Finance Conference 2023
MacDonald Aviemore Resort

Mandy contributes to Indigo House’s portfolio of work in modelling rent affordability, housing need and demand and identifying potential markets for intermediate renting and other housing options. She has also contributed to the team’s work on financial inclusion. This work has involved the development of small area estimates using numerous large and complex datasets and mapping results using GIS.

Mandy has undertaken a wide range of work on poverty, including a recent study, with a team from i-SPHERE examining Destitution in the UK, for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) in which Mandy conducted analysis of national datasets and administrative data and developed a Census of crisis service users. She has also recently worked with i-SPHERE on a recent study, also for the JRF, estimating the public finance costs of poverty and on a qualitative Evaluation of the Interim Arrangement for the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Mandy’s methodological work has included reviewing and designing research tools, analytical frameworks and results frameworks for numerous clients including the World Bank, the Department for International Development and Plan UK. This has included developing vulnerability indices, wealth indices and indicators to capture efficiency and Value for Money. Mandy has delivered research methods training for numerous audiences, including training on survey methods for the Social Research Association and the Scottish Housing Best Value Network.

Stephanie has spent 15 years working within the private care, public health and housing sectors consulting on and delivering person centred health improvement services. She is passionate about bridging the gaps between Housing Health and Social Care by promoting innovations and advancements in technology that improve digital access to information, reduce pressure on front line services. 

Having worked for some of the world’s largest organisations, including PepsiCo, Merlin Entertainments and News International, in roles such as Head of Sales (not your typical position for an autistic person), Kelly decided to focus his time on sharing his story and inspiring others. Kelly now drives awareness, understanding and most importantly, acceptance of neurodiversity.

Alongside this, she is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Valleys to Coast, where she has been involved in the re-design of the organisation’s approach to risk management, and provides robust oversight as the organisation goes through a period of restructure and change.

She is the Chair of CHC’s Finance SDG, actively supporting CHC’s lobbying and advocacy work on key sector issues such as decarbonisation, rent policy, and the social housing grant regime.

She is also a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the National Housing Federation, giving further opportunities to influence housing policy at a national level.

Niall is a Chartered Accountant, with six years’ experience at a leading professional services firm performing audits across a range of clients and industries, including latterly investment management.

Rebecca joined the ABI in 2020 from Capco, a financial services consultancy. Here she held multiple roles across projects for FTSE100 clients in the Financial Services sector, and specialised in regulation.

Rebecca began her career as an Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, having studied economics at the University of Cambridge.

Expertise

Strategic planning and development of digital and technology services, strategies, and budgets. Infrastructure and systems review and procurements. Structured programme management and process reviews.

His business division works both investor-side and sector-side primarily in the UK placemaking and built environment sectors, supporting organisations with their approach, reporting and communications across Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), socially responsible investment and purpose-driven finance. Luke was editor of Social Housing magazine, the finance publication for the affordable housing sector, for seven years. 

He was also a director at Ocean Media, where he led the launch of a housing business intelligence platform and worked across a portfolio of housing conferences, launching Ocean’s first ESG conference.  Previous to that he spent two years as finance editor at Construction News. His 15-year career in journalism also spanned a number of national and regional newspapers.

Prior to joining  Hanover she held management roles in two other RSL’s in Scotland accumulating in over 18 years of experience in the housing sector. Although her passion is for housing sector she also held roles within the NHS and the charity sector.

Donna is a qualified accountant and is currently a Board member for a SAY Women a charity which supports the sexually abused young women in Scotland.

As the Bank calls for one million more social homes over the next decade, Melanie’s focus is to work closely with clients to identify needs, share intel and develop solutions. She has delivered a significant number of Loan Facilities and other specialist products to clients. Melanie has a degree in Business Studies and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland.

Michelle is passionate about everyone having the right to a decent home and a good quality of life and believes Housing Associations have a key role to play in achieving both of these outcomes in the communities in which they serve. 

