NI Federation of Housing Associations Annual Conference

This year's conference returns to the beautiful seaside venue of Slieve Donard, Newcastle, Co. Down, at the foot of the Mourne Mountains.

BOOK HERE

Keynote presentations and panel discussions include:

- Keynote Address: Ian Snowden, Director of Housing, Policy and Performance, Department for Communities

- Getting Ready For Universal Credit: The Challenges for Landlords - Helen McLaughlin, River Clyde Homes; The Challenges for Tenants - Rhiannon Sims, Citizens Advice Scotland; Overview of Universal Credit - Paul Armstrong, NIFHA

- Where From Here for Supporting People: Providing the Best Possible Health and Social Care for Vulnerable People - Maurice O'Kane, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; How Supporting People is Affecting Delivery on the Ground - Fiona McAnespie, Radius Housing; Impact of Supporting People on Homelessness - Ricky Rowledge, CHNI

- Leading Growth & Excellence - Ruth Cooke, Midland Heart

- Developing New Homes in Times of Uncertainty: Tom Barclay (Wheatley Housing Group, Carol McTaggart (Clanmil Housing) and Mark Currie (Donaghmore Construction)

- Transformation in Practice to Meet the Challenges Ahead: The Digital Evolution in Housing - David Maginnes, Novosco; The Changing Face of PR and Communications in Housing - Katie Doran, Lanyon Communications

- Housing Safety, Accountability and Regulation: Local experiences following Grenfell Tower tragedy, common problems encountered - Geoff Somerville, NIFRS; How do we ensure we have effective tenant and community engagement where we listen, not hear - John Giesen, TPAS; Social Landlord Responsibilities: What Board Members Need to Know - Michael Barnett, Grant Thornton

- Destitute Asylum Seekers and Housing Associations: What Are We Allowed to Do? - Andrew McCracken, Community Foundation

- Where to for the Next Three Years for Housing Associations? - Ben Collins, NIFHA

Guest speaker at our Conference Dinner on Thursday night is Nikki Bradley, an inspiring young woman who, despite being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer at age 16 and undergoing two hip replacement operations by the age of 26, has founded a charity and undertaken some astonishing challenges. Nikki has climbed an Icelandic glacier and a mountain in Donegal, abeiled down a lighthouse, attempted a Guinness World Record, and completed a gruelling 24km trek across the Brecon Beacons, all on crutches. She will give a talk about "Overcoming Adversity".