Advert POWER PLAYERS | FEATURE Power Players 2012: The top 50 most influential people in housing 4housing is proud to present its first ever 2 ‘Power Players’ list - a comprehensive guide to the most influential people currently working in, or impacting on, the housing sector. Our Top 50 list was compiled after polling more than 200 of the country’s most senior housing chief executives, politicians, commentators, academics, lawyers, and other movers and shakers, as well as frontline managers. We asked respondents to rank, from one to five, the people they considered to be the most influential in the sector. Politicians and those with political influence, perhaps unsurprisingly, dominate the list – especially those of the Conservative persuasion. A total of seven Tory ministers feature in the list along with the likes of Boris Johnson and Stephen Greenhalgh. The Labour Party, meanwhile, is conspicuous by its absence. Perhaps summing up the sector’s frustration at the opposition’s failure to provide a compelling housing strategy of its own, the Shadow Housing Minister Jack Dromey and the Shadow Communities Secretary Hilary Benn are nowhere to be seen. Instead it is left to the old guard of Steve Hilditch and Nick Raynsford alongside some forward-thinking Labour councillors to keep the red flag flying. Just a small number declined to take part in our survey with one anonymous head of a small homelessness charity giving the reason: “I have searched and looked at everyone I know and have worked for and/or in partnership with over the years. There is no one that comes to mind as being a positive influence in housing. They all BME background perceived as most influential. levels. collectively cause misery and hardship to people And despite thousands of women holding senior Nevertheless, it is undeniable that these are the who are marginalised and vulnerable. The people and junior management roles within the sector names that will indelibly shape the sector for many with housing need are a means for them to make – only 11 have made it on to the list. This raises years to come. n millions on the sadness of so many.” serious questions as to who actually wields power Notably, there is an absence of people from a within the sector, despite its diversity at many Research and words by Anita Pati www.24dash.com | 24housing | April 2012 35 FEATURE | POWER PLAYERS ‘The most high-profile housing minister in a good many years’ 1. Grant Shapps Age: 43 Role: Minister of State for Housing and Local Government, Department for Communities and Local Government he Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield a good job of highlighting housing issues to the T since 2005, Grant Shapps became shadow mainstream public. He is the most high profile minister for housing in 2007, taking up his current housing minister in a good many years. I just wish role as housing minister in May 2010. Born and he wouldn’t antagonise everyone in the sector educated in Hertfordshire, Shapps attended and that he’d stop demonising social housing Watford Grammar School and studied business tenants” and finance in Manchester before setting up his Lara Oyedele, chief executive, Odu-Dua Housing own printing company, PrintHouse Corporation, at Association the age of 21. He is on the Member Speaker’s Committee on “Influential player as a conduit between [David the Electoral Commission and has been a member Cameron and George Osborne] and the housing of the Conservative Friends of Israel (1995), sector. He has floundered very markedly recently Conservative Foreign Affairs Forum (1996) and and urgently needs to get back in touch with the Vice-chair, (campaigning) for the Conservative reality on the ground particularly the rapid loss Party (2005-09). of housing related support in some areas and the Shapps, married to Belinda, has three children: exclusion of housing in the Social Care, Health & Hadley and twins Tabytha and Noa. He holds a Well Being reforms” pilot’s licence and is the cousin of Mick Jones, lead Domini Gunn-Peim, director of public health guitarist of punk band The Clash. & vulnerable communities, CIH consultancy, On coming top in 24housing’s poll, he says: Chartered Institute of Housing “Whilst I came into politics to try to make a difference rather than to pick up accolades, I’m “Grant Shapps has changed the face of social grateful to 24housing for this recognition. Good housing in the past two years. Shapps now drives quality housing has a vital role to play in the the debate on social housing. His initiatives form nation’s economic, environmental and social the landscape we all work in - affordable rents, well-being. So I’d hope this reflects my efforts over flexible tenancies, democratic filter, economic the past five years – firstly in opposition and more regulation, Right to Buy - and the national recently in