SO WHAT HAPPENED? THE PRESENTATIONS
At the 2009 conference, we were delighted to be joined by some of the best keynote speakers in our field, who lent us their knowledge and experience during a series of lectures. Please find below brief biographies of the main speakers, together with downloadable files outlining the presentations which they gave at the bottom of the screen, where these are available.
Also available for download below are outlines of the pitches given by conference delegates to the 'dragons' (a.k.a. the keynote speakers), together with the contact information of the pitch owners. Why not take a look, you might find a good idea to steal for your own service!
Deborah has worked in housing since the late 80s. She began her career in resident-controlled organisations, including one of the first tenant management organisation set up in the London Borough of Lambeth. As Director of Brent Community Housing, she also worked in the South Kilburn New Deal for Communities programme. In November 2002 she joined the Housing Corporation, eventually becoming the Regulation Policy Manager. After eight months working as sub-regional co-ordinator in Norfolk, she is now working as for the Tenant Services Authority as the Tenants Standards Manager for the Central region.
Helen's work for the Improvement and Development Agency includes:
- representing the IDeA on housing issues
- developing housing-related programmes for local authorities
- delivering advisory and consultancy services on housing activities
- progressing specific projects within the housing programme.
She joined the IDeA in September 2009 on a secondment from Hertsmere Borough Council in Hertfordshire, where she worked as a housing needs and strategy officer. She has worked in the housing strategy role at four local authorities:
- Solihull Metropolitan District Council
- Cannock Chase Shire District Council
- Nuneaton and Bedworth Shire District Council
- Hertsmere Borough Council.
She worked as a policy officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing and also worked as a research manager at Habinteg Housing Association. Here, she was responsible for overseeing the development of housing design guides for people with physical disabilities and sensory needs. She has acted as the lead officer for coalfield issues within the West Midlands Regional Housing strategy. She has also produced brochures on housing issues in coalfield areas, and good practice in tackling youth homelessness in the east of England. Helen George currently works as a writer for the Chartered Institute of Housing, having recently completed a guide on housing research for students.
She also serves as an independent board member for Harden Housing Association – part of the West Mercia Group and Stevenage Homes – an Arm's-Length Management Organisation (ALMO).
Michelle Reid is the new Chief Executive of TPAS, the leading tenant participation organisation working to promote tenant empowerment within communities. Michelle joined TPAS from George House Trust, the North West HIV charity, where she has been the Chief Executive for the past seven years. Prior to that Michelle worked in a number of strategic and operational roles within Housing Associations, with particular expertise in tenant empowerment and supported housing roles. Starting her career as a Housing Officer for the Moss Side area of Manchester, Michelle has spent the past twenty years working to promote the rights of people from a range of different communities.
Mike retired in 2008 after 10 years as Director of Housing at Croydon Council. He had spent all of his earlier career working for three other London boroughs in a variety of housing jobs. In Croydon, he developed an extensive partnership with tenants and leaseholders to enable them to help shape policies and services and to monitor and provide feedback on service delivery. As a result Croydon Council was one of four local authorities, nationally, awarded Beacon status by the Government for “Improving Services by Involving Tenants”.
Mike also oversaw the establishment of extensive programmed and responsive repairs partnering arrangements and the reorganisation of estates services. Mike developed a long term financial strategy for council housing, including long term business planning of services and investment in Croydon Council’s housing, which will result in them fully meeting the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. After leaving Croydon Mike joined the board of the Sutton Housing Partnership where he is the Vice-Chair.
Richard is the co-ordinator for the setting up of the National Tenant Voice, employed by the Tenant Services Authority on behalf of CLG. This followed a five year secondment to CLG. Brought in initially to work on the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder programme, he went on to lead on tenant empowerment within CLG. He was responsible for initiating and steering through new statutory right to manage regulations for local authority tenants, as well as leading on the development of the National Tenant Voice.
Richard’s work at CLG followed many years working in housing management and community development. He led the northern team of Priority Estates Project (PEP) for many years and was a director of the company until he went on secondment to CLG. Richard lives in Leeds, where he is treasurer of his local community association and was a founding director of Headingly Development Trust.
Chris currently works as Resident Participation and Performance Manager at Croydon Council. As the Resident Involvement Champion for London, Croydon Council were the chief hosts of the conference and worked closely with the City of London to house the event at the Guildhall. Please see below for a summary of Chris' presentation on behalf of the RIC network partners.
CLG
Department for Communities and Local Government
Government Department which oversees many areas which relate directly to the Housing sector
IDeA
Improvement & Development Agency
An Agency of the Local Government Association, the remit of IDeA is to encourage and facilitate improvements within councils and local government. It achieves this through a range of initiatives such as the Beacon Scheme and the Leadership Academy for councillors.
ALMO
Arms Length Management Organisation
A company set up by a local authority to manage the housing stock. The local authority owns the company and is the only shareholder.
RIC
Resident Involvement Champions
TPAS
Tenant Participation Advisory Service
A membership organisation made up of tenants' groups and Social Landlords, with the shared aim of increasing tenant representation at all levels within Social Housing
