The National Smaller Housing Associations' Conference is an event co-created with colleagues and key stakeholders throughout the housing sector. We want to thank our 2024 advisory board who are working with us to create this event.
Heather Thomas
Chief Executive Officer, Sapphire Independent HousingHeather has been the Chief Executive of Sapphire Independent Housing, a smaller housing association located in North London that offers supported housing and general needs homes, since 2016. Before her current role, she worked as an executive director of operations for several registered providers. She is vice chair of the g320 group of smaller London housing associations and sits on its executive committee.
Heather recently completed her tenure as the Chair of CCHA, the local housing association in Croydon, South London, where she lives. She is a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has a Master’s degree in Organisational Behaviour.
John Delahunty
@innisfreejohn
Chief Executive, InnisfreeJohn is Chief Executive of Innisfree Housing Association, a landlord of 600 homes mainly in the North London Boroughs of Brent and Camden.
He is currently Vice Chair of BME National, the group of BME housing associations around the country, and is also an active member of BME London, a group of 12 landlords actively collaborating to achieve cost efficiencies and extend our offer to tenants, including hosting a BME Tenants Forum.
Innisfree identifies itself as an Irish organisation and works in partnership with a number of London Irish advice, welfare and cultural organisations whilst serving the wider community of Londoners and advocating for the needs of new migrant communities.
Tracey Downie
Chief Executive, Women’s Pioneer HousingTracy joined Women’s Pioneer as Chief Executive in 2022. She was previously Executive Director of Housing Management at Homes for Haringey and brings over 25 years’ experience in the housing sector primarily working in London-based housing associations with a commitment to resident engagement, community development and challenging inequality.
She brings a wealth of experience from past senior, executive and non-executive roles to her role as CEO. Tracey mentors through the Future of London Leaders programme and is Board Chair of Ekaya Housing Association.
Kai Jackson
Chair of Residents Scrutiny Voice Panel, Black Country Housing GroupKai completed her BSc (Honours) Psychology and Counselling degree and achieved a British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation. She has been the chair for her tenant's scrutiny panel for over two years. In that time, Kai has carried out three reviews, been involved in stage 2 complaints, assisted shaping policies, interviewed potential staff members, panel members and been a part of the wider reshaping of the culture of her housing association. Kai has been very vocal in her support for tenants to be more involved with their housing provider and working together to accomplish change, which can be achieved. She has spoken at two conferences with the National Housing Federation (NHF) and most recently became a Tpas Associate and speaking at their customer conference. Kai is very dedicated to tenant involvement, being diverse, without stigma, and heard.
Karen Cooper
Chief Executive, Penge Churches Housing Association and Chair, G320Helena Evans
Chief Executive, Westfield Housing Association
Rebecca Clarke
Director of Operations, First Priority Housing
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