Agenda

In an era of unprecedented housing challenges, technology emerges as a critical enabler of social change. This presentation will discuss how technology can help housing providers navigate complex regulatory landscapes, optimise resource allocation and deliver safer, more sustainable housing solutions.

Rachel Baig, Managing Director Aareon

As tenants increasingly expect convenience and flexibility in how and where they pay their rent, housing providers who are investing in new technologies are seeing benefits in their income, along with improved customer relationships. Payment technology that can provide real-time updates help staff focus their attention where it is actually needed, give tenants choice and flexibility, or can be integrated with other systems to improve efficiency and recognise revenue faster.

James Pickering, Strategic Account Manager, Access PaySuite and Jon Mueller, Public Sector Payment Specialist, Access PaySuite

Damp and mould are critical issues in housing, with regulatory scrutiny increasing with the introduction of Awaab's Law. This presentation explores the challenges of compliance and how technology can enhance your approach. Learn about Aico's innovative HomeLINK Case Management platform designed to help housing providers efficiently identify, manage, analyse, record and communicate about damp and mould cases, ensuring compliance while prioritising tenant well-being and healthy homes.

Sam Collier, Policy & Research Manager, Aico

This presentation will delve into Barnet Group’s journey from data to actionable insights. By leveraging Incorta’s advanced data analytics platform, Barnet Group can harness the power of real-time data to drive impactful decision-making and enhance service delivery. This journey highlights the challenges faced, the innovative solutions implemented and the improvements achieved in operational efficiency and tenant satisfaction. From initial insights to measurable impact, this showcases the role of data in housing.

Ola Balogun, Head of IT Services, Barnet Group and Greg Terefenko, Head of Housing Management, Barnet Group

An approach to sustainably delivering change within housing with assurance and robustness, regardless of the size of your technology delivery function or your use of partners. We will cover the key processes, people and questions you need to deliver sooner, safer and happier.

Emma Hopkinson-Spark, Director of Business Change, Bromford and Mark Wheeler, Head of Software Development, Bromford

As we approach the end of the 'Transforming for a Digital Future: 2022 to 2025 Roadmap for Digital & Data' roadmap, Civica has conduct a survey involving 360 civil servants across 15 departments, looking at achievements made and identify any remaining objectives. We will take you through some of the areas and how this focus on data and insight will shape the Housing sector in the coming years.

Andy Baker, Customer Solutions Consultant (Data & Analytics), Civica and Mark Holdsworth, Sales Director, Civica

In today’s digital world, modernising legacy systems is essential but challenging, involving both technology upgrades and people-focused change. This session dives into practical strategies for updating outdated systems to boost security, agility and scalability. Beyond the technology, it explores the ‘people factor’; how to engage teams, build skills and manage change. You will walk away with hands-on tips to balance technology improvements with workforce alignment, driving a smooth, future-ready transformation.

Peter Grimley, Assistant Director of ICT & Digital Change, Clanmil Housing

Synopsis to be confirmed

Paul Norman, Director of Asset Strategy, Clarion Housing

Connexus will talk about how using the skills of teams beyond IT to manage expectations, endpoint logistics and communication challenges during the early stages of a cyber incident ensured that we were at 80 per cent business-as-usage status of all systems within eight weeks. We will also cover what we’ve improved over the past year to make us more defended and resilient against the next cyber incident.

Dan Patch, IT Systems Analyst, Connexus Homes and Nick Chamberlain, IT Technical Security Analyst, Connexus Homes

Discover how AI is transforming housing processes, moving from task-based copilots to context-aware assistants and fully autonomous agents. Explore the genAI revolution, combining large language models (LLMs) with automation to tackle complex challenges. Learn how these advances can optimise workflows, enhance tenant experiences and redefine operations in housing. Plus get some practical insights into leveraging these technologies for your organisation's success.

Oliver Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, Crimson

In their millennial work 'Digital transformation: The essentials of e-business leadership', Patel & McCarthy coined a term we’ve used for 25 years. Despite its ubiquity, it’s clear that transformations usually fail. A key reason, Aidan Dunphy argues, is that they’re usually tied to large, monolithic technology procurements which lack the flexibility to adapt to changing understanding or circumstances. He presents an alternative approach to IT solution development focussed on vision, strategy and valuable outcomes, and supported by modern, agile software partners. Let’s try something different!

