CHC Governance Conference 2021
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Insight and innovation Wednesday 3rd March
The public health and economic crisis caused by Covid 19 has had Day one of this conference is designed to capture the insights and profound implications for every aspect of our work. It has changed the innovations that have been developed over recent months - and to way that we deliver services, look after the health and financial help shape the future of housing association governance. wellbeing of our workforce and tenants, and created huge changes to expected norms within the financial and governmental systems in Thursday 4th March which we operate. Day two will begin with a focus on current trends in corporate At the heart of the response from housing associations has been governance within our sector and beyond. We will go on to consider strong governance and leadership. This provides a secure point from how housing associations can use their influence and work in which to pivot and adapt. It underpins our ability to listen, lead and partnership to grapple with the urgent challenges ahead of us, and to respond. Never has this been tested more fully than over the past few build sustainable, trusted, inclusive organisations. months.
This year’s Governance Conference will focus on what we have learnt
in 2020 and what this all means for the future.
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Wednesday 3rd March 2021
8.45am Pre Conference breakfast session: Politics, people and perceptions. Leadership in a devolved context, kindly sponsored by Hugh James Solicitors At this pre-conference breakfast session, we will hear from experienced members of the Senedd who will provide a unique insight into leadership in a devolved context, and the challenges and opportunities for our sector as seen through their eyes.
We will also discuss perceptions of housing associations from their personal perspectives – both inside the Senedd and from their constituencies. Chair: Rachel Moss, Hugh James Solicitors @HughJamesLegal Panel: Carwyn Jones – Welsh Labour David Melding – Welsh Conservatives @DavidMeldingMS
9.30am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing
10.00am Welcome and scene setting Chair of Conference - Scott Sanders, Chief Executive, Linc Cymru @ScottS_Linc
10:15am What has our experience during the pandemic told us? Ben Page, Chief Executive, IPOS Mori @benatipsosmori Ben is Chief Executive of IPSOS Mori. Throughout the pandemic IPSOS Mori has been sharing insights on our changing attitudes and priorities as a nation. In this keynote session, Ben will share his reflections on what this period of crisis might tell us about what people value, trust and prioritise and what this might mean for organisations and public services going forward.
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
10.45am A Chance for a Cuppa and a Chat
11:00pm Moving forward with insight. What does this experience mean for the way we lead, listen and act?
Ben Page, Chief Executive, IPSOS Mori @benatipsosmori Chris Bolton, Good Practice Manager, Audit Wales Chris Johnes, Building Communities Trust @BCTWales Jane van Zyl, Chief Executive, Working Families @workingfamUK
A panel discussion led by Ben Page, Chief Executive, IPSOS Mori.
The Covid 19 crisis has changed the way we listen, collaborate and prioritise - both organisationally and personally. Ben will join a panel of expert speakers to reflect on the learning and experience the pandemic has brought us, and what this means for the way we lead and the choices we take as social businesses.
What do we know now in Wales that we didn’t know before the pandemic, in particular in terms of:
• Our communities and community resilience • What influences our behaviour and choices • Our ways of working • What leadership looks like and where it comes from
12.00pm Lunch and Networking
12.45pm A series of workshops - mainstreaming agility and innovation. During the pandemic, associations have flexed, taken risks and collaborated to make sure that they have delivered what is needed for the communities in which they work and those that live in our homes and support settings. This series of workshops will look at how we can mainstream innovation and agility.
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
How to stay agile. Leadership and innovation in a time of crisis. In response to Covid 19, housing associations worked swiftly, in new and different ways, to deliver what was needed. How can we enable our organisations to capture the spirit of this response, and remain fleet of foot and innovative in everything we do? What role can Boards play in making this happen?
Sarah Weller, Co-founder, We are Element @SarahEWeller Sarah’s background is in innovation. Prior to founding We Are Element, Sarah has worked for ?What If! and also for Mubaloo, a mobile consultancy and digital product development company. Sarah helps to rebalance businesses, so they’re equipped to adapt and thrive in the next economy.
Ceri Doyle, Chief Executive Newport City Homes @NewportCityH Ceri will discuss her experience of both crisis management and publishing a five year strategy during the Covid 19 pandemic. She will go on to reflect on the power of effective, agile governance for social landlords.
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
How to stay connected. Leadership in a virtual world.
Remote working is here to stay. But we are still grappling with the challenge of building relationships and thinking creatively while interacting online. This workshop will consider the ways in which Boards can act now to create hybrid working models that utilise the benefits of remote working, but address the deficits which this can create in our working lives.
Stephanie Griffiths, Commercial Director, Chwarae Teg @chwaraeteg Stephanie has a proven record of leading from the front, managing successful sales teams for global organisations, while juggling multiple responsibilities in high pressure, targeted environments. Stephanie is passionate about equality for all and driven by positive societal changes.
