Session overview

From safety and regulation to AI, innovation and operational delivery, the property agenda is becoming more complex. The question is not whether change is coming, but whether property leaders are ready for it.

This is DIN’s flagship property event of the year, bringing together leaders from across the sector for a practical day focused on safety, quality, future readiness, innovation, asset management and delivery at scale.

Across the day, we’ll hear from regulators, housing leaders, legal experts, operational specialists and technology providers, with a strong focus on what is working now, what needs to change and what property teams should be preparing for next.

Key takeaways

Across the day, we’ll explore:

• How data and AI are changing asset management and decision-making — including whether AI can predict repairs and write your asset strategy
• Lessons in logistics from Autoglass - how they have transformed their field operations
• What climate change means for building performance, long-term investment and the people in our homes
• Building safety, beyond the paperwork — what’s actually working, and what isn’t
• How design, technology, collaboration and community thinking are evolving together
• How collaborative procurement — from regional asset mapping to joint frameworks — is already saving housing providers real money
• What Decent Homes 2 and Awaab’s Law mean in practice, where regulatory focus is heading next, and a legal round-up of the issues property teams can’t afford to miss
• What it really takes to move an innovation from pilot to scale

With perspectives from across the sector and beyond — including policy, technology and frontline delivery. We’ll focus on what it takes to move from insight to action.

Host and Speakers

Hosted by Jo Hills, Property Channel Lead, Disruptive Innovators Network.

Opening remarks from:

• Jo Hills, Associate Director, Disruptive Innovators Network
• Claire Carr, Account Manager, Amazon

Speakers across the day include:

• Pete Apps, Contributing Editor, Inside Housing
• Richard Foster, Regulator of Social Housing
• Jonathan Cox, Partner, Anthony Collins Solicitors
• John Palmer, Director of Operations, Building Safety Regulator
• Simon Blake, Autoglass (Belron UK)
• Nick Cleary, Autoglass (Belron UK)
• Greg Robinson, Managing Director, Mears DLO
• Dirk Huibers, CEO, Spotr
• Richard Young, Built Environment Technical Director, Sovereign Network Group
• Leann Hearne, Interim CEO, Switchee
• Christine Paxton, Group Director of Change and Communications, Karbon Homes
• Ryan Dempsey, CEO, The Compliance Workbook

The Reckoning: Safety, quality and a changing climate

Pete Apps, Contributing Editor, Inside Housing

Is property leadership future-ready?

Two short perspectives followed by a live Q&A.

Speakers:

• Richard Foster, Regulator of Social Housing
• Jonathan Cox, Partner, Anthony Collins Solicitors

Panel session: Beyond compliance - is building safety actually working?

Chaired by Pete Apps, Contributing Editor, Inside Housing

Panel members:

• John Palmer, Director of Operations, Building Safety Regulator
• Stephen Flounders, Non-Executive Director, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
• Dr Bola Abisogun OBE, Founder & CEO, Twin-ium (#Project IIRIS)

Innovation showcase challenge

Three presenters. Five minutes each. No slides. Followed by questions and a live audience vote to choose the innovation attendees believe could be most useful to their organisation.

Presenters:

Andrew Fitzpatrick, Director, ArcAirTech - Damp and mould

Fast-acting air systems designed to eliminate up to 99.9% of surface and airborne mould spores.

Luke Bedford, Auro - Building safety and compliance

Auro Door is a smart fire door system that monitors itself 365 days a year, with real-time compliance checks, instant alerts and complete audit trails.

Jeandre Labuschagne, Amazon - Repairs and access

Exploring how smart access can help reduce failed contractor visits, cut key management costs and provide a clearer audit trail of building access.

Fixing It at Scale: What housing can learn

Simon Blake and Nick Cleary, Autoglass (Belron UK)

The Future Asset Manager: How data and AI are changing investment decisions

Speakers:

• Greg Robinson, Managing Director, Mears DLO
• Dirk Huibers, CEO, Spotr
• Richard Young, Built Environment Technical Director, Sovereign Network Group

This session will explore how data, AI and connected asset intelligence are changing the way housing organisations prioritise investment, understand their stock and make longer-term asset decisions.

Panel session: How can we scale up innovation and collaboration in housing?

Panel members:

• Phil Pemberton, Asset Management Consultant - Chair
• Leann Hearne, Interim CEO, Switchee
• Christine Paxton, Group Director of Change and Communications, Karbon Homes and Founding Member of SHINE
• Ryan Dempsey, CEO, The Compliance Workbook

This closing panel will explore what it really takes to move innovation beyond pilots, build stronger collaboration across organisations and turn good ideas into practical, scalable change.

Who should attend?

This event is for anyone leading or responsible for property, asset management, compliance, repairs, safety or innovation in social housing, including:

• CEOs
• Executive Directors
• Heads of Assets and Repairs
• Building Safety and Compliance Leads
• Property and Operations Leaders
• Innovation and Transformation Teams

Attendance is free as part of your DIN membership subscription.

Important notice

Attendance is free as part of your DIN membership subscription. However, due to an increasing number of no-shows without apologies, there will be a charge of £199 + VAT for anyone who books and does not attend on the day.