Speakers to be confirmed

Hype or transformative? This talk explores the journey leading up to AI and showcases real-world applications across different sectors. It highlights opportunities for housing providers to leverage both genAI and advanced analytics for operational efficiencies and improved services. We will cover the risks, ethical considerations and governance issues essential to adopting AI responsibly, ensuring a balanced, future-ready approach for housing professionals.

Guy Marshall, Director, Fuza

Discover how Guinness Partnership defined its digital, data & technology strategy and roadmap. Gain insights into how we’ve implemented technology through effective business design and change management aligned to our roadmap. We will share business analysis, design and change adoption best practices, and our growth and maturing capabilities. We will highlight our approach to delivering Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle Financials and HCM, and 8x8 CCaaS technologies to achieve business transformation.

Andy Smith, Head of Change Partnering, Guinness Partnership, Cheryl Richards, Business Readiness Change Manager, Guinness Partnership, Kyle Walker, Principal Business Analyst (Data & Technology), Guinness Partnership and Natalie Stafford, Principal Business Analyst (Customer & Digital), Guinness Partnership

In this session, we explore the transformative power of technology and digital solutions in fostering increased staff productivity. The session will centre on the evolution of technology and the significant benefits that come with integrating systems and combining solutions to achieve a true channel shift. Key points... The need for digital solutions: why Settle chose Housing Insight and its PanConnect solution for case management. Why digital transformation is essential, emphasising the growing expectations of both staff and residents for seamless and efficient interactions. Solution insights: how these solutions streamline processes and improve service delivery. Delivery: Working in partnership to adapt a standard offering and create value from the solution meeting the needs of the organisation across multiple stakeholders. The benefits: Highlighting the project to date, what benefits have been provided and the future for the organisation.

Speaker to be confirmed

Pretty much 'what it says on the tin', Sarah McRow will explain our approach for innovating in the housing sector, drawing on real examples with impactful results. We will present our comprehensive process for developing apps that address industry pain-points and create meaningful change for the sector. By the end of the session, the audience should understand the step-by-step process to ensure success in a Microsoft environment!

Speaker to be confirmed

Join TechLabs London, the team behind iProperty Cloud, on a journey through innovation in the housing sector. Explore how Microsoft Dynamics, Power Platform and AI can transform operations like customer services and asset management. Discover actionable AI use-cases, practical tools and tips to enhance your digital transformation journey. This talk is a ‘must’ for those seeking to empower their organisations and embrace the next steps in their digital evolution.

Matthew Hedges, Products Director, TechLabs London

Synopsis to be confirmed

Speaker to be confirmed

How to realise huge benefits by implementing systems integration and automation in your business, reducing costs while delivering better services to residents. We look at how to make the most of modern technologies such as AI, but without buying new systems. Alan Swift discusses how to approach integration like any other business project, and takes us through the stages of a successful project: defining the problem; identifying solutions; managing risk; and implementation.

Alan Swift, Managing Director, Manifest Software Solutions

We started exploring the Microsoft Power Platform four years ago, setting up environments and data structures aligned to our HMS. Partnering with Microsoft specialists, we built a catalogue of functionality, solving internal processes and benefiting customers. We’ve not used everything we’ve created but it’s all helped to build knowledge and we’re delivering great solutions.

Amanda Hodge, ICT Manager, MHS Homes and Sarah Porter, Assistant Director of Business Transformation, MHS Homes

In an era of increasing regulatory pressures and rising tenant expectations, data has become the closest thing to a silver bullet for housing providers. This session will explore how harnessing your data can unlock improved services, streamline operations and ensure compliance with the housing regulator's demands. Time is running out; join us to learn how to kick-start your data journey and stay ahead in delivering great outcomes for your tenants and organisation.

Speaker to be confirmed

Covering the adoption of solutions incl. safer communities, repairs, asset & housing management, all web-based & mobile-enabled.

