keen to bring new ideas in engagement to the sector Caritas has written a guide to using deliberative engagement methods and is currently looking at global engagement best practice.

Richard Clark
Head of Neighbourhoods and Communities, Bromford FlagshipRichard has worked in housing for 19 years. Richard has held Community Safety based roles due to his background in the police. In 2011 he completed one of the final CIH Professional Housing Studies degrees at Birmingham City University, which gave him the opportunity to learn more about the sector and enter into housing management leadership roles outside of anti-social behaviour and community safety. After several management roles across the Midlands and London, in 2022 Richard joined Bournville Village Trust as Head of Housing and Neighbourhoods. BVT is an organisation steeped in history and matches Richard’s values of community building and creating thriving and sustainable communities for our residents to live.

Ryan Chivers
Housing Officer, Ipswich CouncilRyan is a dedicated housing officer with a background in community safety and engagement. He is passionate about building community cohesion, empowering tenant voices, and supporting community-led solutions that create safer, stronger, and more thriving neighbourhoods.

Cerys Clark
Policy and Public Affairs Manager, CIH Cymru
James Clark
Director of Housing and Vice-Chair, Sheffield City Council and CIH Policy Advisory Committee
Nicki Clarke
Head of Service – Housing and Criminal Justice, Standing Together Against Domestic AbuseNicki works with local authorities and housing providers to implement the Whole Housing Approach and achieve DAHA accreditation to ensure that domestic abuse survivors can access safe and secure housing. Nicki also sits on the National Domestic Abuse and Housing Policy and Practice Group, working with partners across the sector to influence national policy. Prior to this Nicki spent more than 13 years working frontline in various roles within social housing and as the Domestic Abuse lead for Westward Housing she successfully guided them to achieve DAHA Accreditation in 2022. As a survivor of domestic abuse Nicki now uses her personal knowledge and understanding to raise awareness of domestic abuse and ensure that the housing response for survivors is always informed by the survivor voice.

Josh Cliff
Head of Service, Positive FootprintsJosh Cliff leads Positive Footprints, part of the Regenda Group. He’s passionate about shaping brighter futures for the next generation. Positive Footprints award-winning work is connecting housing organisations and primary schools to inspire over 11,000 children every year. Josh champions early intervention, and has worked in education and skills in the public and not-for-profit sector. He is also a governor and proud father children.

Andrew Cooper
Head of Funding and Social Value, Sovereign Network GroupEvie Copeland
Vice president CIH and Director of Customer and Communities,, Berwickshire Housing Association
Jonathan Cox
Chief Data Officer, HousemarkJonathan has over 15 years of experience providing data analysis and business support to the social housing sector. He previously worked for two large London Housing Associations before joining the Housemark data team in 2012. Jonathan has delivered a range of data consultancy projects, and recent clients include Catalyst Group, Trivallis, Solihull Community Housing, Stonewater Group and Aster Group.

Jon Daley
Head of ESG, G2M Group
Josh Davis
Head of Operations, Chirpy HeatJosh Davis is Director of Delivery at Chirpy Heat, specialising in heat network compliance, operational performance, and strategic improvement for social housing providers. He works with organisations across the UK to help navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, translating complex requirements into practical, achievable actions.
With expertise spanning HNTAS, Ofgem regulation, heat network operations, and data-driven decision-making, Josh is passionate about helping organisations improve outcomes for both residents and heat network performance through practical, collaborative solutions

Sarah Davis
Policy Lead and Member, Chartered Institute of Housing and Housing and Ageing Alliance
Stewart Davison
Founder, Elehan ConsultingStewart Davison is a seasoned executive, board member, and thought provoker with nearly 30 years of experience in Proptech and digital transformation within the social housing sector. As the Founder of Elehan Consulting and a past Non-Executive Board Member at Taff Housing and current Vice Chair of Elim Housing Association, Stewart has been at the forefront of driving strategic and operational change in affordable housing through technology.
Stewart is passionate about leveraging technology as a force for positive change, and he has been instrumental in informing, educating, and implementing new technologies to improve the lives of tenants across the UK.
A sought-after speaker and published author, Stewart is known for his deep understanding of the challenges faced by housing providers and his ability to align technology solutions with business requirements. His insights and expertise have made him a trusted advisor to housing associations, technology vendors, and industry stakeholders alike.

Matt Dicks
National Director, CIH Cymru
Kate Dodsworth
Deputy Chief Executive, Regulator of Social HousingKate started her career in housing 30 years ago in homelessness, working with rough sleepers in Birmingham and later managing homeless hostels in Brighton. After completing a Masters degree in Housing, she worked at the National Housing Federation for 10 years; latterly as Assistant Director covering London, the South East and East of England. She was Executive Director of People and Communications at Amicus Horizon and, post-merger, as Optivo. Kate was Chief Executive of Gateway Housing Association for three years until starting as Director of Consumer Regulation at the Regulator for Social Housing in July 2021. In 2023, she was appointed Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, and in 2026 her role was re-titled Deputy Chief Executive.

Claire Donovan
Director, End Furniture PovertyClaire Donovan is the Director of End Furniture Poverty, a campaigning charity which raises awareness of the reality of living without essential furniture, appliances and furnishings; carries out research to highlight its consequences and impact; and develops solutions to ensure that everyone has access to the essential furniture items that they need to lead a secure life. Focuses include furniture provision through local authority crisis support and furnished tenancies in social housing, including extensive support for landlords. Claire is a member of the MHCLG Flooring Working Group and works closely with the DWP on the implementation and monitoring of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Craig Doyle
Technical Officer, West of Scotland Housing
Ashley Dunne
Relationship Manager for Merseyside, Aico
Marc Edwards
Executive Director of Property, Gentoo GroupMarc is the Director of Asset and Sustainability at Gentoo Group. Marc’s current responsibilities include Stock Condition, Strategic Asset Management, Investment Delivery, Asset Sustainability and a number of Property Compliance areas including Asbestos Management. Marc is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers and holds a non-executive position at Keelman Homes. Marc has previously worked in a range of registered providers in the North East including Northstar and have previously oversaw services delivering Repairs and Maintenance, Procurement and Customer Services. Marc is committed to delivering excellent customer services and has led on the delivery of some significant fire remediation, retrofit and sustainability improvements to high rise blocks in Sunderland including Gentoos pioneering and award winning Core 364 project.

