Meet your Conference Chair
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.

Speakers
Pooja Agrawal
Chief Executive Officer, Public Practice
Amanprit Arnold
Disability Urban StrategistAmanprit Arnold is a visionary Disability Urban Strategist, changemaker and problem-solver. She specialises in accessible design, urban innovation, disability inclusion, social impact, inclusive growth and investment. Born Deaf, Amanprit is passionate about innovating solutions through her thought leading Accessible and Disability Urbanism practice, to foster inclusive environments for everyone. She excels at connecting the dots and navigates complex systems to drive meaningful, real-world change.

Nick Atkin
Chief Executive, Yorkshire HousingNick has a track record of leading organisations through transformational change, driving performance improvement, with a focus on maximising the untapped potential from businesses and people. Born and brought up in Doncaster he joined Yorkshire Housing in 2019. Since this time, he’s delivered transformational change throughout the business to meet the future opportunities and challenges. Nick has previously introduced a fully flexible/ remote working approach. He also led the move to 90% of customer led transactions to be delivered through online self-service channels. He is a keen advocate of innovation and uses digital as an enabler to drive fundamental change in how businesses operate. He is also a disruptor in the ‘future of work’ debate and has been paperless for 19 years.

Laura Atkinson
Senior Rural Housing Enabler & Community Led Housing Advisor, Rural Community Council of EssexLaura Atkinson is Senior Rural Housing Enabler and Community Led Housing Advisor at the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE). With over eight years’ experience championing affordable housing in rural communities Laura works closely with Parish Councils, Housing Associations, and Local Authorities to bring forward rural affordable housing including exception site and Community Led housing schemes. Laura is experienced in community engagement, helping overcome planning and funding challenges with the aim of delivering homes that meet local needs. Laura is a passionate advocate for rural communities, known for building strong partnerships and championing sustainable development. Laura supports other rural housing enablers across the country and is regularly asked to speak at events.

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.

Mel Barrett
Chief Executive, Metropolitan Thames ValleyMel is Chief Executive of MTVH (Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing) one of the UK’s leading providers of affordable homes to rent and buy. He is a former local authority Chief Executive with extensive experience in the leadership of customer facing services, transformation initiatives, and large-scale regeneration and development projects. Since joining MTVH in September 2024, Mel has led the organisation through a Regulatory Inspection, with MTVH compliant with all standards, including the newly introduced Consumer Standards, and overseen a development programme which has delivered 544 new homes and a 5-year development pipeline of 4,970 new homes. Mel is a Trustee of the Whitehall & Industry Group, a charity focused on collaborative cross sector leadership development. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Land Management, an MBA from City University Business School and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Brian Berry
Chief Executive, Federation of Master BuildersBrian Berry is the Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the largest trade association for SME building companies in the building industry. He is also a member of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). Prior to his current position Brian was Director of External Affairs at the FMB. Before the FMB, Brian worked at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), where he was Head of UK Public Policy, and as a teacher at The Charterhouse Square School in central London. Brian is a Freeman of the City of London, a Director of the Tiverton Almshouse Trust, and a Trustee of YouthBuild UK. He regularly provides commentary on construction issues for the media.

Chris Curtis MP
Milton Keynes NorthChris Curtis is the Labour Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North. Prior to being elected as an MP, Chris worked in polling, he was the Head of Political Polling at Opinium and worked as a Political Research Manager at YouGov. He is the Chair of the Labour Growth Group, a member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee and a leading member of the YIMBY movement.

Rachael Dennis
Group Chief Executive, Incommunities
Kathryn Eames
Director of Housing Strategy and Delivery, London Borough of LambethPaul Edwards
Chief Executive Officer, Representative, CHP, BuildEastPaul joined CHP in 2016 and became Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer in 2019. He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in 2022. With over 20 years in the housing sector, Paul has a wealth of experience. He spent six years as Director of Resources at Havebury Housing Partnership and nine years prior to that as Director of Treasury Services at Swan Housing Group. He has also previously served as a non-executive director at Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust and Circle 33 Housing and is currently a Board member at Local Space. Paul is a member of the NHF’s Financial Policy Advisory Group (FPAG) and a member of the SORP working party, which is responsible for setting the accounting standards for the sector. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Paul has been instrumental in maintaining our ‘A-’ credit rating from S&P Global and G1 grading for governance from the Regulator of Social Housing. In 2021 he oversaw the issuing of a bond tap which raised £69m to support the delivery of affordable homes across the eastern region.