Synopsis to be confirmed

Speaker to be confirmed

North Star Housing, in partnership with The National Robotarium, is exploring robotics in social housing through a research project in an over 55s scheme using a Furhat robot. This presentation will share insights from our real-world experience, showcasing how robots can address loneliness, support care and help with maintenance. Learn how partnerships with research institutes can unlock new opportunities in social housing.

Sean Lawless, Director of Insight & Transformation, North Star Housing

Platform Housing has gone through a huge phase of digital transformation, supported by an IT project management function which morphed into an enterprise-wide portfolio management office (EPMO). Hear about the initiatives implemented, tools that were used and the processes required for change. Learn about the work of our teams to ensure resilience throughout complicated SI processes, what the new function is delivering and, finally, the key lessons learned.

Tamara Fyffe, Director of PMO & Programme, Platform Housing

Traditional property management in housing is often reactive, fragmented, and costly,leaving providers struggling to balance compliance, maintenance, and tenant satisfaction.John Bristow explores how digital solutions are revolutionising the way property operations are managed, helping organisations shift from reactive to proactive strategies.Attendees will learn how integrating real-time centralised data, predictive analytics, and automated process tools can connect residents, operators and service provider to reduce operational costs, and enhance tenant experiences.

John Bristow, Vice President for Customer Success, Plentific

We're all familiar with the scenario of selecting technologies that later don't quite meet our needs or trying to leverage technologies that don't integrate together well. Join us for a practical session that looks at how Red Kite Community Housing has gone from agreeing an ambitious digital strategy to procuring its new HMS, using a systematic approach that engaged internal teams and tenants to get the right fit, considered service and technical needs to ensure risks are mitigated and set the foundations for success from the start.

Tim Cowland, Head of Digital, Redkite Community Housing

Over the last 18 months, Riverside has matured its agile digital delivery approach to drive rapid digital transformation. With the ongoing integration of One Housing into Riverside Group, the organisation now manages over 76,000 homes with 5,000 colleagues. Riverside’s digital & technology portfolio approach consolidates delivery teams around entire digital product sets from cradle to grave, resulting in a truly transformational shift to a product-centric DevOps approach.

Alison Stock, Director of Digital & Technology, Riverside Group

Join us to explore Settle’s comprehensive journey in delivering a multi-layered cyber-defence strategy. From aligning with CIS recommendations to achieving Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, discover how strategic product choices, process optimisation and colleague education have revolutionised our security landscape. Learn about the challenges we faced, the solutions we applied, and the steps we took to secure our future.

Melanie Nurse, Assistant Director of IT, Settle Group and Matt Hill, IT Operations Manager, Settle Group

Infrastructure, integration and IoT... This presentation explores how cheap, fast and secure wi-fi infrastructure will be leveraged following the 2027 switch-off of analogue lines. With easy integration for corporate provision and IoT devices such as smart sensors, lift lines, door entry and personal care systems, wi-fi forms the backbone of communication and connectivity. Our presentation will feature Richard Harvey from Housing Solutions who will be talking us through the 10-year story of bringing wifi to over 2,000 homes and the exciting future applications that Housing Solutions has lined up. Housing Solutions embodies the core of our ‘backbone to the future’ message, with Richard having overseen Housing Solutions' digital transformation strategy. We’ll also discuss the implementation of low-cost mobile network IP WAN for outdoor delivery of street furniture and geographically-secure nets. Wi-fi ‘Matters’ – find out how Matter offers a strong alternative to LoRaWAN for IoT devices. This new protocol is backed by the Connective Standards Agency (CSA), formerly the Zigbee alliance, with founder members including Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, Silicon Labs and more.

John Clarke, Founder & Managing Director, Social Telecoms and Richard Harvey, Assistant Director of Digital Transformation & Org. Design, Housing Solutions

This session will show how a good data architecture is imperative to establishing and maintaining confidence in data. If done in the right way, it can provide long-lasting data assurance.

Amramanjari Singh, Director of Data & Business Information, Southern Housing

This workshop examines strategies for addressing legacy system debt and how Torus Housing addressed its legacy systems and technical debt following a merger. It emphasises the importance of establishing solid foundations for digitisation. The discussion includes key principles, prioritisation, phased approaches and the challenges Torus encountered on its journey, along with the solutions it implemented to overcome them.