Aileen Evans
Vice Chair, Governing Board and Project Director, CIH and Church Housing AssociationAileen Evans joined the Combined Board in 2025 and Chair of the Customer Experience Committee from July 2025. She brings extensive experience in the housing, education and charity sectors, with more than 30 years at executive level. She was President of the Chartered Institute of Housing from 2019 to 2021 and is now Vice-Chair of its Board, where she also chairs the Governance, Ethics and Remuneration Committee. Following leadership roles at Leicester Housing Association, South Yorkshire Housing Association and Aragon Housing Association, Aileen was most recently Group Chief Executive of Grand Union Housing, leading a 400-strong team to deliver exceptional customer service, build new homes and provide support services. She has particular expertise in organisational transformation and employee engagement, and is a skilled speaker, chair, presenter and facilitator.

Dave Farquharson
Director of Partnerships, Lightning ReachDave is Director of Partnerships at Lightning Reach, the financial support infrastructure organisations rely on to deliver help faster, reduce admin, and increase impact at scale. He works with housing providers, local authorities, utilities, charities, banks and advice services to modernise how financial support reaches people in need. With a background spanning Beam, Sky and Optus, Dave has spent over a decade building partnerships that scale social impact through technology. His work has helped Lightning Reach support more than 400,000 people and unlock over £30 million in funding for individuals facing financial hardship.

Linda Fay
Co-founder, Hoarding AcademyLinda has been helping people with lived experience of hoarding for almost 15 years. She is the founder of Hoarding Academy and previously Life-Pod CIC. Linda is the author of 'A Pragmatic Approach to Chronic Disorganisation and Hoarding - using the DESIRE method' and 'Hoarding Disorder: Towards a unified approach beyond disciplines'. Linda is a founding member of Scotland’s Hoarding Taskforce and a steering group member of the UK Hoarding Partnership.

Ron Fowler
Resident Representative Team, Red Kite HousingChloe Fletcher
Head of Policy and External Affairs, Chartered Institute of HousingRebecca Fraser
Regional Engagement Manger for the East of England, Chartered Institute of Housing
Kevin Garvey
Head of Member Relations, National Housing FederationPrior to joining NHF Kevin worked in roles in public affairs, Parliament, Shelter and local government.

Mary Gibbons
Chief Operating Officer, AbriMary is responsible for the strategic leadership of customer experience and all landlord services, including housing, repairs and maintenance, complaints, tenancy sustainment and community investment. Mary joined Abri after leading the successful integration of Octavia, and formation of Abri’s new London region, following the partnership completion in December 2024. Under her leadership, Octavia saw stabilisation of services, strengthened controls and processes, and improvements in customer services. Before joining Abri, Mary held senior leadership roles across the housing sector and was Chief Executive of both Hundred Houses Society and CHP. She was also Chief Executive of Moat Homes, a landlord of approximately 23,000‑homes where she led large scale operational and customer transformation. Mary is deeply committed to the positive impact that high‑quality, safe and affordable homes have on people’s life chances. She brings extensive strategic and operational experience to her role and is passionate about embedding a customer‑first culture and delivering consistently high standards of service.

Karen Gregory
Resourcing and Scheduling Supervisor, Aster Group and Social Housing ResidentKaren Gregory has been a resident in social housing for the last 12 years and, before that, lived in military housing. She has worked in social housing for Aster Group since 2015. Since working for Aster Group and living in social housing, she has become more involved as a tenant and colleague. She is a member of the Social Housing Residents Panel for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and a Board Member at Transform Housing and Support.

Chris Grose
Founder, Chris Grose ConsultancyChris has had an interesting career in housing, having started in customer services at the age of 16 through to running a successful training and consultancy company at the age of 43. In those years, he held senior positions at local and national levels, working as a national advisor for the Chartered Institute of Housing and establishing an Advisory Service for a leading national law firm. He assisted and advised central government in developing national legislation, given evidence at the House of Commons and advised peers in the Lords. Chris is a regular speaker at regional and national conferences and events and was the Chair of the board at Ocean Housing.

Ian Hancock
Executive Director of Property, CobaltJohn Hannigan
Chief Executive and Chair, Circle Voluntary Housing Association and CIH Governing BoardJohn is CEO of Circle and a leading voice in social and affordable housing in Ireland. Since 2017, he has overseen Circle’s growth, securing major funding deals, expanding housing delivery, and building strategic partnerships. With 30+ years’ experience in housing, f finance, and non-profits, he has held senior roles at Respond, Sunbeam House, and top firms including KPMG and EY. In the UK, he held executive roles with large social landlords. John is also Chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Governing Board, shaping policy across Ireland and the UK.

Trish Harrington-Dicks
Governing Board Member and Chair, Chartered Institute of Housing and Professional Standards Committee
Paul Hassan
Partnership Manager, West of England, Ashley Community Housing (ACH)Paul is a social entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in business, community, and economic development. He works as Partnership Manager for ACH - with a focus on developing long-term housing sustainability and successful integration for refugee and migrant communities across the west of England and the west Midlands. He has worked across a diverse range of social impact organisations from director of award winning Ujima Radio cic in St Pauls, Bristol to Southwest Development Manager for Locality. He recently served as a board member for Brighter Places Housing Association and currently sits on Bristol City Councils strategic Homes and Communities Board as well as holding the Chair role at Eastside Community Trust, located in inner city Bristol.
Jennifer Hawthorne OBE
Director of Housing Services, Northern Ireland Housing ExecutiveSince joining the Housing Executive in 1978, Jennifer has worked in a number of roles, most recently as Regional Manager for Belfast. She has undertaken a variety of roles throughout her career, including Assistant Manager for the Shankill area and Public Relations Manager for Belfast. She also headed up the Community Cohesion division for ten years, with major accomplishments including the development of shared housing and peace wall barrier removal programmes. In 2015 Jennifer was awarded an OBE for her work with the transformation of post conflict communities.

