Louise is the Head of User Journey for UnLtd, a foundation that finds, funds and supports social entrepreneurs with over 15 years in the sector supporting and appraising social business’. Louise is now responsible for the organisations strategy to deliver market-leading through continuous improvement focussed on equitable award making, inclusive practice and improving user experience. She also runs a consultancy on service design and innovation practice working with housing partners. Her previous work and board appointments include working in homelessness in charitable and local authority settings and on the board of housing association and local authority. Louise is passionate about inclusive practice, trauma-informed approaches and amplifying the voices of those who are most marginalised by society.
Darren has more than 20 years’ experience in B2B marketing of IT products and services and specialises in helping SME develop and grow their businesses. He is currently Head of Marketing for Syscomm, a Managed Services IT company in Coventry. Prior to that he was working as a Visiting Lecturer at Birmingham City University, teaching Strategy, Marketing, and Leadership courses at Undergraduate and Master’s level. He is an entrepreneur, opening a small chain of coffee shops across Worcestershire. He is also Chair of Radio Lollipop Birmingham. Originally from Canada, Darren came to undertake a MBA at the London Business School, plays ice hockey, and occasionally manages to pluck a few notes on his double bass
Information coming soon.
Vicky Hines is CEO of One Walsall, an infrastructure organisation supporting voluntary and community sector organisations across the Borough of Walsall. One Walsall helps new and existing organisations across the sector to build skills and capacity, develop their volunteering provision, access funding and to channel concerns from the sector with key partners & stakeholders. The work also involves developing effective partnerships and opportunities to collaborate.
She has worked across the West Midlands, starting her career at Wolverhampton City Council in the mid-1990s. She then worked across Worcestershire as an Investment & Regeneration Manager at Homes England previously the Homes & Communities Agency.
For the last decade, Vicky has worked at Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless people and was the Strategic Lead for Birmingham, West Midlands. She has coordinated advice and support services, serving vulnerable clients experiencing poor housing, homelessness, debt, poor health and other challenges over the last 6 years.
Rashid works as a Senior Commissioning Officer for Birmingham City Council and specialises in regeneration, environmental protection and the strategic commissioning and delivery of services and projects to vulnerable communities. He was the Strategic lead for developing four local district housing plans in Birmingham and has been responsible for managing local and European wide projects supporting the reduction of homelessness and environmental objectives. Rashid joined Spring to serve the goals of the organisation in providing good quality, affordable decent homes to vulnerable communities in housing need.
Matthew Baird is the Founder of The Social Housing Round Table, has been an independent Social Housing Recruiter for over a decade, and is actively involved in Social Housing in the role of Chair of the Birmingham-based Supported Exempt Accommodation Forum.
He set up his own business in February 2021 having got frustrated with recruitment being solely about money for agencies. During a recent piece of work, he was coined “The Ethical Recruiter” and it’s a mantra he takes very seriously when aiding with roles from Officer to senior Executive.
The Social Housing Round Table is a free, weekly, online discussion platform. Topics have been wide and ranging, from the effect that mergers are having on customer service, through whether there is a glass ceiling for people of colour in Social Housing right over to a debate into whether Social Housing needs a mandatory qualification – and everything in between.
Matt has a heartfelt passion for Social Housing and the supported housing sector in particular so is really looking forward to being part of the Spring journey over the next few years
Hannah has worked in the commercial property industry for 16 years, moving to a non-equity director level at the age of 30 and moving on to set up Pi SQ, an independent commercial furniture consultancy in 2020.
From the age of 28 Hannah began to involve herself in voluntary committee and or board member roles within areas she felt passionate about such as homelessness & inclusivity.
Hannah’s other voluntary roles include Diversity & Inclusion trustee for the well-known charity LoveBrum. Hannah was also the Vice-chair of a young professional board, and is currently the incoming Chair for the Association of Women in Property for the Midlands & involved in various activities for Lets Feed Brum, a small volunteer-led charity.
.Hannah is very passionate about social mobility and having a fair society for all and is looking forward to using her understanding and knowledge in this area to help Spring as it navigates its way through an increasingly challenging time for all.
Ben has more than 16 years’ experience working in the housing and not-for-profit sector, beginning his career as a Project Worker supporting individuals exiting the criminal justice system.
Ben spent the last 10 years as a Senior Leader, delivering specialised Support and Housing services across England to a wide range of vulnerable client groups at risk of homelessness. Ben was Director of Housing at St Basils, working in partnership with local authorities and commissioning bodies across the Midlands to develop sustainable housing pathways for young people that shifts delivery beyond crisis intervention, towards upstream, preventative services.
Ben is now Director of Operations for GreenSquareAccord that recently completed a merger to form 25,000-home housing and care organisation
Natalie is a Partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, specialising in property finance securitisation for registered providers within the social housing sector. She has worked within this sector for the past 15 years and brings experience of advising RP’s on treasury strategy, understanding funder requirements and maximising the value of social housing assets as well as an excellent understanding of the regulatory sphere in which housing providers operate.
Natalie also volunteers as a mentor for the social mobility fund mentoring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain skills and contacts to help them achieve professional qualifications.
Information coming soon.
Jen has more than 14 years’ experience working in the housing and not-for-project sector, the past seven years as a senior leader, delivering complex housing and support services nationally.
Jen was the National Head of Housing & Support at the national charity, Centrepoint, where she led a large team based across London, Yorkshire, Manchester and the North-East. During her ten years with the organisation, she worked collaboratively with colleagues and commissioners to deliver an ambitious growth strategy whilst maintaining a focus on delivering high quality, outcomes focused services to young people affected by homelessness.
Jen took up a position of Head of Service for Trent & Dove Housing in 2022 and is now a Head of Service at Birmingham City Council for Temporary Accommodation.
Chartered professional, with over 20 years’ experience within the Asset Management/Property Management sector. Qualified to ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management, proficient in asset management and associated disciplines including asset optimisation/portfolio management, capital investment projects, contract management, building safety, environment, repairs, maintenance and facilities management (FM).
A Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Building Surveying/Construction Management from Coventry University.
24th October 2023
11th September 2023
14th August 2023