Moreen coordinates HDN’s board member programmes and delivers special projects when required. The connection between how and who gets recruited, their performance and the quality of customer and community engagement, holds a deep professional interest for Moreen. She has had a varied career in business support services, local government housing and the social enterprise and community sectors. Moreen is on the board of three housing associations herself and is also a mentor for board trainees.

If there is one thing that Sarah always spearheads, it’s making sure that everyone feels they can use their voice without fear, favour, or judgement. Next to that is her commitment to helping others make change happen by acting based on what they hear from those voices. With a career that started in the private sector, her leadership roles, coaching of other leaders, consultancy across sectors, and auditing practice for all shapes and sizes of organisations, Sarah has navigated many working environments and cultures. Some focused on justice and belonging, while others would have benefitted from the help she offers today. She has helped shape culture, strategy, practice, performance, and working environments across hundreds of organisations. Her ability to engage, understand, and influence leaders, staff, and tenants, and to build confidence and skills in them, is key to their feeling part of the journey of change as they look to create safe spaces in which they constructively challenge each other on how fair, accessible, and truly inclusive they are. As the founder of Embed, Sarah also brings Embed’s auditing and specialist portfolio to HDN’s clients, helping you to ensure the working and customer environments are within accessible buildings or locations, have accessible websites and communications, and policies and processes underpin them that help organisations to live and breathe a culture of fairness and inclusion.

Shazad is the current Chair of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and formerly Deputy Chair of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, where he led the CQC Board Assurance Committee following their CQC inspection. He has also been a Non-Executive Director (NED) at neighbouring mental health and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust since December 2018, where he was the Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee and Board lead for EDI. Shazad was most recently appointed as NED on the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board in February 2022 - chairing both the Remuneration Committee and the People Committee, along with being the board’s lead for net zero. Shazad is an Independent Member of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Audit Committee and a Lay Member of the Lord Chancellor’s Magistrates Advisory Committee for Cumbria and Lancashire. He was a NED at Together Housing Group from 2021-2022 and is now a member of the Risk Management and Audit Committee there. He is also Managing Director of Msingi Research, a niche consultancy that has undertaken work for various private and public sector organisations in areas of policy analysis, strategic planning and performance, EDI, affordable housing and integrating health systems. He has worked with BBC, ITV Granada, British Army, NHS and local government on EDI issues - specifically in diversifying boards. Shazad brings wealth of experience in corporate governance, EDI, community engagement, performance and risk management. He is an advocate of asset based community development and is passionate about making sure that services are informed by service users and quality and compassion sits at the heart of everything we do.

Sarah is an authentic and passionate disability awareness trainer, helping business create inclusive spaces for disabled people. She is also a public speaker on disability and inclusion and bases her work on her lived experiences of working and living with her disability of profound deafness. She also helps deliver training for a number of training organisations and is a consultant to deaf charities in the UK. Subjects covered: Disability awareness in the organisation, tailored to where organisations are on their disability and inclusion journey Bespoke training covering specific subjects including Understanding ableism and challenging your bias Your legal responsibilities and duties including disability discrimination  Making reasonable adjustments  Inclusive language and accessible communication Everyday inclusive behaviours and allyship  Deaf awareness and how to best work with a deaf employee/tenant/customer 

Zara Mohammed is a recognised voice on equality, diversity, and inclusion in British civil society. She made history as the first woman to serve as Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, where she championed greater representation and built stronger connections between communities and institutions. Today, Zara brings this leadership experience into the housing sector, supporting housing associations and networks to become more inclusive, responsive, and equitable. She delivers Equality Impact Assessments, helping organisations work towards reducing inequality, identify barriers, and develop practical strategies that set a benchmark for best practice. Her work ensures that housing providers can better reflect and meet the needs of diverse communities. Her training programmes on Islam Awareness and tackling Islamophobia have been widely commended for being practical, engaging, and solutions-focused. Zara works closely with leadership teams and staff to build confidence in addressing discrimination and to strengthen community connections. She is especially passionate about supporting the inclusion of women, helping organisations remove barriers to access and participation, and creating opportunities for women’s leadership within housing and beyond. Practical, collaborative, and impact-driven, Zara is known for her ability to translate equality and inclusion into meaningful action. She combines strategic insight with hands-on experience, helping leaders and staff embed diversity into their everyday work. Her mission is to support organisations in building stronger networks, more inclusive services, and a fairer society. Go-to areas of expertise: • Equality Impact Assessments for housing associations and networks. • Diversity and inclusion strategies, with a focus on faith, culture and gender. • Islam Awareness and Islamophobia training for housing and community contexts. • Supporting women’s inclusion by addressing barriers to access. • Building stronger community engagement and collaboration.