Julie Haydon
President, CIH and Director of Corporate Services, Wolverhampton HomesSophie Hayward
Customer Director, Portus Supported HousingSophie is a housing professional with 13 years’ experience spanning both supported housing and general needs.
She holds CIH Level 4 and Level 5 qualifications, as well as a CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. Throughout her career, Sophie has specialised in delivering high-quality customer services, strengthening operational performance and ensuring customers receive the support they need to thrive. She is passionate about continuous improvement and building positive relationships with partners, colleagues and customers alike.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys travelling, reading, eating out, attending gigs and exploring the great outdoors on walks with her partner and her dog, Jarvis.

Eve Hazlett
Interim Place Lead – Housing Tech, Transformation, Data. GravitasLizzi Hearn
External Affairs Manager, National Housing Federation
Kate Henderson
@KateNHF
Chief Executive, National Housing FederationKate is Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF), the voice of housing associations in England. Kate is passionate about tackling the housing crisis, inequality and climate change. She is a member of several government panels including the Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel and the Social Housing White Paper Expert Challenge Panel. Kate become a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2021. Prior to joining the NHF in 2018, Kate was Chief Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association.

Dr Kelly Henderson
Founder and Managing Director, Addressing Domestic AbuseKelly is a highly respected housing and domestic abuse specialist with extensive experience across the housing sector, public policy and multiagency partnership work. Her career spans senior roles including Interim Director of Housing for a London based organisation, alongside earlier experience in asylum services, local authority Supporting People Programmes, policy development and applied research. She holds a Master’s in Housing Policy and a PhD from Durham University, where her research examined the pivotal role of housing within a coordinated community response to domestic abuse. A sector innovator, Kelly cofounded the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), leading national accreditation work and supporting housing providers to strengthen their organisational responses to domestic abuse. She has partnered with a major national property repairs organisation to embed domestic abuse awareness into frontline operative roles and played a key role in developing an industry standard for identifying signs of abuse during repairs visits. Kelly is a qualified Domestic Abuse Related Death Review Chair, a Non-Executive Director at Believe Housing, leading the Performance and Standards Committee and authored the national domestic abuse toolkit for housing professionals, commissioned by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.

Julian Higson
Strategic Director, Guilford CouncilJulian has been the Strategic Director of Housing, Communities and Environmental services across Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council since March 2024. His career spans senior leadership roles in local authorities, housing associations and the private sector holding director‑level posts at London borough councils, Bristol City Council and two G15 housing associations. Passionate about service improvement and delivering positive outcomes for residents and communities, he is proud to be at the forefront of developing the next generation of council housing.

Megan Hinch
Policy Manager, Chartered Institute of HousingMegan is policy manager at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), where she leads CIH’s work on supply, planning and finance policy. Megan holds a Masters degree in Global Public Policy, and has completed the CIH Level 4 Qualification in Housing. Megan has previously worked at a housing association, largely focusing on operational and strategy work in asset and housing management.

Elly Hoult
Deputy Chief Executive, Peabody TrustElly is Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Peabody Trust responsible for repairs and maintenance, neighbourhood management, tenancy services, customer contact across Peabody's property portfolio providing 109,000 homes to more than 220,000 residents. Elly is the Executive lead for Town and Country Housing the Peabody subsidiary. Elly has over 27 years of experience in the housing sector, working her way up from supported housing officer to executive level roles. Elly was the former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Ed Hughes
Executive Director of Care and Support, ClwdAlynEd joined ClwydAlyn in 2017 having spent eight years working for the Riverside Group in Liverpool, one of the largest Housing Associations in the UK. Having joined ClwydAlyn as Head of Resident Services, Ed was promoted to the role of Executive Director in October 202 0 and now has responsibility for Care & Nursing Homes, Extra Care & Supported Living, Health & Safety, Building Compliance & Affordable Homes. Ed has considerable experience of partnership working across Housing, Health, Local Authority & the Third Sector. Ed has a BSc (Hons) from Cardiff Business School, is a qualified Prince2 practitioner and also has a Level 5 qualification in Health & Social Care management. Ed is a Non-Executive Director for Aura Wales and in his spare time can be found coaching mini rugby at Mold Rugby Club. Ed has lived in North Wales all his life and is passionate about improving housing and support services within the region.

Sarah Hutchinson
Director of People and Culture, Yorkshire HousingSarah Hutchinson is the Director of People & Culture at Yorkshire Housing. With over 15 years’ experience in HR, she started her career in financial services before moving into housing in 2020. Sarah is passionate about creating a great experience for colleagues. She believes that engaged, empowered people are at the heart of every successful organisation and enjoys helping teams and leaders create the conditions where people can do their best work.

Alison Inman OBE
Chair, Vice Chair, Non-Executive Director, Tenant Participation Advisory Service, , Labour Housing Group, Sustain UKAlison Inman is a chair at Tpas and Past President of the Chartered Institute of Housing. She sits on the boards of two housing associations and is Co-founder of SHOUT, the social housing campaign group.

Kai Jackson
Tenant Board Member and Associate, Black Country Housing Group and TPASKai Jackson is the Special Membership Project Lead at Tpas England, where she drives national work to strengthen tenant voice and create more inclusive, representative engagement across social housing. A long-standing social housing tenant herself, Kai brings lived experience together with professional expertise to champion meaningful participation and challenge structures that exclude underrepresented communities. Kai is the author of Is There a Seat at the Table?, a landmark Tpas report exploring the barriers faced by ethnic-minority tenants in engagement and scrutiny. Her work focuses on turning research into action — supporting landlords to redesign engagement models, broaden participation pathways, and embed equity into decision-making. Before joining Tpas, Kai built a career in health and social care, including senior roles supporting people with complex needs. She has also volunteered with organisations focused on rehabilitation, inclusion, and children with SEND, deepening her commitment to social justice and community advocacy. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling, accredited by the British Psychological Society. Recognised for her insight, warmth and practical approach, Kai works closely with tenants, councils, housing associations and policymakers. Her mission is simple but powerful: to ensure every resident feels welcomed, heard and genuinely able to shape the services and decisions that affect their lives.

