Session overview

For a housing CEO, building strong external relationships and communicating effectively go hand in hand. What you say, how you listen and when you choose to engage can shape trust, influence understanding and build support for the communities you serve.

In this second session of the Shift Programme, Aileen Evans OBE and Eddie Hughes bring perspectives from housing leadership and Parliament to explore how CEOs can build effective relationships with MPs, communicate organisational priorities and navigate challenge and disagreement.

The session will look at how to establish trust before you urgently need it, move conversations beyond individual casework towards shared priorities, and maintain productive relationships when your organisation is under pressure.

For newer and aspiring CEOs, it is an opportunity to think more strategically about their role as a public voice for the organisation and how strong relationships can support both organisational purpose and delivery.

Key takeaways

By attending this session, participants will:

• Understand what MPs and housing CEOs need from each other and where misunderstandings can arise
• Explore how to establish useful relationships before a complaint or crisis brings you together
• Gain practical ideas for communicating organisational priorities and difficult decisions clearly
• Consider how to move conversations from individual casework towards shared priorities for residents and communities
• Build confidence in handling challenge, disagreement and public criticism
• Explore how to maintain effective relationships across political differences and changes in people or circumstances
• Consider when the CEO should be personally involved in external relationships
• Identify one practical action to strengthen an existing relationship or begin a new one

About the speakers

Aileen Evans OBE

Aileen is the former Chief Executive of Grand Union Housing Group and a former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing. A co-founder of the SHOUT campaign for social housing, she has worked with government departments to influence housing policy.

She brings extensive experience of organisational leadership, campaigning and making the case for social housing.

Eddie Hughes

Eddie is a former MP for Walsall North and former Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing. His experience also includes local government and work with YMCA Birmingham.

He brings insight into housing from both within the sector and from the perspective of an elected representative and government minister.

Who should attend?

This session is designed for:

• Senior leaders in social housing aspiring to a CEO role
• Leaders actively considering their next step into chief executive leadership
• New and relatively new housing CEOs
• CEOs who are newer to the social housing sector

It will be particularly useful for leaders looking to strengthen their confidence in external relationships, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement.

Joining information

Your joining link will be sent via Eventbrite 7 days before the session, and you will also receive a reminder from events@dinetwork.co.uk approximately 2 hours before the session.

Sessions are recorded where possible; however, slides and presentation materials are not guaranteed to be shared afterwards.

If you have any questions about the event or your booking, please contact events@dinetwork.co.uk.