Members only

Housing organisations continue to grapple with strategic risks stemming from a competitive labour market and a scarcity of specialised skills, posing significant hurdles in the recruitment and retention of talent.

Join our panel of expert speakers to gain their insights and engage in the discussion.

We’ll cover:

• What makes organisational culture crucial and how can we cultivate and facilitate a positive work culture?
• In what ways can Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies act as impactful tools for both recruitment and retention?
• How can we integrate skills development seamlessly into our employer value proposition?

Essential for:

• HR teams
• Managers, supervisors and team leaders
• Those involved in recruitment and retention of staff.

Jane Atherton, Orgnanisational Development Consultant, Hooga Consulting

Jane is an experienced Organisational Development (OD) professional. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, she has a proven track record in senior roles delivering strategic OD and HR. She is passionate about all things employee engagement and is proud to have supported businesses to achieve top spots in The Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For, along with National Training Awards and Investors in People. She became an independent consultant in 2018, runs her own business called Hooga Consulting. She is also Chair at Ashton Pioneer Homes in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

David Gibson, Head of Department, Burnetts

David Gibson trained as a solicitor and worked in London advising a range of clients from major trade unions to leading media organisations. David relocated to the North East and joined Burnetts as Head of Department in 2021 leading the team in the North West and North East. David has a keen interest in the changing nature of the relationship between work providers and work deliverers and is of the view that the traditional employer-employee relationship is becoming redundant. Consequently he has extensive experience in how companies can organise workforces to ensure remote working and homeworking can work effectively.

David has over the years developed a considerable expertise on other key inter-related areas such as social media and GDPR. This has included rolling out training and support to the sector issues and drafting relevant policies and procedures.

Debi Marriott-Lavery, Chief Executive, Magenta Living

Debi joined Magenta Living in November 2022. Based in the Wirral, Magenta Living are currently responsible for just under 13,000 homes, around 25,000 customers and 600 colleagues. Magenta are Wirral’s largest social landlord with homes across the peninsula as well as in Cheshire.

Debi is the former Group Executive Director of Affordable Housing at Places for People, a role she held from July 2019 to November 2022 where she was responsible for over 100,000 customers and 2,000 colleagues.

Debi has held a number of senior housing management roles. Originally joining the Places for People group in 2015 and soon becoming Chief Executive of Living Plus – the group’s specialist supported housing provider; delivering all round accommodation, care and support to help customers with complex needs live independent fulfilling lives. Debi spearheaded the need for supported services alongside good housing in a ‘more than just a roof’ approach. Debi is extremely people focussed, placing customers and communities at the heart of her approach.

Debi now has over 20 years’ experience working at a senior level in the Health, Social Care and Housing markets, strategically leading teams and businesses to provide innovative high-quality services in diverse and challenging markets for both public, independent and not for profit sectors. Debi’s former roles include that of Managing Director Community Services, Care UK and Chief Operating Officer at Anchor Trust. Prior to housing, Debi spent a decade in health and social care as a qualified healthcare professional.

Winner of the 2021 Inspiring Professional of the Year Award and the 2023 Inspiring Leaders Award, Debi is also a keen amateur artist in her spare time.

Trevor Smith, Director GEM Programme, Centre for Partnership

If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

Cancellations must be made in writing, and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited