Effectiveness, diversity, accountability: Looking further ahead in my first year as NHF chair

As chair of the National Housing Federation, I want to help housing associations to make a difference – to support you to balance competing priorities and make the difficult decisions as you deliver your social purpose.

In 2023 our collective challenges will be around providing enough new homes, making existing homes as sustainable, safe and high quality as possible, and navigating new legislation within a turbulent political landscape. A big focus for the next year will be implanting the recommendations from the Better Social Housing Review, to drive improvements in the quality of housing association homes.

I have been speaking with sector leaders about what support they need, what they want to hear more about and how the NHF can make a difference. I am sure there is much to be gained by sharing our expertise in governance and reflecting on how we can maximise impact. As a small contribution to this I will be blogging throughout my time as chair, focusing initially on:

• The hallmarks of effective boards.
• Increasing board diversity.
• How to create the right balance between challenge and support.
• The multiple dimensions of accountability.

Over the next few years, housing associations will face unprecedented challenges. Everyone at NHF is committed to helping you to navigate these with confidence and hope.

As we say goodbye to 2022, I want you to know how honoured I feel to have joined a sector which has so much heart, and which fights for a cause which is so close to mine. For everyone who lives in housing association homes, and all those who benefit from their role in their communities, I want to say thank you, and I wish you all a very happy new year.