Matt Jarratt
Director, Procure Plus
Elaine Johnson
Director of People, Great PlacesStephen Johnson
Member, National Housing Federation Tenant Advisory PanelStephen Johnson was born in London and has lived in North Kensington since 1994. For many years, Stephen has been actively involved in his local community that was badly affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
He is a strong advocate of social housing residents holding their landlord to account by carrying out effective resident-led scrutiny and accountability of their performance.
Since 2014 has been Chair of the Kensington and Chelsea Scrutiny Panel for residents of Notting Hill Genesis. In May 2019 Stephen became a member of the Tenant Advisory Panel working alongside the National Housing Federation to help promote and support the landmark Together with Tenants Charter.

Matt Jones
Executive Director, Customers, MSV Housing GroupMatt has worked in the housing sector for nearly 30 years, initially specializing in ASB and community safety before moving into generic housing management. He played a key role in the West Salford stock transfer and held a variety of senior roles at City West Housing Trust, where he worked for 10 years, most recently as Managing Director. Matt joined MSV just before the pandemic and has held the role of Executive Director (Customers) ever since. He has been instrumental in improving key customers services, improving performance, embedding customer voice across all services and played a key role in a recent consumer standards inspection as the Consumer Standards senior lead.

Tatiana Jose
Chair, Barnet Homes Resident BoardMica Joseph
Assistant Director of Operations, London and Group Member, Riverside and CIH FuturesMica is passionate about communication and stakeholder engagement being key factors in delivering great services. A previous panellist at sector conferences, she has progressed through housing roles driven by passion and intrigue - learning from those who’ve led her, as well as from her own experiences, to drive continuous improvement across the sector. Named as a Forty Under Forty by Inside Housing and a Top Thirty Housing Today Champion, she brings strong sector credibility alongside a thoughtful and practical approach to improving services. In her downtime, Mica travels and explores new places as a way to re‑energise and create space to think differently. She is a CIH Futures board member, working alongside other volunteers across the sector to support and shape the future of housing.

Joe Kane-Smith
Associate Director, South West, PPLJoe is an Associate Director at PPL, where he leads national work with local authorities and partners on housing, homelessness and supported housing reform. He has over 13 years’ experience delivering transformation across local government, social care and the voluntary sector, including previous roles at Crisis and PwC. Joe currently leads PPL’s national supported housing strategic planning work and chairs Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s Homelessness Delivery Board.

Mushtaq Khan
@Mushtaq_Khan3
Chief Executive, Housing Diversity NetworkMushtaq is Chief Executive of the Housing Diversity Network, helping organisations and people to develop inclusive and thriving businesses. He has worked for a number of housing and regeneration organisations throughout his career, as well as running his own consultancy business. He was previously Director of Commercial Partnerships at the Jigsaw Group as well as Director at Aksa Homes, providing services to mostly south Asian residents. He has also worked at a senior level in local authorities for the over fifteen years, including working for large metropolitan councils such as Oldham, Trafford and Lambeth.
Sir Norman Lamb
Director and Health Consultant, Former Member of Parliament, NPL Consulting LimitedSir Norman Lamb served as Member of Parliament for North Norfolk for more than 18 years. During his time in Parliament, he served as Minister of State for Care and Support and later chaired the Science and Technology Select Committee. Since leaving Parliament, he has continued to work on mental health, social care and the protection of older and vulnerable people, including through his work in the NHS and advisory roles with organisations focused on social impact, including Alertacall.

Sem Lee
Founder, OURI LabsSem is an urban research consultant and Founder of OURI Labs working at the intersection of housing, urban planning and public health. Sem has worked with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, various local authorities across England, and health innovation agencies to help systematically integrate health into policymaking and practice.

Matt Lewer
Housing Strategy, Partnerships and Enabling Manager, North Yorkshire CouncilMatt Lewer is an accomplished housing professional and strategic leader with nearly 20 years of experience shaping policy, partnerships, and delivery across local government, national agencies, and the non-profit sector. As Housing Strategy, Partnerships and Enabling Manager at North Yorkshire Council, he leads a high-performing team developing evidence-based, innovative approaches to meeting the housing needs of communities across the largest authority area in England.
Matt also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Railway Housing Association, contributing to strong governance and strategic oversight for more than 1,500 homes across the North East and Yorkshire.
Driven by a commitment to reducing social inequality and the belief that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, Matt is recognised for building trusted relationships, fostering collaboration, and championing practical, community-focused solutions. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Leadership and Management and is a former regional lead of CIH Yorkshire and Humber.

Sam Lister
Policy Manager, Chartered Institute of Housing
Sandy Livingstone
Chief Executive Officer, Onward HomesSandy joined Onward in 2017 and is a Chartered Surveyor with extensive experience in all aspects of the housing sector, having previously been a Director in Savills’ Housing Consultancy division. He also brings a wide range of experience in property management, from the higher education, transport, healthcare, and commercial development sectors.

Dave Loudon
Partner, Triple Value ImpactDave is a well-known consultant and advocate of digital adoption and innovation in social housing. Having worked with over 120 landlords, Dave has extensive experience and is a believer that digital technology can, if done right, make considerable improvements to a landlord’s operations, but also, more importantly the customer experience. Dave was a Director for Corporate Services with a landlord, before founding a number of consultancies and is currently a Partner at Triple Value Impact, a leading public sector consultancy where he has built the sectors first Housing Digital Blueprint and leading the charge for landlords to see technology as a force to realize efficiencies. He is also a board member for Muirhouse HA, a regular columnist for Housing Executive magazine, a regular event host, speaker and judge at many sector awards.

