The conference brought together innovative research and practice from across Scotland around technology, skills, key worker housing, age and care support (and much more!) to build diverse communities where people can live, work, and care for others.
Thank you to our conference hosts, Rural Stirling Housing Association, for its support of this year’s event.
The winner of RIHAF Development of 2023 Award is Eildon Housing Association.
Congratulations from everyone at the SFHA
Costs
Member Price
Non-member Price
Supporting Sustainable Communities at Stirling Court Hotel
University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Directions
Sponsors
Tea & Coffee Sponsor
Drinks Sponsor
Speakers
Mike Staples
South of Scotland Community Housing
Mike is Chief Executive of South of Scotland Community Housing
Katherine Crawford
Age Scotland
Katherine joined Age Scotland as CEO in July 2023. Katherine has a strong interest in older people’s issues, inspired by nearly 20 years of experience working at Parkinson’s UK, latterly as part of the Executive Leadership team. .
Read MoreHer career has focussed on driving up quality of care and support through influencing and service delivery. Katherine grew up in rural Perthshire, first qualified as a solicitor, then owned a rural events business before moving to the third sector
Graeme Hamilton
Albyn Housing Society
Graeme established and manages Albyn’s Tenancy Sustainment Team, which aims to support the increasing proportion of tenants whose tenancies and wellbeing are at risk from a wide range of challenges, including the cost-of-living crisis and acute shortages of social care provision.
Read MoreGraeme has been involved in Albyn’s Fit Homes project since it started in 2015, working collaboratively with public, private, academic and third sector organisations to support development of new technology-based solutions to enable people to live well at home for as long as possible.
Graeme has over 20 years experience developing and delivery social housing, homelessness and fuel poverty services in local government, the third sector and private consultancy. He has an MPhil in Social Housing Studies, an Honours Degree in Law and a Diploma in Youth and Community Work.
Ronnie Macrae
CHT
In addition to its core project delivery and community activities. CHT have piloted a number of initiatives over recent years in response to ever changing challenges and are constantly looking at how communities can be strengthened by creating new opportunities.
Read MoreRonnie has over 35 years' experience of the housing sector being a partner in his family construction business, promoting private sector improvements for Highland Council before joining CHT in 2005. Ronnie is originally from Durness in North West Sutherland and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building and a Chartered Environmentalist.
Morven Fancey
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Morven Fancey is Head of Universities, Skills & Population at Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) - the regional economic development agency for the northern half of Scotland - where she has over 30 years’ experience of economic and regional development.
Read MoreHer current focus is on addressing depopulation and the related housing shortages in the region alongside her work in supporting the development of the university and skills system in line with regional needs.
Ryan Barclay
Housing Options Scotland
I graduated from the University of Stirling in 2022 with a Masters of Science MSc in Housing Studies. During my studies , I also began volunteering with Housing Options Scotland in January 2022.
The subject of my masters thesis was related to the challenges facing staff in delivering TEC to social housing tenants with a disability.
Read More
After graduation , earlier this year in January I started an internship with Clyde Valley Housing Association as an Equality , Diversity and inclusion intern. During this internship I produced a report for the housing association which examined EDI from a recruitment of staff and customer communication perspective.
I am also a member of the CIH Futures board , and one of our principles is "promoting housing as a career of choice"
In April 2023, I began working as a housing options broker with Housing Options Scotland. Housing Options Scotland is a Scotland wide housing options advice and information charity that offers housing options advice and information to disabled people, older adults , and miitary veterans and their families.
Stephanie Elliot
SFHA
Stephanie Elliot is the Technology Enabled Care Lead for the housing with the goal of upscaling the housing sectors' contribution to the digital health and care strategy.
Read MoreStephanie 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.
Paul McLennan
Minister for Housing
Paul McLennan was appointed as Minister for Housing in March 2023.Paul served as a local councillor for the Dunbar and East Linton multi-member ward of East Lothian Council since 2007, and was leader of the Council from 2009 to 2012.
Read MoreHe has been a board member of NHS Lothian, the regional offices of Scottish Enterprise and the Commission on School Reform.
He was elected as MSP for East Lothian in 2021
Professor Vikki McCall
University of Stirling
Dr Vikki McCall is a Professor of Social Policy in the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling. Dr McCall’s work has included extensive research on housing, ageing and stigma, having leadership roles in many projects focusing on housing, ageing the role of front-line workers, service users, volunteers and the policy process.
Read MoreDr McCall was part of the team that won the Sociological Review Prize for Outstanding Scholarship (2017) for work on tackling urban stigmatisation in disadvantaged communities. Dr McCall led the development of the www.asume.co.uk website, a resource for researchers as well as health and housing practitioners to access the findings of a comprehensive UK study on dementia and volunteering. Dr McCall is member of the Social Policy Association Executive Committee and Editorial Board member of Social Policy & Society.
Hilary Scott
Eildon Housing Association
Hilary has worked within social housing since 1992 in a variety of housing management roles across several housing providers. She joined Eildon Housing Association in 2001, and as Housing Services Manager has responsibility for delivery and continuous improvement of their housing services.
Read MoreShe has a BSc(Hons) degree in Psychology, a Diploma in Housing Studies, and is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.