Kate Ellison
Director of Development, Growth and Innovation, Platform Housing GroupBridget Faughnan-Bing
Director of Development and Delivery, Housing21Bridget Faughnan‑Bing has worked in the Social Housing sector since 2004, with a background in supported housing for older people and housing management. She moved into Development in 2011 and has since worked for several large Housing Associations within the Development and Regeneration space, delivering affordable housing pipelines across the country. She believes everyone should have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing, and she sees Housing Associations as being well placed to help inform and support government in addressing the growing need for housing in the UK.

Paul Fiddaman
Group Chief Executive, Karbon HomesPaul is the Group Chief Executive of Karbon Homes, an organisation with close to 30,000 homes and 800 staff in the north east of England and Yorkshire. Paul qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PwC) before joining Sunderland Football Club as Financial Controller and then Secretary and General Manager in 1992. He became involved in housing as a board member and moved into the sector to become Director of Finance and Development with Enterprise 5 Housing Association in 1996. He has been involved in housing ever since in various senior roles, becoming Chief Executive of Isos Housing before it merged to become Karbon Homes in April 2017.

Miranda Foster
Head of Programmes and Products, Homes England
Polly Gardner
Regeneration and Major Projects Director, SNGAlison Gillespie
Head of Place and Environment Policy, West Yorkshire Combined AuthorityKelly Hillman
Group Director, Vistry GroupDarragh Hurley
Chief Executive Officer, Mount AnvilShahi Islam
Director of Affordable Housing, Homes EnglandShahi Islam is Homes England’s Director of Affordable Housing responsible for delivering the Affordable Homes Programme. Shahi has been at Homes England since 2013, serving in various leadership positions to support the management and delivery of a number of capital and revenue programmes. With close to 20 years in the sector, Shahi has extensive experience in housing working in roles covering policy, strategy and programmes. Prior to the Agency he worked at the Greater London Authority working in the housing investments and policy team.

Philip Jenkins
Chief Investment Officer, PeabodyPhilip joined Peabody with the Catalyst merger having been the Group Director of Development. With a property development career spanning more than three decades across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, he brings a wealth of housing experience. He’s also worked for companies including Taylor Wimpey, CityWest Homes, The John Lewis Partnership and SPAR.
Paul Johnson
Provost, Former Director, Queen’s College, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Jonathan Layzell
Chief Executive, StonewaterJonathan Layzell was appointed Chief Executive of Stonewater in June 2025. A respected sector leader with over 20 years’ experience, Jonathan brings deep expertise in affordable housing, customer service transformation, and strategic growth. Before becoming CEO, Jonathan led Stonewater’s national housebuilding programme—delivering more than 1,000 new homes every year—and spearheaded major mergers and acquisitions. He also held interim responsibility for the Customer Directorate, supporting services for over 93,000 customers. Jonathan has led nationally significant bids, including securing over £500 million in funding for Stonewater from Homes England, and has pioneered initiatives in sustainability, public art, and community investment.

Danielle Lennon
Assistant Planning Director, Notting Hill GenesisAndrew Lewin MP
Member of Parliament, Welwyn Hatfield and Member of Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
David Lewis
Executive Group Director Property and Investment, L&QDavid is Executive Director of Property and Investment at L&Q. He is responsible for ensuring residents homes are safe, comfortable and well-maintained, and for delivering high quality new social homes to help tackle the housing crisis.
This includes L&Q’s sector leading and award-winning £3bn, 15-year Major Works Investment Programme, repairs and maintenance services, and a pipeline of development and regeneration projects across Greater London and Greater Manchester.
David joined L&Q in October 2020 and was previously L&Q’s Executive Group Director of Property Services. He has three decades of experience working in social housing in senior leadership and executive property asset management roles across a wide range of organisations in London and the south-east.
David has also been a non-executive director for several housing associations and is currently a Board member at Greatwell Homes.

