NHMF
Maintenance
Conference
Timetable

Monday 19 January 2026

10:00
Pre-conference Social Housing Charity Golf Day (Welcombe Golf Club, Stratford-upon-Avon)

This is a great opportunity for those of you attending the conference to meet up, network and play golf in readiness for what looks like is going to be a great conference.

Spaces are limited so register early via the link below:

 Social Housing Golf Society Sign-Up 2026

Speakers:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody

Chair:
Chris Ewart , Chief Executive Officer, Build Recruitment
15:00
Conference Registration Opens (Reception)
18:00
Award Nominees Group Photos (The Ante Room)

Chair:
AnneMarie Dames, Content Creator, M3
19:15
Pre-Awards Dinner Drinks Reception (Exhibition Hall)
20:00
25th Anniversary NHMF Best Practice Awards Dinner – including 25-year celebration & live Delegates’ Choice vote (Ballroom)
Speakers:
Sameena Ali-Khan , News Anchor at ITV and Event Host
22:00
Networking Time (Exhibition Hall)
22:00
Karaoke (Seymour Room)

Tuesday 20 January 2026

07:00
Early Morning Run (Reception)
Speakers:
Paul Maghie , Director of Business Growth, Wates

Chair:
Felicity Newman , Operational Strategy Director, Aster Group
08:45
NHMF AGM (Seymour room)

Chair:
Ben Virgo , NHMF Secretary | Strategic Partnerships & Operations Director, M3
09:00
Registration Opens (Reception)
09:30
Welcome (Ballroom)

Chair:
Stephanie Lloyd-Foxe , NHMF Group Board Chair | Head of Building Safety and Compliance, Magna HA
09:45
Plenary 1: Keeping Warm Homes Healthy: How to avoid unhealthy retrofit (Ballroom)

With the focus on net zero and retrofit, it is essential the sector ensures retrofitted homes work for their residents to keep them healthy. This session will showcase the latest research from Transforming Homes. The new HEARTH & INHABIT research programmes will be examining risks to health from the internal environment, especially overheating retrofitted homes. Next stage with Transforming Homes. 
 

Speakers:
Professor Rajat Gupta , Professor of Sustainable Architecture and Climate Change, Director of OISD and LCB Group, Oxford Brookes University
Jo Patterson , Director of Research, Cardiff University

Chair:
Andrew Burke , Deputy Secretary, Adviser to NHMF
11:00
Plenary 2: Keeping Homes Safe: Learning, Improving and Leading Beyond Grenfell (Ballroom)

The Grenfell Tower tragedy exposed profound failures in housing, safety, and governance, reminding us of that residents’ voices and human life must always come first. In this session, journalist Kate Lamble from BBC Grenfell series [Grenfell: Building a Disaster] will reflect on what Grenfell revealed about our systems, culture, and accountability. Together they explore how we can embed lasting change — prioritising safety over cost, ensuring transparency at every level, and building systems that learn before, not after, disaster strikes.

Speakers:
Kate Lamble , Freelance Producer and Presenter
Neil Yeomans , Customer and Building Safety Consultant

Chair:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody
12:00
Speakers
Nic Bliss , Campaign Director
Pam Hankinson , Housing association tenant Yorkshire
Sarah Jane Gay , Head of Building and Fire Safety Programmes, National Housing Federation

Chair:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody
Speakers

Chair:
Felicity Newman , Operational Strategy Director, Aster Group
13:45
Plenary 3: Making sure homes are healthy for your residents (Ballroom)

Under Awaab's Law landlords are required to ensure their homes can protect the health of their tenants. Nadhia Khan will share what RBH has learnt from this tragedy and how they have changed their service to customers. The Ombudsman will illustrate how the sector has improved its performance and highlight areas that still need to be addressed. 

Speakers:
Nadhia Khan , Executive Director of Customer and Community, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
Chris Harrison , Insight and Systemic Lead, Housing Ombudsman
Eve Blezard , Policy Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing

Chair:
Tessa Barraclough , Director of Asset Strategy and Delivery (interim), The Riverside Group
14:45
Speakers
Michael Pierri, Business Development Manager, Kenwood Damp Proofing Ltd
Jake Clarke, CEO, Kenwood Damp Proofing Ltd
Samantha Alleyne, Head of Business Development & Major Bids, Anglian Building Products
Danny Bird, Interim Assistant Director of Regulated Delivery, Aster Group

Chair:
Tessa Barraclough , Director of Asset Strategy and Delivery (interim), The Riverside Group
Speakers
Joanne Scarlett , Head of Assets (Business Management & Repairs), Riverside Group
Amanda Trent , Repairs Manager -Asset Strategy and Delivery, The Riverside Group

Chair:
Julian Ransom , NHMF Management Team | Director, iON Consultants
15:50
Plenary 4: Breaking Down Barriers to Apprenticeships (Ballroom)

The social housing (and construction) sectors face a critical skills shortage, with thousands of apprenticeship applications each year but only a fraction of places available. The sector as a whole needs about 280,000 apprentices, but only around 20,000 are being filled each year to replace those retiring. Plus, there is typically a 20–40% drop-out rate in apprenticeship programs.  