Throughout her career Michelle has been heavily involved in the domestic abuse and wider safeguarding agenda as she believes the sector has a unique role to play in any effective coordinated community response.

Peter opened the Scottish office for Allia C&C in 2020 with the aim of supporting charities and social impact organisations.  Allia C&C has supported a number of Scottish RSLs with services including treasury advice, carrying out funding tenders, providing business planning advice/modelling, and regular economic market updates.

Leading on procurement issues, she advises on the interpretation of the procurement regulations as they relate to the specific contract requirements within the RSL sector. Lauren also negotiates the terms of construction contracts and professional team appointments. 

She is the Director of the Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, a coalition of consumer, anti-poverty, social housing, industry and environment groups calling for action to make Scotland’s homes fit for the 21st century.

She was the policy advisor to the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group (2016-2017), which was tasked with setting out a vision for the eradication of fuel poverty in Scotland.

She chairs the Climate Challenge Fund Grants Panel which provides independent recommendations to ministers on community projects taking action on climate change.

She has worked for various clients including the Sustainable Scotland Network, Scottish Environment LINK, Energy Saving Trust, and WWF Scotland.

Previously, Elizabeth served with the US Foreign Service, with postings in Moscow, Sofia, Edinburgh and Alaska. Elizabeth lives in Highland Perthshire with her husband and two sons.

www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethleightonscotland 

Nick has substantial experience over 20 years in social housing, as a consultant, a financial regulator and finance director as well as being a Board member.  Nick has worked as a finance director in stock transfer, traditional, rural and urban, diverse group structures and support and care organisations during his career.  Prior to social housing Nick worked for 14 years in banking, latterly in treasury and international banking.

Meg has worked in the housing sector for the past 15 years, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and holds a BSc in Architecture, an MSc in City Design and Social Science, and a PG Diploma in Housing.  Prior to joining Cairn in 2018, she worked as a consultant advising a range of housing associations, local authorities and community organisations in Scotland and England on asset management, community engagement and regeneration projects.

Kelly is a key member of our national social housing strategy group and also works closely with SFHA, providing support on financial reporting, accounting and taxation matters including developments in FRS102 and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).

Kelly is also Chair of the Board of West of Scotland Housing Association and a member of their Audit Committee.

His assignments focus on governance, mergers, performance improvement, strategy, and most recently, organisational culture. Some more high-profile work has involved helping clients through difficult or unexpected events.

Previously, James worked as a Director at the Refugee Council, and then at the Housing Corporation, where he was Registrar. Before moving to set up Campbell Tickell, he was Deputy Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation.

As key contributor to Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) Innovation and Future Thinking programme, Michael retains a keen interest in the promotion of data led organisations and the ways in which this enables digital solutions and innovation across the social housing sector. 

Currently leading on HACT’s sector leading UK Housing Data Standards initiative, having also recently researched and co-authored paper with CaCHE on The Impact of Social Housing: Economic, Social, Health and Wellbeing.

Helen leads the Regulation Group within SHR which is responsible for monitoring, assessing and reporting on the performance of social landlords and the financial health and governance of RSLs.

Coastline’s current strategy is to solve the Cornwall Housing Crisis in all its forms and part of this is being one of the top 10 fastest growing providers every year since 2017, providing one of only two affordable extra care schemes in the County and homelessness support services through a purpose built facility.

These ambitions have required a number of iterations of Finance Strategy including the first partnership arrangements with Legal & General Affordable Homes in 2019.

Prior to signing up for Coastline’s mission Nathan was a consultant for 4-years supporting various charities, start-ups and Housing providers. 

Nathan has worked in and around housing for over 20-years and  been fortunate to be involved with amazing organisations of all shapes and sizes supporting communities and delivering much needed new homes predominately across London and the surrounding counties.

Nathan is also the current chair of the National Housing Federation’s Finance Policy Advisory Group which exists to inform and respond to the NHF’s wider policy agenda with particular reference to financial implications for its members and in 2022 joined the British Property Federation sub-committee for Social Housing.