CHC Annual Conference 2025 | Ch-ch-ch-changes: Social housing in a time of paradigm shifts

We are living in a time of what feels like unprecedented change, be it social, political, economic or cultural. These shifts are being acutely felt across the housing association sector, whether in the building of new homes or delivering vital services for tenants.

This conference brings together leaders from across the housing sector and beyond to ask - how can we adapt to change to deliver for tenants and communities?

Together we will explore a range of complex issues facing housing leaders, from the increasingly commonplace use of AI; the knotty subject of tenant engagement in an era of disinformation; to the potentially momentous 2026 Senedd election on the horizon.

We all know that good housing is at the heart of communities and families across the country. Embracing and responding to change is in our DNA. Join us as we explore how the sector's culture of excellence provides the ideal springboard for innovation in this time of paradigm shifts.

Who is the conference for?

This event is designed for leaders within the housing sector in Wales, as well as their partners and wider stakeholders.

Tuesday 18th November

8.30am Registration, networking breakfast and exhibition viewing

8.45am CHC’s Annual General Meeting

9.45am Introduction to Day 1 - Sian Lloyd

9.55am Opening speech - Stuart Ropke, Chief Executive, CHC

10.15am Keynote - Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

10.40am - Panel - Perspectives on placemaking: How can housing support thriving communities through regeneration, innovation and collaboration?

11.20am Refreshments, networking and exhibition viewing

11.55am Panel - Housing Across the UK Nations: Policy, Power and Change

A new UK Government is reshaping priorities in Westminster, while political shifts in Wales and Scotland could yet redefine devolved housing ambitions.

Amid tight budgets, growing housing demand and political uncertainty, this session explores how the housing sectors in each nation are adapting, influencing and leading through change.

In conversation with:

• Kate Henderson, NHF

• Richard Meade, SFHA
  

• Stuart Ropke, CHC

12.40pm Lunch, networking and exhibition viewing

1.40pm Workshops

1) Behavioural change and leadership
Jemma Maclean, Insight HRC

2) What is on young people’s minds? A fresh perspective
Deio Owen, NUS Cymru

3) The power of food: How housing and food can work together
Ed Hughes, ClwydAlyn

4) Pathway to Board - How it works and why it matters

2.40pm Refreshments, networking and exhibition viewing

3.05pm Workshops

1) The future of Ethical AI - What are the opportunities for HAs in AI now and looking into the future, and how can we ensure it remains ethical?
Jon Cocker, Platform Housing

2) In their own words
Tenants tell us about the power of housing in their lives, and TPAS gives us an overview of what they are hearing from tenants across Wales

3) Funding a greener future - Taking an outcomes based approach to designing and funding retrofit
James Williams, Sero

4) Change management
Hugh James

4.15pm Keynote - Vicky Spratt

4.45pm - Reflections on Day 1

5pm - Drinks reception

Wednesday 19th November

8.45am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing

9.50am - Introduction to Day 2 - Sian Lloyd

10.10am - Keynote: The political environment and a look ahead to the elections in 2026

with Dr Jac Larner, Cardiff University

10.40am - Panel - The year ahead - what to watch out for: a dive into the political, social and economic shifts we can expect in the year ahead.

Confirmed panellists:

• Dr Jac Larner, Cardiff University

• Steffan Evans, Bevan Foundation

• Nerys Evans, Cavendish

11.10am - Refreshments, networking and exhibition viewing

11.50am - Workshops

1) The route to decarbonisation - Where are we and what is needed to go further?

2) Mergers

3) Sensitively dealing with misinformation - a toolkit for engagement

Catherine Evans, Trivallis

4) The Tai ar y Cyd project
Steve Cranston

An opportunity to hear about Tai ar y Cyd – an ambitious collaboration of 25 Welsh social landlords. They have co created a pattern book and performance spec with their members and supply chain, and landlords have started to prototype the use of these Tai ar y Cyd resources. Partnerships with this ambition and scale are quite rare in Wales, so come to this session and hear about progress, what challenges they are facing and what the future looks like.

1.00pm Keynote (TBC)

1.30pm Panel - Breaking down barriers, building trust: What can housing associations learn from other sectors and parts of the UK?

In conversation with:

• Bill Rowlands, Ending Youth Homelessness Cymru

• Leah Morantz, Public Health Wales

• Catherine Evans, Trivallis

• Matt Batten, Bangor Diocese

14.00pm Reflections on Day 2

14.10pm Lunch, networking and exhibition viewing

15.00pm Conference close