The Housing Innovation Show

On the 12th and 13th of February I am excited to be hosting the Business Operations Stage at the Housing Innovation show by Housing Digital in Birmingham, where we have some excellent speakers and sessions over the two days. One of four great stages, each with a fantastic array of sessions, you are absolutely spoilt for choice.

The overall agenda has now been released and you can see it here.

I wanted to give you a run through of the the Business Operations Stage, but at the same time encourage you to check out the other excellent stages of:

• Main stage - Hosted by my good pal Ian Wright of the Disruptive Innovators Network
• Customer Engagement Stage?- Hosted by Amanda Leonard from PERFECTSTORM.INC LTD
• PropTech Stage?- Hosted by Stewart Davison MSc from Elehan Consulting

So, to the Business Operations Stage,

11am

Panel: Business Improvement - Embedding a Culture of Innovation

Chloe Marsh, Director of Culture, Strategy, & Transformation, RHP Group

Steve Key, Innovation Manager, Believe Housing

Jo Leckie, Chief Executive, Big Picture Training

Andrew Buckels, Housing Sector Specialist, Waterstons

This session will explore how organisations can drive continuous business improvement by fostering a culture that prioritises innovation, creativity, and adaptability. Our panellists, featuring pioneers from leading housing associations, technology providers, and consultancy firms, will share their experiences, challenges, and successes in implementing innovative practices that enhance operational efficiency, employee satisfaction, and long-term sustainability.

11:45am

Presentation: Empowering Housing Associations with Intelligent Document Management Solutions

Kirsty Marsden, Head of Housing Vertical, TSG

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 organisation to achieve greater transparency, accountability, and operational excellence.

12:30pm

Presentation: How to use IT to revolutionise your business, and how to do it now!

Alan Swift, MD and Founder, Manifest Software Solutions

Business functions need to take control. Everybody talks about how IT needs to be used more effectively to deliver better, more cost-effective services. But what does that really mean?Alan will present how business functions can define what they want so that they get immediate benefits. Integration, automation and AI are now core functions, no longer are they specialist IT projects. Decide what you want to do and go and make it happen! Here's how.

2pm

Presentation: Helping Social Housing providers to reap the benefits of GIS across all business functions.

Rick Thompson, Director of Operations, ODCGIS Ltd

ODCGIS is an innovative GIS Service company having worked with over 100 Social Housing Providers across the UK.

Currently 55 HA’s benefit from ODCGIS’ niche Managed Service that gives access to a GIS officer every working day providing support, maintaining data, running analysis on their data and much more.

With a managed service package organisations can either have their own GIS systems in-house or ODCGIS can provide a low-cost GIS web mapping solution (GISMO).

2:45pm

Presentation: Securing the Future – The role of Cybersecurity in Housing Innovation

Colin Lock,?Cybersecurity Business Manager, Ricoh UK

Social housing organisations encounter unique cybersecurity challenges related to tenant data, smart building systems, and online services. This session will address specific risks and solutions for securing sensitive information and protecting vulnerable populations. Attendees will learn practical strategies to safeguard digital infrastructures, prevent cyber-attacks, and ensure compliance, empowering them to protect tenants and assets in today’s connected world.

3:30pm

Panel: Navigating the New Procurement Regulations

This seminar offers an in-depth exploration of the latest procurement regulations impacting the social housing sector. Designed for housing professionals, procurement specialists, and legal advisors, the session will provide practical insights into compliance, strategic implementation, and maximizing value for money under the new regulatory framework.Key topics include:- An overview of the changes to procurement regulations and their implications for social housing providers.- Strategies for aligning procurement practices with regulatory requirements while fostering innovation and sustaina

11:15am

Panel: A Business Case for Digital Transformation

James Kent, Chief Innovation Officer, National Residential Landlords Association

Lisa Murray, Director, The Change Agents

Sean Lawless, Director of Insight and Transformation, North Star Housing Group

This session is designed to give an over-arching exploration of the profound impact of digital solutions on housing management, delivery, and tenant engagement with panellists from both the public and private sectors

12pm

Presentation: How To Survive The Worst Day: Building Ransomware Resilience For Housing Associations

Andrew Grant,?Sales Director, BullWall

Join Andrew to discover how you can effectively stop ransomware after it has bypassed your preventive security measures and started encrypting your files.

We'll delve into the real-time processes of automatically detecting and isolating ransomware, minimizing data loss to just a few files and ensuring your critical infrastructure remains unaffected—even in the worst-case scenario.

12:45pm

Presentation: Top 5 Things to Consider Before You Start a Digital Transformation Project

Dave Tillen, Business Development Manager, Xledger

Stephen Bromley, Consultant, Bromley Consultancy Services

What do you need to know before embarking on a digital transformation project?

Dave Tillen and Stephen Bromley discuss the key points every Housing Association should tackle before any other decisions are made.

Listen to the common challenges that trip up Housing Associations and what you can do to mitigate them, how to prepare your team and the wider business for the upcoming changes, and understand your options when it comes to integrating essential systems.

2:15pm

Panel: Innovation in Housing Finance

Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing, Octopus Real Estate

Shannon Ledbetter, Director & Founder, Housing People, Building Communities

Arun Poobalasingam, Chief Partnerships Officer, The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC)

How innovative financial solutions can enhance affordability, sustainability and improve access to housing.

3:45pm

LIVE Cyber Hack – Lessons to learn in Cyber Security

Miguel Marques, Offensive Security Team Leader, Quorum Cyber

Stuart Kelly, Account Manager,?Quorum Cyber

Cybercriminals have marked the housing association sector as an easy target, due to their relatively lower levels of budget provision towards IT security, housing associations are perceived to have weak cyber security defences.

In this live cyber hack demonstration, not only will Quorum Cyber show you how easy this is, but they will give you real practice takeaways of how to prevent this happening in your organisation.

A very useful seminar, that goes beyond the theory, with actionable insights in the realm of Cyber Security.

I'm going to enjoy hosting this lot, and can't wait.

If you have not registered, then all I can do is encourage you to do so, and see you there, if not at my stage, then at coffee, lunch or at the innovation awards.