David Lloyd
Programme Director and Deputy Chief Executive, TPAS CymruJack Madge
Head of Service and Partnerships, Member, Cornerstone Partnerships, CIH FuturesJack is a senior housing professional currently working as a Head of Service and Partnerships, where he leads strategic collaboration across the private and public sectors to unlock new opportunities in housing. His work focuses on temporary accommodation, healthcare integration, and supported housing — creating models where sectors can co-exist effectively for the benefit of customers. Jack is driven by the belief that sustainable housing solutions require partnership, innovation, and a willingness to challenge traditional silos.
With a strong background in community safety and anti-social behaviour case management, Jack has built his career from frontline service delivery through to strategic leadership. This breadth of experience gives him a practical understanding of how policy decisions translate into real-world impact for tenants and communities.
Alongside his professional role, Jack is an active member of CIH Futures. For him, CIH Futures represents more than development — it is about ensuring young housing professionals have a genuine voice at board and executive level. He believes that strategic decisions about the future of housing must include those who are delivering services on the ground and who reflect the next generation of leaders. Without that representation, organisations risk designing services that fail to resonate with emerging and younger tenants.
By championing leadership pathways for young professionals, Jack advocates for governance that is diverse in age, experience, and perspective. He believes that when boards and executive teams include younger voices, organisations are better positioned to innovate, adapt, and shape services that meet the evolving needs of communities — future-proofing housing for the next generation.

Simon Martin
Community Ambassador Project Officer, Richmond and Wandsworth CouncilCatherine Max
Co-chair, Health and Housing Impact NetworkCatherine is an independent consultant helping public and voluntary sector organisations improve wellbeing and reduce health inequalities through policy, strategy and action on social and environmental sustainability, place-making and urban design. She is the joint convenor of Future of London’s cross-sector Health and Housing Impact Network and a wellbeing expert member of Brent’s Quality Review Panel. Catherine is regularly invited to speak and write about place and wellbeing for different audiences and blogs on the subject here. She has been a trustee of several health, environmental and arts charities and an NHS non-executive director.

Professor Vikki McCall
Professor of Social Policy, University of StirlingVikki is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Stirling, teaching on the MSc/Diploma in Housing Studies. She brings expertise in reflective practice, co-production, and values-led professional development. Vikki leads major UK-wide projects that focus on embedding reflective approaches in housing organisations to tackle systemic challenges, including inequality and stigma. Her work bridges academic insight and frontline practice, championing inclusive and empathetic housing services that 'future-proof' housing.
She has worked in partnership with housing providers, national bodies and community researchers to influence practice and policy. As co-founder of Socialudo, she uses innovative methods, like serious games, to make research and learning more engaging and accessible. Vikki is a member of the Professional Standards Committee for the CIH and is committed to supporting housing practice that is grounded in reflection, empathy, and real-world impact.

Fizzy Meredith
External Affairs Manager, National Housing Federation
Lisa Michelson
Director – Housing & Strategy, Buckinghamshire CouncilRhys Moore
Executive Director of Public Impact, National Housing FederationRhys started with the NHF in 2018, as Executive Director of Public Impact. Rhys oversees our policy, external affairs and communications work. Previously he was Director of the Living Wage Foundation where he worked with government, business and civil society to build a national movement of responsible employers. Before that, he helped to establish the London Community Foundation, which supports grassroots community groups in the capital. Rhys is a board member of the Carers Trust.

Stephanie Morphew
Policy Lead, Chartered Institute of Housing
James Nelmes
Area Housing Manager, Gloucester City HomesJames has 13 years' experience in housing management, working across several housing associations in the South West in a range of frontline and operational roles. He has extensive experience managing complex tenancy and neighbourhood cases, working in partnership with local services to support residents. At the start of 2026, James joined the CIH Futures Board, helping to shape and support the next generation of housing professionals.

Madeleine Nelson
Chief Operating Officer, Citizen HousingMadeleine is the Chief Operating Officer at Citizen Housing, a 30,000 home landlord operating across the West Midlands, Worcester and Hereford. Citizen is a C1 and G1 organisation following a regulatory inspection in 2025. Citizen's V2 rating recognises the incredible amount of investment directed to improving the quality of existing homes, continuing to buld over 600 homes a year, regenerating and renewing obsolete housing and replacing it with modern homes, and the huge (award winning) retorfit programme being delivered in partnership with DESNZ and the West Midlands Combined authority.
An executive for over 15 years, she has successfully led organisations to transform their strategic plans. Before moving back into social housing, Madeleine worked in Advisory Services at PwC for over 10 years, delivering transformation in housing and local government and worked for two in years in Northern Ireland, advsing devolved government on the future of the Nortern Ireland Executive. Prior to this she was Head of Housing Strategy at Manchester City Council, leading the City’s regeneration and stock transfer programmes, delivering much needed investment into social housing. After graduating from the University of Manchester, Madeleine began her early career in social housing developing opportunities for tenants to be involved in government funded regeneration schemes across the country. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and a Board Member at Rochdale Borough Housing

Paul Nicholson
Head of Business Development, LB Hammersmith and FulhamHakeem Osinaike
Strategic Director of Housing, Southwark CouncilHakeem Osinaike joined Southwark Council in March 2024 as Strategic Director of Housing. Previously he was Director of Housing in Brent and Director of Housing Management in Barking & Dagenham. Hakeem has also worked in housing at four more London councils; Greenwich, Lewisham, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Croydon, as well as working before at Southwark. During his earlier time at Southwark (2000 and 2003), Hakeem worked in Homelessness, Housing Management and Housing Needs, gaining a good understanding of some of the borough’s needs and requirements. Hakeem has a Masters degree in Housing and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Birmingham. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

John O’Sullivan
Head of Tenant Experience, Respond
Lucy Owen
Head of Customer Experience, Rooftop Housing GroupLucy Owen is the Head of Customer Experience at Rooftop. An enthusiastic advocate for resident engagement and ensuring that residents lead the conversations as we work together to improve. Having fallen into housing 6 years ago after previously working for domestic abuse charities, she is a passionate member of CIH Futures promoting social housing as a career of choice.