John Lewis
Executive Director, Thamesmead, PeabodyKaty Lock
Director of Communities, Town and Country Planning association (TCPA)Sarah Longlands
Chief Executive, CLESChris Meadows
Regional Development Manager, HastoeChris has been working in housing association asset management and development for over 18 years. For the past 6 years he has worked for rural affordable housing specialist, Hastoe Housing, leading a team of development managers, officers and technical staff to deliver high-quality affordable homes in rural areas across the southwest of England. Chris is particularly passionate about good consultation and communication, and understanding village dynamics and drivers when working within small communities to develop affordable homes for local people. A qualified Prince2 practitioner, he is a certified member of the CIH and is currently undertaking a qualification on the built environment with the University College of Estate Management.

Clare Miller
Group Chief Executive, Clarion Housing GroupClare has been the Group Chief Executive since 2018. She is a chartered accountant with almost 30 years’ experience in the housing sector. Clare joined the Housing Corporation in 1992 as a financial regulator. Over the next 18 years progressed to become its Director of Regulation. She then became an Executive Director at the Tenant Services Authority, with responsibility for housing association regulation. In 2010 Clare joined Affinity Sutton as Group Director of Governance and Compliance. She took up the same role at Clarion in 2016, before taking on her current role two years later.

Satareh Neshati
Director of Regeneration and Development, Westminster City CouncilAlexandra Notay
Stategic Advisor, Housing, PlacemakingAlexandra Notay became CEO of the Housing Forum in January 2026. She is an internationally recognised expert and strategic advisor on housing, placemaking and ESG. She has 20+ years’ strategic advisory and investment experience having worked extensively across five continents. In August 2024 Alex took over the chair of the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission from Dame Kate Barker and was the lead author on its first report.
Until July 2024 she was Placemaking and Investment Director at Thriving Investments (formerly PfP Capital), the fund and asset management arm of Places for People Group, overseeing a UK-wide residential strategy.
In January 2025 Alex was awarded Honorary Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). In October 2023 she won Residential Leader of the Year at Property Week’s inaugural Inspiring Women in Property Awards.

Charlie Nunn
Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking GroupCharlie Nunn is the Group Chief Executive of Lloyds Banking Group plc, with 30 years’ experience in international financial services.
As a leader in financial innovation, institutions and markets, Charlie has a deep commitment to the digital transformation of finance in service of customers, communities and both domestic and global economies. He has lived in the United States, Europe and Asia, and worked for and with some of the world’s largest banks; as senior partner at Accenture and McKinsey, and as a senior executive at HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group for the past 13 years.
At Lloyds, Charlie launched a new strategy and operating model to deliver on the Group’s purpose of Helping Britain Prosper; enabling sustainable and inclusive growth for people and businesses across the UK. He is driving digital and AI innovation alongside modernising the ways-of-working of Lloyds’ brilliant people to deliver a step-change in the value provided to customers. Lloyds also became the first major UK bank to halt direct project finance for greenfield oil and gas developments, published its first Group Climate Transition plan with stretching sector targets that cover over 83% of lending, and is working to enable one million new homes to be built at social rent in the UK over the next ten years.

David O’Leary
Executive Director, Home Builders Federation (HBF)
Sowmya Parthasarathy
Director, Arup and Member of New Towns TaskforceSowmya is an architect and urban designer with 30 years of global experience. She is an Arup Fellow with a core expertise in masterplanning, urban design, and sustainable infrastructure. Sowmya is based in London, with the additional responsibility of leading Arup’s work in India, Middle East and Africa, overseeing a team of built environment specialists across the region. In this role, she engages closely with governments, municipalities, private developers, investors, institutions, and civil society to deliver a wide range of projects and programmes internationally.
In wider industry roles, Sowmya is an Ambassador of the UK Design Council, an expert on the Mayor of London's Good Growth by Design Panel, and was a member of the UK Government’s New Towns Taskforce. In these roles she advises government and local authorities on the role of regenerative design and placemaking in city and infrastructure planning. Sowmya has a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi, a Masters in Urbanism from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, and a certificate from the Institute of Sustainability Leadership, Cambridge University.