Kabeer Kaleem, Group Head of IT, Torus Group and Robert Chapman, Applications Manager, Torus Group and Michael Hunter, Service Delivery & Infrastructure Manager, Torus Group

This session provides an insight into how the introduction of a strategic and predictive approach to service delivery can drive transformational change across stock condition, compliance, and risk management. Learn of the key technologies that empower housing providers to readdress the balance between reactive and planned work and introduce the next generation of housing services, that deliver value to providers and customers alike.

David Webb, Managing Director, Totalmobile and Colin Challenger, Manager, Totalmobile

We will explore the critical need for Housing Association compliance and the transformative benefits of integrating Intelligent Document Management Solutions with CoPilot, CRM, and Housing Management systems. By leveraging these technologies, housing associations can streamline operations, enhance compliance, and improve efficiency across various functions, including HR and Finance. Discover how these integrated solutions can empower your organization to achieve greater transparency, accountability, and operational excellence.

Kirsty Marsden, Head of Housing Vertical, TSG

Join Voicescape and BPHA to explore how IT leaders can accelerate AI adoption to boost productivity and resilience across housing operations. Discover the latest advancements in intelligent automation and income analytics technology and learn how to build and execute an AI and Machine Learning strategy that drives meaningful innovation. We’ll share actionable insights and best practices for leveraging rich-data to unlock efficiencies and stay ahead in the evolving housing landscape.

Peter Hudson, Sales Director, Voicescape and Adrian Moore, IT Director, BPHA

WCHG began an ambitious transformation programme in 2022, with an innovative Salesforce solution playing a vital role. Following a successful Salesforce pilot with our customer feedback team in 2023, we delivered our contact centre solution in 2024 (next up: customer self-service, neighbourhoods and assets). This talk will explore our journey so far, from leaving the familiar pastures of housing management software behind to embarking on the Salesforce trail.

Beth Noel, Business Analyst (Innovation Team Lead), Wythenshawe Community Housing, Charlotte Horrocks Project Manager, Wythenshawe Community Housing and Matt Wynne, Programme Manager, Wythenshawe Community Housing

If your organisation is working in the wonderful world of Microsoft Dynamics and Power Platform then this is workshop session is for you. Come along to: share good practices, techniques and approaches; tell the group your ‘battle stories’ and lessons learned; and get help on your tricky Dynamics & Power Platform problems from your peers.

Mark Wheeler, Head of Software Development, Bromford

Synopsis to be confirmed.

Moderator to be confirmed

This workshop will explore why implementing a comprehensive data loss protection strategy is increasingly important. This will be an interactive session, with roundtable discussions covering what data loss protection is, its importance, risks, mitigations and the efficiencies that data loss protection can bring to an organisation.

Citlali Samayoa, Data Governance (Project Manager), NHG, Shae McCalla, Head of Data Governance,NHG and Victoria Lewis, Data Loss Prevention (Project Manager), NHG

Synopsis to be confirmed.

Tamara Fyffe, Director of PMO & Programme, Platform Housing

Have you thought about what makes a great technology team? You should… Just like our customers, technology people are diverse in nature. In this workshop session, we’ll look at technology leadership, focused on supporting neurodiversity. Does fear of change stand in the way, how challenging is it to actually create cultural change, and how do we get the most from our neurodiverse colleagues? We’ll discuss some practical steps.

Douglas Silverstone, Director of Technology, Southern Housing and Elliot Pack, Solution Architect, Southern Housing

This workshop will look at how we can build and extend the technology value chain in social housing through: connectivity, data & computational power (sensors, IoT, cloud, blockchain); human-machine interaction (VR & AR, robots and automation); intelligence (analytics, machine learning & AI); and advanced engineering (3D printing, digital twins & renewable energy). Entirely down to the workshop’s attendees, this is a completely open-floor discussion, seeking to understand where you may have started to reap the benefits of connecting multiple innovative or transformational technologies together or where your plans are headed to achieve this.

Ian Pritchard, Group Head of Infrastructure & Cloud, Sovini Group