Danny Pardoe
Apprenticeships Growth Manager, Birmingham City UniversityLiz Parsons
Programme Director, Community Partnerships, AmpliusLiz joined Amplius in January 2026 and is the Director of Community Investment. She leads an innovative Healthy Places and Communities partnership that works across Housing, Health, Active Partnerships and Sport England.
This new wider approach builds on the work Liz developed with Public Health, establishing a new approach between Health and Housing Associations. The work between the shared Public Health service for Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire and Amplius, Peabody and bpha focussed on shared outcomes and improving health equity. Liz has also led work around Health and the Built Environment to develop opportunities to improve health through the planning system.
Liz has extensive experience in the housing sector including working for the National Housing Federation and as chair of the Housing Association Governance Forum. She has held a number of senior roles spanning Policy, Communications, Insights and Engagement as well as Quality and Risk and Regulation.
Liz volunteers for the RSPCA and is a committee member of the North Bedfordshire Branch supporting their fundraising and animal welfare work.

Steve Partridge
Director, Head of Housing Consultancy, Affordable Housing, SavillsSteve is a senior leader and highly regarded national expert in UK housing finance with nearly 30 years’ experience in the public and private housing sectors in business planning, investment appraisal, financing and the development of new homes. Steve leads Savills’ work on building funding and delivery capacity with UK-based local authorities and housing associations, to help deliver new homes at scale, and also specialises in working to bring new sources of private investment and housing providers together to introduce new and innovative ways to bring private finance into the development of affordable housing. He leads work on setting up new housing providers, raising capital for investment into non-profit and for-profit housing providers, and helped traditional housing providers access these new sources of capital.

Will Perry
Director of Strategy, Regulator of Social HousingWill is Director of Strategy at the Regulator of Social Housing, where he is responsible for developing corporate strategy, business intelligence and regulatory policy. He is also responsible for the Regulator’s relationships with the funding markets, investors and advisors. Will is a qualified chartered accountant, and has been a non-executive board member of The Housing Finance Corporation.

Dewbien Plummer
Non-Executive Director and Housing SpecialistDewbien has decades of operational experience in the sector, (local authority and housing association), with a background in leasehold and repairs and maintenance.

Jaz Pugh
Housing Officer, BarcudJaz Pugh is the Housing Officer at Barcud and a member of CIH Futures Cymru. She specialises in managing complex cases, including anti-social behaviour, safeguarding concerns, domestic abuse, addiction, and tenancy sustainment. I’m passionate about frontline housing management, tenant relationships, and improving the sustainability of housing officer roles across Wales.
Jaz's work focuses on supporting communities and advocating for housing services that are proactive, person-centred, and built around meaningful relationships rather than constant crisis management.

Niamh Quinn
Housing Services Co-ordinator, Tuath Housing
James Quy
Managing Director, Mears GroupMike Roche
Director, Savills Financial ConsultantsMike Roche joined the company in 2011 and is a director of Savills Financial Consultants, the treasury and funding advisory team within the housing division of Savills. With more than 25 years of experience in advising clients in the housing association field, Mike's knowledge and expertise is well-known in the industry. He works with the team to give create innovative funding solutions for both lenders and investors.

Alex Rogers
Head of Partnerships, Tapi Carpets & FloorsAlex specialises in building and scaling partnership-led businesses within the housing, property and retail sectors. As Head of Partnerships at Tapi Carpets & Floors, he works closely with housing providers and contractors across the UK to deliver practical, customer-focused flooring solutions that support better homes and stronger communities. With more than 15 years’ experience in commercial partnerships and business development, Alex has developed a strong track record of creating collaborative solutions that balance operational efficiency, resident experience and long-term value. His work focuses on helping organisations simplify complex service delivery while improving outcomes for customers and frontline teams. Alex is passionate about the role suppliers can play in supporting the wider housing sector and is a regular attendee and contributor at housing and social value events across the UK.

Lee Russell
Head of Housing and Property Litigation and Partner, Devonshires
Bekah Ryder
Research and Insights Manager, AltairBekah is an experienced social researcher, working with large national data sets, bespoke surveys, and specialising in interviews and group discussions. She has 15 years of experience in research, including a PhD focused on mixed communities, and has spent the last ten years focused on housing. Her projects are grounded in a thorough understanding of existing policy and research, and she is experienced in co-production, including helping children and young people advise on academic research. Through using different evidence sources, Bekah is good at making complicated topics easy to understand and making practical recommendations to deliver research with impact.

Matthew Scott
Policy Manager, Chartered Institute of HousingMatthew Scott is policy manager for net zero, sustainability, and climate resilience at the Chartered Institute of Housing. He holds a PhD from Newcastle University, and has written and spoken widely about the implications of climate change and extreme weather for social housing providers in the UK. He is also a regular contributor to the UK Housing Review and continues to work with academic colleagues to develop new research into the links between housing, energy, and climate policy.

Hayley Selway
Director, Savills Affordable HousingHayley Selway has been a successful Chief Executive in England and Wales. She has worked at a senior level in Local Government. She has extensive property, development, housing and strategic & cultural transformation experience working with Boards and Senior Teams.

Chris Seman
Head of Business Intelligence, Mears GroupRohini Sharma Joshi
Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, RSJ Equality Consultancy and Chair, CIH EDI BoardRohini Sharma Joshi is a long-standing passionate advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion. Now an equality consultant and is part -time Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Age Scotland. Rohini has worked in the housing sector for over thirty years and led and managed an award-winning Equality Programme with projects and initiatives which are recognized as examples of Good Practice. Currently she is chair of the CIH EDI board set up in 2025 to promote EDI n the Housing Sector. She participated in many equality advisory committees and operated at a strategic level, engaging regularly and effectively with government representatives and other bodies with a remit on equality and diversity issues. She was awarded the “Robina Goodlad Woman Achievers in Housing Award” in 2012 and “Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Society” by the Scottish Asian Woman Association in 2013.She was recognised for her work in the Queens New Years Honours List and awarded an OBE for promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2022.
Emily Shaw
Head of Product, PlentificEmily Shaw is Product Lead and Senior Director at Plentific, where she spearheads the Product function. Emily is passionate about understanding customer needs, which shape Plentific's product roadmap. She works closely with design and engineering teams to develop innovative SaaS solutions that address critical client needs within the housing sector. Emily was drawn to Plentific by the unique opportunity to develop transformative technology for tradespeople, property managers, and residents, directly improving lives within communities. Emily regularly chairs speaking sessions and contributes to forums on adoption of AI and new technology in the sector.

