Governance conference: a virtual view

I recently attended the NHF’s virtual Housing Governance Conference and was impressed with the immersive and engaging experience I had. There was a range of multi-media tools such as virtual exhibition stands and roundtable discussions – alongside a range of seminars to keep me busy throughout the day.

As a young graduate who has recently moved into a professional governance role in social housing, this event provided key insights into important current events in the wider sector. There were also informative discussions on how housing associations and other providers can use their governance structures to drive organisations forward.

I was a little apprehensive before the event as I worried that the new virtual format would feel bizarre, however the entire day was seamless and I felt involved throughout, with guest speakers taking the time to answer all the questions I posted in the seminar chats and discussion boards. The day kicked off with opening remarks from Zoe Ollerearnshaw and an update from Fiona Macgregor, Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing. Afterwards, there was a very topical seminar which addressed the changing ways of working we have all seen over recent months.

After this, I had an opportunity to choose between a range of seminars based on what I found most interesting. I decided to join sessions on ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ and ‘The Company Secretary as the Agent of Change’. Both seminars were really informative, and I was impressed by how engaging the presenters were. The latter provided detailed advice and words of wisdom for aspiring governance professionals in the Q&A section.

Overall, I found this to be a really rewarding experience and I would definitely be interested in attending similar NHF events in the future, either remotely or in person. It gave me a chance to connect with my peers in the sector and push myself in terms of understanding my role and the work that I do day-to-day. I will be sure to use what I have learned in this event to improve my own approach to governance.