About us

Ian is the Founder and CEO of the Disruptive Innovators Network, a forum he established in 2018 for leaders wanting to understand and respond to disruption threats and take advantage of innovation opportunities. He has worked at senior executive level as a Deputy Chief Executive/Director for the last 20 years, most recently at HouseMark the UK social housing sectors data and business improvement organisation. His expertise lies in building cross sector business experience programmes and leaders’ networks. In his work he has developed close partnerships with the likes of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, John Lewis, IKEA, Telefonica, AO.com and BT to name a few.

He led on the establishment of the social housing sectors first crowd funded start up accelerator, Evolve. An innovative programme involving 18 social housing providers which attracted over 80 submissions from start-ups across the world wanting to develop solutions for social housing.

He has a particular focus on business innovation, organisational culture, new technologies and the customer experience. He has extensive relationships with a range of businesses sectors as well as a Directorship with boutique leadership consultancy, Unforgiving Minute, He is an innovation advisor for LMarks a start-up investment accelerator. From a social impact perspective, he also supports Social Enterprise UK. He is currently retained by a number of the largest Housing providers helping them build capacity and capability in the innovation space.

Michelle is responsible for the effective operation of the Disruptive Innovators Network and looks after member relations, marketing and event management.

Having started her career in local government, Michelle has held several senior roles at Director level working across organisations and sectors.

Her focus has been on managing complex change programmes and the customer experience side of operations. This has included running some of the largest leadership events in the sectors, working closely with government and policymakers as well as designing organisation-wide communication strategies.

She is also an experienced network manager and has established, scaled and run several networks from scratch.

Jenny is responsible for the coordination of DIN’s specialist networks PIN (Proptech Innovation Network) and IAN (Intelligent Automation Network) in addition to supporting DINLabs and member relations.

For over 25 years Jenny Danson has been leading transformational change and service improvement in CEO, COO, Executive Director and Programme roles. She has worked for companies of all shapes and sizes, from startups to multinational brands including BAA plc, Boots Opticians, Lovell, Ilke Homes, Fortem, and a number of Councils and Housing Associations

In 2017 Jenny founded Danery, which provides capacity and capability to support organisations in delivering service improvement and transformation and in 2018 joined Ian as an associate with DIN.

Jenny is a qualified executive coach, a NED with Aspire Housing and a strategic advisor to two technology companies.

Helena has versatile skills and experience in both corporate and operational services in the housing sector most recently at Director level in HR, Organisational Design & Development, Transformation Sponsorship, Communications, and Facilities.

She is accomplished in developing and changing organisational culture and alignment to strategy and purpose through new approaches to leadership, effective communications, engagement and collaboration.  A combination that brings about change that people buy into and strengthens business performance. 

Since 2011, Helena has been involved in consultancy assignments predominantly working with global innovation companies supporting agendas around leadership development, cultural change and customer experience across a number of sectors including pharmaceutical, utilities, engineering and hospitality sectors.

Helena’s strength is an ability to bridge the gap between innovation and current reality with capability to present this in an engaging way that stretches thinking and leadership teams about new possibilities and strategic directions.

After a 40+ year career in social housing Matthew is expert in the business of social landlords.  He has direct experience of building new homes, managing and maintaining large property portfolios and securing institutional investment into the sector for organisations based in London, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.   As CEO at Trafford Housing Trust for 14 years, he grew the organisation from its roots within a single Borough to one operating at scale across much of the NW of England.

In parallel with his executive roles within housing associations he has developed non-executive career in education, housing, and entrepreneurial tech companies.

He now works as an advisor at the interface between properties and technology, with experience of how communications infrastructure, devices and data can be integrated to transform the experience of residents and the efficiency of landlords.

Over the last 7 years Caroline has developed a successful consultancy business alongside contributing as a non-executive director to agendas she is am passionate about. 

She has over 30 years ’experience working in the Public Sector, including 15 years working at an executive level. She is passionate about customer service and making a difference and has worked with a variety of partners across her career including working in an advisory capacity to the government and other bodies. 

She has managed a range of complex services and a number of new and innovative service offers have been developed under her leadership, many of which are award winning with tangible outcomes. She has experience of managing significant resources in challenging environments across a range of agendas. She has also led on a number of significant key corporate agendas. 

Her previous employer describes her as 'a consistent top quartile performer, demonstrating passionate, energised leadership, a role model for others and a force for positive change. Caroline brings a different dynamic, she challenges the norm and encourages a greater focus on cultural and values alignment, outcomes monitoring and social impact. Her strengths are many, she has an extraordinary belief in people and their ability to achieve their potential. A supportive leader who is well networked and enjoys challenges and variety'. 

Clients, many repeat, describe enjoying working with her for her refreshing perspective, quality of work and value for money.

Jason has more than 20 years' experience in managing technology and business transformation across numerous sectors including Housing, Financial Services, Retail, and Not for Profit.  He's held permanent, consulting and interim roles at an executive level and driven improvements across people, process and technology.

Within social housing, his experience includes the role of Chief Information Officer at Southern Housing Group where he transformed both the colleague and resident digital experience. During his tenure he delivered key enhancements including an omni-channel servicing platform, a new resident portal and a market-leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. He is currently enjoying a portfolio career and supporting organisations including Saffron Housing Trust as a fractional CIO.

A regular guest speaker and adviser, Jason leverages his multi-sector experience to enable social landlords to deliver strategic change and increase the value they provide to their residents.

Tracey Follows, Founder and CEO Futuremade, is a futurist appearing in a list of the top 50 female futurists in the world in Forbes, regularly commenting on the future of technology, society, and identity. She runs Futuremade - a strategic foresight, and futures consultancy - working with global brands and businesses to help them spot trends, develop foresight, and fully prepare for what comes next. Her clients have included Snapchat, Coca-Cola, PZ Cussons, Tesco, Rentokil, Google, Lego, Diageo, Sky, Farfetch, Conde Nast, Cosette, BT, Telefonica and Virgin. She is also Visiting Professor, Digital Futures & Identity at Staffordshire University. She has spoken at UN HQ, keynoted at events such as the Financial Times Tech Live, Nobel Visions in Moscow and Think With Google, speaking alongside Silicon Valley CEOs at the FT’s Global Boardroom and alongside UK Government and Parliamentarians at Think Digital Identity, delivering her Tedx at UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

As a go-to futurist for media she has appeared on BBC Business Matters, Radio 4, Talk Radio, LBC, and TimesRadio, and GBNews and appeared in FT, Guardian, and the Daily Mail. She has written for the Guardian, the Big Issue, Spiked and more, and has her own contributor column in Forbes, and a monthly column in Management Today. She was an Adage ‘Woman to Watch’ 2017, the Women in Marketing Winner for Outstanding Contribution to Marketing in 2016, she was Inaugural Creative Strategy Jury President at Cannes Lions 2019. She is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists, World Futures Studies Federation, a Fellow of the RSA, and an Associate Fellow of the World Academy of Art & Science. Tracey is the author of 'The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st Century Technology?' and hosts the Future of You podcast exploring personal identity in a digital world.

Kelly is an experienced remote PA and CRM specialist and joined the DIN support service team in March 2021. She is responsible for the maintenance of our CRM system and operational support. Kelly’s key skills lie within her industry and customer service expertise, she is committed to providing clients with expert back office solutions, ensuring to increase productivity, showing efficiencies whilst remaining flexible.