Gareth Sinnet
Income Services Manager, Bournville Village Trust
Gavin Smart
Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of HousingPrior to becoming CEO Gavin served as both Deputy CEO and, before that, Director of Policy and Practice at the CIH. Before joining CIH Gavin worked at the National Housing Federation (NHF), latterly as Assistant Director for Research and Futures where he led the NHF’s research and analysis function, it’s future facing thinking and it’s policy work on finance and government investment. Gavin joined the NHF from a spell working for the UK civil service commissioning research and analysis into a variety of housing policy areas. He began his career as an academic researcher at the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol.
Gavin Smith
Housing Services Manager, Fife CouncilGavin is an experienced housing professional with over 30 years of service in the sector. His career in housing began through the Skillseeker programme, and he has since become a respected voice in the field. He currently serves as Service Manager for Housing Access at Fife Council, where he is responsible for homelessness services, housing access, and service commissioning arrangements. Gavin has held various strategic roles across housing policy and service delivery, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to improving housing outcomes in Scotland. He is also the former Chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland Board, having previously served as Vice Chair and as a board member since 2019. His role with CIH Scotland reflects his dedication to professional development and sector advocacy. In addition to his role at CIH, Gavin is the former Chair of Ore Valley Housing Association, where he contributed to community-focused housing initiatives.

Peter Smith
Resident Commiteee Chair, ClwdAlynJenny Spoor
Director of Operations, HaveburyJenny is director of operations for Havebury. She’s executive lead for all landlord services, including asset and housing management, repairs, compliance, customer experience, engagement and complaints. She also has communications, ESG and sustainability within her remit. Jenny chairs the National Housing Federation’s Housing Management and Customer Experience national group, and sits on their Quality of Homes group.

Kelly Street
Head of Communities, South, Places for PeopleKelly is an experienced social housing leader with over 15 years of experience spanning housing management, community safety, tenancy enforcement, safeguarding and leadership. As Head of Communities (South) at Places for People, she leads services across the South, balancing customer support, community sustainability and regulatory compliance.
Throughout her career, Kelly has worked at the frontline of some of the most complex housing issues, including anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, tenancy fraud, safeguarding and tenancy sustainment. She has built a reputation for combining empathy with accountability, ensuring vulnerable customers receive the support they need while also making difficult decisions to protect communities and uphold tenancy responsibilities.
Her experience across operational housing management, legal enforcement and community leadership gives her a unique perspective on how housing providers can create safe, thriving communities while maintaining clear expectations and accountability.

Olivia Sutcliffe
Associate Director Social Value, Savills
Andy Sutton
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, SeroA chartered architect and past RSAW president, Andy has been delivering low and zero-carbon homes for nearly 30 years. His experience spans leading the design and construction of award-winning schemes, a decade with the BRE (Building Research Establishment), advising government across standards and delivery schemes, co-founding Sero, and leading some of the UK’s biggest Net Zero research projects. He’s also co-chair of the ARC (Association of Retrofit Consultants) and advisory board member for CIH (Chartered Institute of Housing) Cymru.

Ian Swift
Deputy Corporate Director and Director of Housing Operations, Islington CouncilIan is currently the Director of Housing Operations at Islington Council in central London. Ian is responsible for the management of 36,000 Islington Council properties, the management of the largest number of homeless decisions in Lonon for a council, the management of the No Recourse to Public Fund services, and the strategic/performance/tenant empowerment/ improvement services for all housing services. Before joining Islington Council Ian worked at another central London Council (Southwark Council) for eight years. Ian has worked in social housing for the last 40 years and is committed to ensuring Islington Council Domestic Abuse services is seen as the best in England.
Caroline Terry
Head of Supported Housing, Places for PeopleSally Trueman
Resident, Riverside and Member, G15 Resident Group, Riverside and G15 Resident GroupSally is a Riverside resident of 17 years and a passionate advocate for social housing and the people who live in it. Drawing on her own lived experience, including as a disabled resident, she challenges negative perceptions and works to show the reality of social housing as home to people from all walks of life. Based in the Northeast, Sally understands first-hand how social housing supports people at different stages of their lives. She champions social renting as a positive choice, highlighting its role in providing security, affordability and responsive services. Sally brings strong strategic and governance experience to her work. She sits on the Riverside Homes Committee and is Vice Chair of a small housing association in the Northeast. She has previously served on the Riverside Group Board and the Riverside North Tenants and Residents Federation Executive, helping to ensure resident voice shapes decisions at the highest level. She is also a member of the G15 Residents’ Group, where she works with others to influence housing policy and strengthen the role of residents in national decision making. She contributes to the MHCLG floor covering working group, supporting work to promote dignity for new and existing tenants. Alongside this, Sally is Secretary of Stop Social Housing Stigma and has worked with residents and landlords across the country to develop the SSHS Journey Planner, grounding it in lived experience to tackle stigma in practice. With a background in teaching and a strong commitment to volunteering, she brings insight, compassion and a clear focus on making systems work better for residents and communities.

Jerome Tsui
Director, 1828 and Non-Executive Director, Jigsaw Homes and Havant Housing Association, 1828, Jigsaw Homes and Havant Housing AssociationJerome is the Founding Director of 1828, a specialist in accessibility design, professional standards, and conflict mediation. He is passionate about advancing equity and strengthening inclusive communities. Having served as a Director of EDI in higher education, he applies this experience to working with tenants, police, and local authorities in Anti-Social Behaviour conflicts and mediations within social housing. A former auditor with KPMG, he has advised international organisations on governance, technology risk, and transformation initiatives. He is a Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Housing, a Non-Executive Director of Jigsaw Homes, and an Independent Member of Citizens Advice’s Equity Advisory Group.

