Section: People in Housing
HCA Appoints Experts to Advise on Key Areas
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) created two groups to advise it on its strategy regarding 'equality and diversity' and issues relating to 'vulnerable and older people'.
Members of the Equality and Diversity Advisory Group will advise the HCA on specific issues relating to black and minority ethnic communities, disability, gender, religion and belief, sexuality and age.
The group will also work with the HCA to support the delivery of its vision for diversity and respond to current and emerging equality and diversity challenges.
The members of this group are:
- Dorian Leatham (Chair) - former CEO of London Borough of Hillingdon and Chair of the Nottingham City Housing Strategic Partnership Board.
- Professor Peter Roberts OBE - HCA Board member, Chair of the HCA Academy and Professor of Sustainable Spatial Development at the University of Leeds.
- Laura Willoughby MBE - elected member in the London Borough of Islington, Improvement and Development Agency Diversity Peer, previously Chair of the Equalities Executive at the Local Government Association.
- Vijay Asi - an original member of the Housing Corporation BME National Advisory Group and Managing Director of Asra Midlands Housing Association, part of Sanctuary Group.
- Kate Still - Head of Social Investment and Enterprise at Richmond Housing Partnership, previously Non-executive Director of Guinness Trust South East. Now working as an independent equality advisor to RDAs.
- Bob Green - CEO of Stonewall Housing Association and a member of the GLA Equality and Diversity standing group.
- Sarfraz Hussain - Projects Director with Housing Associations' Charitable Trust. Former Director of Blue Mountain Housing Association, Non Executive Director, Equality lead and Vice Chair of NHS Stoke-on-Trent.
- Aniekan Umoren - current Chair of the BME Forum, an organisation that develops BME leadership in the Housing Sector and Managing Director, South, of Places for People Group.
- Ruth Davison - Director of Campaigns and Neighbourhoods at the NHF, previously Director of Communications and Public and Patient Involvement at Beds & Herts SHA.
- Rt Revd David Walker - Bishop of Dudley in the Diocese of Worcester, Chair of HACT and CHADD, a church based special needs housing association. Regional Executive of the NHF and member of Boards at National Level.
Part of the remit of the Equality and Diversity Advisory Group will be to input into the HCA's Single Equality Scheme, which includes an action plan of the Agency's vision for the delivery of equality, diversity and cohesion for the next two years.
The Vulnerable and Older People Advisory Group will advise and assist the HCA to deliver its ambitions to address the needs of vulnerable and older people through its policies and programmes.
Members will provide expert advice on relevant issues including specialist housing development, best practice, planning and changing markets in housing for vulnerable and older people.
The members of this group are:
- Chris Holmes CBE (Chair) - former Director of Shelter and previously a Board member of the Housing Corporation.
- Shaukat Moledina - HCA Board Member.
- Jeremy Porteus - National Programme Lead: Networks, Putting People First, Department of Health.
- Victoria Stark - Chief Executive of Look Ahead Housing and Care Ltd.
- Helen Williams - Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods, the NHF.
- Kevin Beirne - Group Director of Housing Care & Support at One Housing Group.
- Peter Molyneux - Chair of NHS Kensington & Chelsea.
- John Penton MBE - Design Consultant/Architect at Penton, Smart & Grimwade.
- Vic Rayner - Chief Executive of Sitra.
- Paul Watson MBE - Managing Director of Guinness Care & Support.
- Sue Adams - Co-chair of HOPDEV (Housing and Older People Development Group) the Government advisory committee on housing for older people. Also Chief Executive of Care & Repair England.
- Andrew van Doorn - Projects Director at the Housing Associations' Charitable Trust (HACT).
- Ian Laight - Development Director of Oakbridge Retirement Villages.
- Tony Hood - former Director for Adults and Communities at Kirklees Council.