Neil Almond, Director, 91 Untold @91Untold Neil has worked at the highest levels in business working with industry leaders such as Sir Richard Branson and Anita Roddick and with charities and government – including facilitating sessions in Downing Street for both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown,
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
What does good governance look like in changing times? Boards are still developing their approaches to management in uncertain and changing times. This workshop will discuss what good assurance looks like in March 2021.
Amanda Davies, Chief Executive and Wendy Bourton, Chair, Pobl Group @poblgroup
Amanda Davies was formerly the Group Chief Executive of Seren Group, a position she held from 2004 until the merger with Grwp Gwalia in 2016 to form Pobl Group.
Amanda is a qualified accountant and has previously worked as an Executive in the housing and support sector in England.
Wendy is passionate about social justice and has spent much of her professional career addressing the challenges of housing in an ageing and diverse society. She was involved in the Care & Repair movement from its inception in Wales; as Chief Executive of Care & Repair Cymru for 15 years she led the growth and expansion of the agency services.
Wendy has been a Non-Executive of Housing associations for several decades, this included being Chair of UWHA, time on a community HA and on a stock transfer.
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Environmental, Social and Governance for Board Members
Housing Associations’ impact is significant, and investor interest in the UK social housing sector is strong and growing. Increasing investor interest underlines the need for the UK social housing sector to clearly highlight and report on its strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance.
Centrus have been working with the Good Economy to develop a standardised approach to ESG reporting for housing associations. In this session, they will run through the measures they have developed and reflect on what can be learnt from the early adopters of the standard.
Phil Jenkins, Managing Director, Centrus @_Centrus Phil is a founding partner of Centrus and draws upon 20 years of investment banking and advisory experience across derivatives, commercial banking, structuring and debt capital markets. He has advised a range of well-known companies on funding strategies, re-negotiations & capital raisings. Phil previously worked in the Infrastructure division of RBC Capital Markets and the Fixed Income division of Hambros Bank.
Taster session: Tools for Embedding Governance Hundreds of different customers across the UK and Ireland use Decision Time governance software, including 60+ Housing Associations, Homes England, HM Land Registry and Community Housing Cymru.
Good governance leads to improved transparency, accountability, efficiency and decision making and, ultimately, to enhanced performance. In this session, David Braziel, Decision Time's Technical Director, will discuss how to select the best tools for embedding governance in your organisation and will offer practical solutions for implementing those tools. David will be joined by Jayne Owen from North Wales HA who will discuss the challenges they faced delivering good governance, and how Decision Time enabled best practice across their organisations.
David Braziel, Decision Time and Jayne Owen, North Wales HA @DecisionTime
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
1.45pm A chance for a cuppa and a chat
Panel discussion: Resetting our collective ‘North Star’ after a pandemic - where should we start?
In a situation where nothing is normal, what does that mean for the things we and those we serve value, how we lead and where we collectively focus our efforts to flourish as a community and nation?
2.00pm Dr Katherine Trebeck, Advocacy and Influencing Lead, Well Being Economy Alliance @KTrebeck Sue Tibballs, Chief Executive, Sheila McKechnie Foundation. @Sue_Tibballs Neil Almond, Director, 91Untold @91Untold
3:00pm Conference Close
Scott Sanders, Chief Executive, Linc Cymru @ScottS_Linc
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Thursday 4th March 2021 -
8.45am Breakfast Briefing: Changes to the Regulatory Framework In this session with Ian Walters of Welsh Government, will provide delegates with an update on the review of the Regulatory Framework for Social Housing in Wales.
9.30am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing
10.00am Welcome and introduction
Chair of Conference, Linda Whittaker, Chief Executive, Tai Tarian @TaiTarian
10:10am Trends in corporate governance
Charlotte Valeur, Founder, Global Governance Group @kcvaleur
Charlotte will give an insight from outside our sector on the role and nature of corporate governance in 2021. She will consider the opportunities and pitfalls we face when seeking to navigate our organisations through challenges we face and will also provide a personal perspective of the challenges for Board members and Chairs.
Charlotte Valeur is a corporate governance expert and a keen advocate for diversity in the boardroom. She has an extensive portfolio career with a number of Non-Executive Directorships and Chair roles. Over the last decade, Charlotte has been a director of 7 public companies, including three appointments as chair.
10.40am A chance for a cuppa and a chat
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Trends in corporate governance - what does it mean for housing associations?