Stewart Tudor-Jackman
Head of Leadership, Learning and Development, Bromford Flagship LiveWestSamantha Tullock
Assistant Director of Strategic Assets, BelieveSamantha is Assistant Director of Strategic Assets at believe housing, one of the North East’s largest not‑for‑profit housing associations with more than 18,000 homes. With almost 20 years’ experience in social housing, she leads on asset management, compliance, and the organisation’s decarbonisation agenda. Her role focuses on planning and prioritising investment in existing homes, ensuring they remain safe, well maintained and fit for the future as standards and expectations change. Samantha works to balance regulatory requirements, customer needs, and business priorities, helping shape long‑term programmes that improve the quality, comfort and energy performance of homes and support future‑proofing. She ensures investment benefits customers, including warmer, healthier homes, lower energy bills, and reduced fuel poverty, and plays a key role in securing and maximising government funding to support investment in homes and communities at scale. Samantha is also a trustee of Community Campus, a Tees Valley charity supporting people experiencing homelessness through accommodation, training, and employment.

Sarah Turner
Resident Involvement and Wellbeing Manager, AnchorLiz Varey
Assistant Director, Adult Services, Stepping StonesLiz joined Stepping stone projects in 2023 as Assistant Director of Operations. Liz leads the team of Operations Managers responsible for delivering high quality and trauma informed support and accommodation across all of our adult services. Liz has over 20 years experience in the homelessness sector having previously worked for a Rochdale based housing charity and the Greater Manchester Housing First pilot. Liz is passionate about creating opportunities for people to grow and succeed and has a particular interest in embedding co production, supporting gender informed approaches and promoting system change that empowers people to use their unique skills and experiences to create positive change across the sector.

Michael Verrier
Vice Chair, G15 Resident Group and Chair, LGBT+ Resident Forum, L&Q, G15 Resident Group and L&QMichael is Co-Vice Chair of the G15 Resident Group with a focus on stigma and ED&I. He has lived in social housing for 42 years and has been an ‘active’ resident for 40 years, both as a local authority Tenant and latterly, as an L&Q resident. As a tenant of L&Q he has served as a member of the Stock Transfer Board, the Customer Services Committee, Resident Services Group, Complaints Panel, Chair of the Neighbourhood Committee and Resident Board, he was also Chair and Founder of the LGBTQ+ Forum. Alongside this Michael is member HouseProud/Stonewall Housing LGBTQ+ Pledge Partnership Board. He was also a Board member and the Vice-Chair of Tamil Community Housing Association for 12 years. He is a community activist and has worked with Crime and Disorder partners tackling hate crime and domestic abuse. He was Co-Chair of the Domestic Abuse Forum for his local Authority and is MARAC accredited. He was a founding member and Co-Chair of Broken Rainbow LGBT domestic violence service. Michael also has a background in Equalities, diversity and inclusion and as a trainer. He was a Metropolitan Police Service community advisor following the 1999 Nail Bombings and provided training to Family Liaison Officers and Critical Incident senior officers as well as Chairing the Critical Incident group and hate related Murder Reviews. As Vice-Chair of G15 Residents’ Group Michael is supporting the group in its networking to promote and drive the groups success and ensure that residents’ voices are at the heart of influencing and strategic decision-making within social housing.

Lili Vetter
EDI Specialist and Co-chair, Wythenshawe Homes and House Proud North West
Henrik von Bahr
Vice President of Sales, PlentificHenrik von Bahr, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience in digital transformation, strategy solutions, and business development, with a particular focus on the UK social housing sector and change management. Henrik's impressive career spans top-tier financial institutions, including Nomura, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank, where he developed a passion for investment.
Henrik holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics from the prestigious Stockholm School of Economics. His enthusiasm for innovation has led him to invest in several start-up and scale-up businesses. Notably, he was one of the first investors in Plentific, drawn by the team's diversity and the founders' ambition. After closely following Plentific's remarkable journey, Henrik is eager to contribute to the company's continued growth and success.

Laighton Walters
Embassy Support and Resettlement Manager, Embassy Village ManchesterLaighton is an experienced housing professional and community advocate with over a decade of frontline work supporting individuals and families facing complex challenges. Holding a CIH Level 5 qualification, he combines strong sector knowledge with a deeply relational, people-first approach to housing and support.
Laighton has been part of Embassy from the start, where he initially led the Support and Resettlement team, helping individuals transition out of homelessness and rebuild their lives. 7 years on, he now leads Embassy’s Operations, overseeing the delivery and development of services that prioritise dignity, stability, and long-term outcomes for residents and is part of the Senior Leadership Team helping to shape the future of the organisation. Laighton is committed to developing high standard housing solutions that are compassionate and sustainable, ensuring that people are not only housed, but truly able to rebuild their lives and contribute back into society.
John Wickenden
Research Manager, HousemarkJohn has over 20 years’ experience in the social housing sector covering local authorities, ALMOs, housing associations as well as membership and trade bodies. John’s research covers all aspects of social landlords’ work, with up-to-date analysis of key policy issues and how they affect day-to-day operations. He is an expert in how to measure the work of landlords in the social housing sector, with a deep understanding of English Social Housing Regulation. John’s recent projects include creating a set of building safety compliance measures, understanding how and when the sector will achieve carbon net zero and developing a forecasting methodology for housing costs, performance and satisfaction.

Lorna Wilson
Chief Executive, Barrhead HousingLorna spends most of her time working with great people to try and make housing services simpler, more human, and genuinely helpful to the communities they serve. Her career has taken her through consultancy, government and housing associations, in both executive and non-executive roles. Along the way, she’s developed a strong belief that the best work happens when people feel connected to a shared purpose, to each other, and to the communities they’re part of. Lorna is a recent addition to the CIH Scotland Board and an external examiner on the Housing Studies programme at the University of Glasgow. She has an MPhil in Housing Studies and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