government – to make sure housing structures - TSA, Audit Commission and HCA that stays near the very top of the political, policy and populate them. Love him or hate him, Shapps is media agenda.” the dominant force in social housing today and the foreseeable future” “Dominates the policy agenda and orchestrates Phil Morgan, housing consultant, former chief defeat after defeat for the big guns of housing. executive of TPAS A smart and active mouth - he’s our answer to Mourhino. Some wish he was a bit more like Davie “Grant has overseen the biggest shake-up and White – a very short lived Rangers manager!” re-think in housing for many years. His various Alistair McIntosh, chief executive, Housing projects, if successful, will significantly change the Quality Network way in which, and the people to whom, housing is provided in the social housing sector, and increase “Grant Shapps’ personal commitment to the the number and choices for everyone who needs prevention of rough sleeping and his relentless a home” policy announcements means he is consistently in Cllr Jonathan Glanz, Cabinet Member for Housing the housing headlines” and Property, Westminster Council n Campbell Robb, chief executive, Shelter “Grant Shapps – for obvious reasons. Although I don’t necessarily agree with his politics, he does 36 April 2012 | 24housing | www.24dash.com POWER PLAYERS | FEATURE 2. David Orr Age: 57 Role: Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation fter graduating in 1976 with an MA in Social “Shepherd of the housing association flock” A Administration from Dundee University, Bruce Moore, chief executive, Hanover Housing David Orr worked with street homeless people in Association Glasgow before working his way up through various roles at Centre Point Soho (1977-1986). He “Still a very weighty presence and one who will headed up Newlon Housing Trust (1986-90) then have massive influence over the sector’s capacity started his long stint at the Scottish Federation of to deliver under the coalition government” Housing Associations as chief executive between Tim Doyle, chief executive, City West Housing 1990 and 2005 before moving to his current role. Trust The former president of CECODHAS-Housing Europe, the European Liaison Committee for “Because he is a persuasive, committed and Social Housing, Orr has also chaired the Mobility passionate advocate for social justice and decent Taskforce, which recently reported on how to housing for all” increase social housing mobility. He also sits on David Ashmore, group chief executive, the board of the Housing Finance Corporation and GreenSquare Group was a member of the Social Investment Task Force. He is one of the founding directors of My Home “David Orr, who has really become a spokesperson Finance, a social enterprise set up by the NHF for the sector. He’s been really quite visible in the to provide a new high street service offering media. Plus he’s a really good public speaker” affordable loans, money advice, bank accounts Clare Lawrance, supported housing manager, and linked savings accounts. Colne Housing n In 2010, Orr was awarded an honorary membership of the CIH. He lists his interests as playing squash, watching football and other sports, cinema and theatre, singing and family. 3. Iain Duncan Smith Age: 58 Role: Secretary of State for Work and Pensions elf-dubbed “the quiet man”, Iain Duncan “He is at the heart of key issues for housing and S Smith was elected MP for Chingford in 1992 our residents. The proposals to end HB direct then re-elected in 1997 as MP for the re-drawn would have a negative impact on the costs of constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green. funding new homes. The Work Programme also He was promoted to William Hague’s shadow needs to be adapted so that it is easier for housing cabinet in 1997 as social security secretary. In associations to access funding to get jobs for 2001, Smith was elected leader of the people in their homes and communities” Conservative Party but was forced to step down in Steve Howlett, chief executive, Peabody 2003 after a vote of no confidence. He set up the Centre for Social Justice in 2004, a think tank “Iain Duncan Smith, due to the overall benefits cap focusing on poverty and social breakdown which and the changes in single person occupancy rules. works mainly with small charities. Although the government is trying to ensure that Smith was educated at the Royal Military people only have the minimal accommodation Academy at Sandhurst and as part of the Scots for their family size/age, we all know the housing Guards saw active service in Northern Ireland and market doesn’t work that way. The result will be Zimbabwe, also serving in Canada and Germany. either people moving to cheaper accommodation He has worked for defence company GEC- or struggling to pay rent on reduced benefits.