Mary Parsons
Regeneration and Partnerships Director, LovellMary has over 25 years’ experience in the development, construction and regeneration industry; working across the private, registered provider and consultancy sectors. She has been involved in some of the largest housing-led regeneration programmes in the UK working across the private and housing association sectors. Mary is Trustee and Chair of the Town & Country Planning Association and a Trustee of MOBIE, an educational charity established by George Clarke to promote innovation in housing.

Toby Perkins
MP for Chesterfield, and Chair of the Environmental Audit CommitteeMr Toby Perkins is the Member of Parliament for Chesterfield and the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. Since he was first elected in 2010, Mr Perkins has been Shadow Minister for Enterprise and Small Business, Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education, and Shadow Minister for Nature and Rural Affairs. Before becoming an MP, Mr Perkins ran his own small business supplying rugby clothing and was a director in a social enterprise providing nursery care to one of the most deprived areas of Chesterfield.

Emma Rammel
External Affairs Director, Home Builders Federation (HBF)
Greg Reed
Group Chief Executive, Places for PeopleA purpose-driven senior executive, in his 30-year career, Greg has led major finance, partnership, marketing, customer service, and commercial functions in global listed companies including Bank of America and RBS Group. Before joining PfP, Greg was UK CEO for international home assistance business HomeServe. Greg is a native of Smyrna, Delaware. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Batchelor of Science in Finance and then received a Juris Doctor from Delaware Law School.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Labour MP, Suffolk CoastalCatriona Riddell
Vice Chair, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)Catriona is an independent consultant providing support on a wide range of spatial planning issues but specialises in strategic planning, working with local authorities across England. She is The Planning Officers Society’s Strategic Planning Specialist and Vice Chair of the Town and Country Planning Association. In 2022 Catriona was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Oxford Brookes University for her contribution to planning. She is a regular columnist for Planning Magazine and a Judge on the Planning Awards.

Catherine Ryder
Chief Executive, PlaceShapersCatherine previously led the Federation’s work on the Social Housing Green Paper. Catherine has also worked as Advisor to the Chief Executive at the Federation and has spent some time working on economic development and housing at Coast to Capital – a Local Enterprise Partnership in Surrey and Sussex. Before joining the Federation Catherine worked at the Audit Commission as a Strategy Manager, leading the development of assessment frameworks for local government.

Robin Smith
Operation Director, BromfordMichele Steele
Chief Executive, Regeneration BraineryRegeneration Brainery is a social mobility programme for brilliant young minds, designed to get young people from diverse, under-represented backgrounds inspired about a career in property and regeneration so that the places we create are more reflective of the society we live in.
The award-winning inspirational careers programme has worked with over 7,000 young people across the UK to date, giving them unique insights into the industry through free weeklong workshops, work placements, internships, mentoring opportunities and networking events.
Michele has been Chief Executive of Regeneration Brainery since 2024, having spent almost 25 years in the property industry as a Planning Advisor, firstly at Deloitte Real Estate where she was also Head of Real Estate NW; and latterly at Vita Group/Select Property Group. She is passionate about social mobility and making the property industry more diverse – from the ground up
Louise Swain
Group Chief Executive, Chair, Alliance Homes, Homes for South WestJez Sweetland
Project Director, Housing Festival and Bristol City CouncilJez has initiated and managed strategic development in a variety of settings. His previous positions include CEO of Guildhall Barrister’s Chambers, and CEO of a charitable national skills training organisation. He founded the Bristol Housing Festival in 2018 to co-curate, deliver and iterate, scalable solutions to tackle the housing crisis. Jez is also leading a transformation project for Bristol City Council, to address the pressures local government are under as a result of the increased demand for Temporary Accommodation.

Jonathan Walters
Deputy Chief Executive, Regulator of Social HousingHaving previously been at Ernst and Young working in social housing consultancy, Jonathan has been at the Regulator since 2004. He has worked across the organisation and has extensive experience in dealing with funders, government and housing associations.

Ian Workman
Chief National Officer, Homes England