Despite high demand, sector-wide barriers, such as limited capacity, retention challenges, and fragmented approaches, are preventing us from unlocking the full potential of apprenticeships. This session aims to move beyond discussion and catalyse real action. 

16:30
Speakers
Kevin Garvey , Head of Member Relations, National Housing Federation

Chair:
Julian Ransom , NHMF Management Team | Director, iON Consultants
Speakers
Lee Maskell , Equity Partner, Faithorn Farrell Timms

Chair:
Mike Turner , Executive Director of Cardo Group, Abbeyfield Living Society and Orbit Housing Association
19:00
Networking Dinner (Riverside Restaurant)
20:30
Networking Event (Ballroom)

Chair:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody
22:00
Networking Time (Exhibition Hall)
22:00
Karaoke (Seymour Room)

Wednesday 21 January 2026

09:00
Registration Opens (Reception)
09:30
Plenary 6: Financing & Delivering Net Zero at Scale (Ballroom)

With only 27% of government-funded retrofit projects completed, this session explores why progress towards net zero in housing remains slow — and what can be done to change that. It will be discussed how the sector can overcome barriers in funding, delivery, and capacity to achieve large-scale, sustainable retrofit programmes. Drawing on real-world examples and emerging finance models, the session will focus on practical strategies to mobilise investment, strengthen partnerships, and deliver retrofit projects at the scale needed to meet national net zero ambitions.


Chair:
Andrew Burke , Deputy Secretary, Adviser to NHMF
10:15
Refreshments and Networking (Exhibition Hall)
10:45
Speakers
Jenny Danson , CEO, Healthy Homes Hub
Phillipe Demoughin , Property Innovation Manager, Bromford Group
Rosie Hughes , Business Development Manager, MCP Property Services
Ettan Bazil , Chief Executive Officer, Trade Innovations Ltd.

Chair:
Amy Boothman , Sales & Marketing Director, Ian Williams
11:30
Frameworx - 3 Years on (Ballroom)

A brief overview of what's been happening within Frameworx, future plans and how to be involved.

Speakers:
Paul Smith , Head of Frameworx, NHMF Frameworx
David Miller , Director, NHMF Frameworx

Chair:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody
12:00
Study Tour 2026 Hague Announcement (Ballroom)

We’re pleased to announce that the NHMF Study Tour 2026 will take place in The Hague, Netherlands. The tour will provide delegates with the opportunity to explore innovative approaches to housing management, asset sustainability, and retrofit delivery within a European context.

Participants will visit leading housing organisations, regeneration projects, and sustainable housing developments to gain valuable insights into how The Hague is addressing challenges such as decarbonisation, resident engagement, and long-term asset planning.

Further details, including dates, itinerary, and booking information, will be shared

Speakers:
Eve Blezard , Policy Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing

Chair:
Julian Ransom , NHMF Management Team | Director, iON Consultants
12:15
Plenary 7: Tech in Practice - Berlin 2025 Case Study (Ballroom)

This session will showcase insights from the Berlin 2025 Tech in Practice study, exploring how innovative digital tools and data-driven technologies are transforming housing management and maintenance. The case study highlights real-world examples from Berlin, where technology is being used to enhance asset performance, improve resident experience, and support sustainability goals.

Delegates will gain practical takeaways on how similar approaches can be applied within UK housing organisations to drive efficiency and innovation.

Speakers:
Mike Turner , Executive Director of Cardo Group, Abbeyfield Living Society and Orbit Housing Association

Chair:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody
13:00
Lunch and Networking (Exhibition Hall)
13:45
Plenary 8: Looking Ahead: The Future of Safe, Warm & Healthy Homes (Ballroom)
Speakers:
Neil Watts , NHMF Management Team Chair | Group Director of Asset Compliance & Building Safety | Property Services, Peabody

Chair:
Amy Boothman , Sales & Marketing Director, Ian Williams
14:15
Closing Address (Ballroom)

Chair:
Stephanie Lloyd-Foxe , NHMF Group Board Chair | Head of Building Safety and Compliance, Magna HA
14:30
Networking
15:00
Close
Our mission statement

The centre of excellence for improving property performance

The NHMF is the leading body representing housing providers, committed to championing innovation to deliver excellence in maintenance and asset management