Reflecting on the ideas and challenges offered in the keynote, Charlotte will be joined by a panel and will 10:50am discuss the challenges and opportunities for housing associations. Ceri Victory Rowe, Campbell Tickell @ceri_vr Stuart Ropke, Chief Executive, Community Housing Cymru @stuart_chc Jenny Brown, Associate Director, Altair International @AltairLtd
11.50am Comfort Break
12.00pm Poverty in Wales - how can housing make a difference? A panel discussion Rachelle Earwaker Economist, Joseph Rowntree Foundation @r_earwaker Michelle Reid, Chief Executive, Merthyr Valleys Homes @MichReid2014 Jonathan Webb, Senior Research Fellow, IPPR @IPPR
Even before Covid 19, almost one in four people in Wales were living in poverty. Despite policy interventions, that level of relative poverty has remained unchanged for a decade. We do not yet know what the full impact of the pandemic will be, but we know that action must be taken now to prevent the situation from getting worse - and to finally ensure people can lift themselves out of poverty in Wales.
12.45pm Lunch and networking
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
1.15pm A series of workshops
As anchor organisations, housing associations have a unique opportunity to influence positive change. As social businesses, influence and inclusion is key to helping you to thrive. This set of workshops will consider some of the key factors that help to increase community trust and engagement, and to fully embed an inclusive ethos as employers and service providers. They will also provide an opportunity to understand how we can work with politicians and partners to help deliver Board priorities.
Partnerships with a purpose Housing associations increase their impact and influence through effective partnerships. This session will consider the role of governance in promoting and supporting good partnership working at a strategic level. It will also demonstrate the way housing partnerships can contribute to communities.
Debbie Green Chief Executive, Coastal Housing and Andrew Bowden, Chief Executive, Cartrefi Conwy @CoastalHousing @CartrefiConwy
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Beyond the tick box. Devolving decision making to tenants and communities
It is now more important than ever that we are trusted by our tenants and communities. We want our decision making to be fully inclusive of their views and expertise.
In this session, we will explore effective methods that allow us to genuinely put tenants and communities in the driving seat of change. Network Rail will provide a case study setting out how they operate on both a strategic national level but also work closely with communities at a hyper-local level. Whether investing tens of millions of pounds on major projects, such as the current renovation work at Barmouth Viaduct, or working to upgrade the local level crossing, both types of work impact on the local communities they serve. We will hear from two senior members of Network Rail staff, covering Wales, who will talk about how they reach out to communities they serve to ensure work undertaken locally is fully understood and, importantly, in what sort of timeframes. This also involves engaging with local partners, local authorities, the media (bilingually) councillors, MS’s and MPs
Sam Hadley, Network Rail, Head of Communication (Wales and Borders) Emma Hutchins, Network Rail Senior Community Engagement Manager (Wales and Western)
Dismantling discrimination. How to build an inclusive organisation Housing associations in Wales are committed to increasing inclusion within their organisations. In order to do that, we need to better reflect the communities we serve - and to ensure that no one faces barriers to using our services. This workshop will consider what it takes to dismantle discrimination and embed inclusion in organisations of any size.
Phil Friend, Consultant Phil will help us to think through the business imperatives for Boards to drive forward the inclusion of disabled people in employment and service provision. He will help us to understand how we move past commitments to action that makes a real difference. @PhilFriendEsq
Professor Uzo Iwobi, OBE Uzo is an expert in strategic change within large organisations in relation to tackling racial discrimination and promoting racial inclusion. @UzoIwobi
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
Confidence, kit and connection - digital inclusion – a panel discussion Tim Daley, Programme Manager, Centre for Digital Public Services @TimDaley4 Nick Speed, Wales Director, BT Group @speedupdating During the first wave of the pandemic, services became ‘digital first’ overnight, with IT transformation projects sped up and many of us becoming used to seeing each other via our favourite social networking or online meetings platform. However, 10% of people in Wales are still not online and 17% of social housing residents are digitally excluded – which is an estimated 60,000 residents. So what does this mean for the way that housing associations should design and deliver services, what is our role to play to bridge the digital divide and how do we understand and respond to tenant and service user views and needs when we are largely hearing them through a screen?
2.00pm A chance for a cuppa and a chat
2:15pm What makes us really change?
Chris Grant, Board Member, Sport England and organisational change expert @chrisgrant14a
Change is unavoidable as we move into an uncertain future. As the conference closes, Chris will reflect on what is required from leaders to take their organisations with them through this time of change.
Chris has worked extensively within the high-performance sports system, not least as a lead facilitator on UK Sport’s elite coach programme. As a volunteer, he was deputy chair of International Inspiration, London 2012’s ground-breaking international development programme.
3:00pm Conference close
Chair of Conference, Linda Whittaker, Chief Executive, Tai Tarian @TaiTarian
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CHC Governance Conference 2021
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