Housing Leadership Evolution

We would like to invite you to our upcoming breakfast event:

Housing: THE LEADERSHIP EVOLUTION

White paper launch: key findings from conducting assessments and interviews with leaders in the first wave of C1/G1 organisations
CIH reflections on leadership evolution and an update on the Conduct and Competency standard
Rich panel debate with sector leaders (see speakers below)
Practical leadership workshop (including online attendees)

WHEN:

4 June, 2026

In person: 9.30 for breakfast until 12.30 (including tour of PfP Thrive)

Online: 10 until 12 noon

LOCATION:

PfP Thrive Academy
Centro Place
Derby
DE24 8RF

If you can't join us in person, please join us online.

About the event

A moment of change. A room of leaders. A conversation that will define what comes next in the future of housing leadership.

On 4 June, in partnership with CIH and PfP Thrive, we will unveil Housing: The Leadership Evolution, a new White Paper exploring some of the major leadership shifts needed in a sector facing unprecedented transformation.

The research draws on insight gained from conducting psychometric assessments and interviewing CEOs and senior leaders from some of the highest‑graded (C1/G1) housing organisations and local authorities across the UK, capturing the leadership behaviours, capabilities, and mindsets that are making a tangible difference today and may be critical for tomorrow.

This event brings together those shaping the sector’s direction now, alongside the leaders who will take it forward. Through an expert panel and peer discussion, we’ll explore what the findings mean in practice—and how organisations can turn insight into action.

Featuring perspectives from:

Sarah Dunkerley - Director of Membership and Professional Development at CIH
Jonathan Cowie - CEO at Plymouth Community Homes
Kelly Deane - Director of Housing and Public Protection at BCP Council
Tom Arey - Director at PFP Thrive
Lisa Wallis - Corporate Director of People and Culture at WHG
Jane Porter - NED and Advisor at Platform Housing Group and Citra Pathways
Lubna Haq - Director in Leadership Consulting at NSCG

What's in it For you?

Lead the conversation

Be among the first to engage with evidence that challenges and resets expectations of leadership across housing, grounded in organisations consistently demonstrating strong governance, culture, and performance.

Shape what comes next

Contribute to a strategic, peer‑level discussion with leaders who are actively redefining capability, culture, and leadership standards within their organisations.

Inspire future leaders

Offer emerging leaders a rare opportunity to learn directly from senior influencers, hear fresh thinking and connect with peers from across the UK.

Turn insight into action

Share your perspective on what the research means on the ground: the opportunities ahead, the leadership gaps to address and the capabilities the sector must build next.

About the speakers

Jonathan Cowie, ceo - pLYMOUTH COMMUNITY HOMES

SARAH DUNKERLEY, Director of membership & professional development - CIH

As a service professional, Jonathan has led transformational change in the international telecoms, utilities and housing sectors. He has been CEO at Plymouth Community Homes since September 2023. Prior to this, Jonathan was COO at VIVID, Sovereign Housing, Chief Executive at City West Homes and is also a non-executive director for the Institute of Customer Service.

With 20 years in the private sector, he was a director at Cable and Wireless, responsible for 3,000 corporate customers across the UK, Europe and Asia, and held senior roles working in customer service with BT, AXA and United Utilities. Passionate about ensuring customers are the heart of decision making in any organisation and wants this to have greater emphasis at board level. Jonathan is a regular speaker on supporting the raising of service standards across the UK.

Sarah Dunkerley CIHM has been the Director of Membership and Professional Development at the Chartered Institute of Housing since April 2019. With a passion for vocational education and professional development, throughout her career Sarah has been involved in delivering, developing and quality assuring qualifications and standards across a range of occupational areas – from energy efficiency to procurement and supply.

Prior to joining CIH, Sarah held various roles in the further education, awarding and professional body sector, always striving to achieve valuable opportunities for individuals to improve and progress in their career.

KELLY DEANE, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING & PUBLIC PROTECTION - BCP COUNCIL

tom AREY, MANAGING DIRECTOR - PFP THRIVE

As Director of Housing & Public Protection for BCP Council, Kelly Deane is recognised for strategic leadership in both local and broader housing contexts. Her commitment to advancing and influencing housing leadership extends beyond her council role, drawing on experience as a member of the Association of Directors of Housing Leadership Board.

Kelly’s expertise has contributed to positive inspection outcomes and the development of innovative approaches to meeting housing need and tackling homelessness.

Tom Arey is the Managing Director of PfP Thrive an organisation delivering comprehensive, bespoke training programmes for the UK housing and construction sectors. PfP Thrive provides compliance training, apprenticeships, and leadership development to meet the sector’s evolving workforce needs.

Part of Places for People, PfP Thrive is equipping the housing sector with the skills and expertise required for a sustainable future. Having started his career as an apprentice, Tom has spent nearly a decade focused on developing training solutions for the housing industry, and in 2025, he established PfP Thrive to bring that vision to life.

lISA wALLIS, cORPORATE DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND cULTURE -whg

JANE PORTER, ADVISOR & ned

Lisa joined whg’s Executive Team in July 2022 with 25 years’ experience across varying sectors including the NHS, Construction and Financial Services.

Lisa provides leadership support and HR operational guidance to the People and Learning & Development Team, EDI Colleagues and Facilities management, ensuring that we recruit and support colleagues via learning and development experiences. Lisa is passionate about inclusion for all ensuring that we listen to the experiences of our colleagues and use the learning to develop improved people services.

Throughout Lisa’s career she has influenced organisations through organisational design and development ensuring they continue to develop and grow their colleagues in preparedness for the workforces of the future.

Jane is a housing consultant and an experienced Non Executive Director. She recently retired as Chief Operating Officer at Southern Housing. Throughout her career, she has held senior executive roles in housing management, asset management, development and home ownership.

Jane has been a member of a number of Government and RSH steering groups and sounding boards, influencing Fire Safety guidance and TSM. She is passionate about delivering excellent customer services and is an advocate of resident engagement ensuring the ‘lived voice’ is influencing at every table.

LUBNA HAQ, DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP cONSULTING - nscg

Lubna Haq is a Director in NSCG’s leadership consulting practice, working across regulated and public‑facing sectors on leadership effectiveness, organisational design and culture. She advises boards and executive teams on strengthening decision‑making and leadership capability in complex, high‑pressure environments.

She brings deep expertise in leadership assessment, executive coaching and inclusive leadership development, with experience spanning public sector, health and other regulated contexts. Lubna is increasingly focused on the housing sector and has led the NSCG research into future leadership challenges in housing, including the capabilities required to lead under regulatory scrutiny and rising expectations.