Sarah Parr is an Executive Coach based in the North West of England who works with seasoned leaders and teams who want to grow, reach their goals, and maintain long-term success. With over 20 years of experience leading and advising businesses across commercial, public, and third sectors, she brings a blend of business acumen and coaching expertise. Sarah's career includes ten years at EY (Ernst & Young), working in audit and corporate finance roles, followed by time as part of the leadership team at a fast-growing tech business—remaining through a Private Equity buy-out and working within a small management team to drive transformative growth. Her consultancy experience spans governance, strategy, and organisational development and she also has broad Non-Executive experience within the housing sector.  As a Chartered Accountant with EMCC accreditation as a Team Coach and ILM Level 7 certification in Executive Coaching, she understands finance, the numbers, the commerciality, and—crucially—the people. At the heart of Sarah's coaching and facilitation philosophy is the belief that clients already have the answers. She's there to listen, ask insightful questions, and use her broad experience to challenge thinking in a way that feels supportive yet stretching. Her personal values of curiosity, compassion, and inclusion shine through in her work, and she finds she works best with people who are curious, open, and want more for themselves, their team, and their business. Sarah is also a Mental Health First Aider, enabling her to offer a holistic approach to coaching that supports clients' wellbeing alongside their professional development. Go-To person for: Executive Coaching for Senior Leaders, including non-executives - a thinking partner to help navigate complexities of the role and support confident, effective decision making Team Development - using team coaching to develop high-performing, resilient teams that are aligned to the vision of the organisation Facilitation & Workshop Design - creating and delivering bespoke workshops that drive engagement, actionable outcomes, and measurable results

Edith (she/her) is the founder of ECS Consulting Ltd, a dynamic consultancy driving Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) within the Housing sector. She currently serves as Interim Director at Leadership 2025 and as an Associate Consultant with Housing Diversity Network (HDN), bringing strategic insight and hands-on expertise to these influential roles. Drawing on extensive experience across the housing, mental health, and private sectors, Edith has worked with reputable organisations including the Housing Quality Network (HQN) and the University of Oxford. She also partners with housing associations and local authorities across the UK to support marginalised and racialised communities, advancing her mission to champion equity and inclusion for all. Through her consultancy and advisory work, Edith helps organisations build inclusive cultures and deliver fair, meaningful outcomes for the communities they serve. Can support with: Delivering tailored EDI strategies for systemic change, inclusive hiring, and inclusive policies/practices. Bespoke EDI Training: Customised programmes and workshops for staff, leadership, and tenant groups, plus EQIA training to embed inclusive practices and decision-making. Conducting in-depth reviews of organisational policies and practices, including tenant focus groups, to ensure lived experience informs outcomes and clear action plans drive meaningful progress. Strategic guidance for senior leaders and boards on embedding EDI into organisational culture and decision-making. Providing advocacy and guidance for fair, equitable outcomes for marginalised and racialised communities.

I’m a values-driven leader who’s passionate about making a real difference in people’s lives — especially through better housing, health, and community services. I work with organisations to put people and communities at the heart of what they do, focusing on equality, wellbeing, and long-term impact. I’ve held a mix of executive and non-executive roles across housing associations, the NHS, local authorities, charities and social enterprises. I’ve led national programmes, chaired boards, supported emerging leaders, and helped teams make links between services to improve lives. My work is all about collaboration — bringing people together around shared goals, building on strengths, and making sure different voices are heard. Through my work on  strategy, leadership, coaching, community engagement, or developing partnerships, I always keep values, inclusion, and innovation at the centre. In addition to my role at HDN, I am a Board Member and Chair Elect at Syncora, part of the Calico Group, and Deputy Chair at East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. I’ve previously led Housing Diversity Network, worked at Shelter, The National Housing Federation, and delivered projects that bring housing and health closer together. Come to me for ·      Strategy Development and implementation ·      Governance and Leadership ·      Collaborative projects ·      Coaching and Mentoring

Anne-Marie specialises in coaching and mentoring in the Diversity and Inclusion space, bringing over 20 years of experience in a variety of organisations and sectors, including housing, transport, legal, criminal justice, media, the NHS, education, central and local government. Recent examples include: working with a Head of School in an International School supporting them to develop strategic thinking on issues around Race in response to the death of George Floyd and the global reaction which had negative impacts on both staff and students; working with middle managers in a large Transport organisation as part of an award winning Equality, Diversity & Inclusion culture change programme, coaching manager’s on an individual basis to explore where they were in their thinking and practice on EDI issues. Once they had attended a two-day residential workshop there was then a follow-up coaching session to review what actions they had implemented; coaching a number of individual managers around different work challenges and supporting them to identify effective solutions; developing a year-long mentoring programme for an organisation wanting to offer internships to black, brown and other minority groups who might not have thought about or had opportunities to work in such an organisation; working with the Senior Leadership Team of an Arts & Heritage organisation to assist them in developing a ‘coaching culture’ which will support the organisation’s commitment to anti-racism and ensuring they are vigilant against all forms of bias and discrimination. Anne-Marie recognises that coaching and mentoring, if managed strategically, can enhance organisational performance and empower employees to flourish and grow.

Mick is a Board Member with Steve Biko Housing Association, a BAME provider based in Liverpool and has extensive social housing experience, with a background in auditing and roles in the Housing Corporation, Tenant Standards Authority, and Homes and Communities Agency. Mick led on the establishment of the Regulator of Social Housing at an officer level then served as Director of Finance, Corporate Services, and later Special Projects until 2020. Now he works as a consultant working with registered providers on financial viability, governance, risk, assurance and regulatory compliance.

Julia has worked in the housing and regeneration sectors for over 35 years. She brings experience of organisational and people management and development from her various roles, including her most recent role as CEO of York Housing Association, where she also gained experience of mergers and collaborative partnerships. She has served on housing association Boards for over 15 years, including as a regulatory appointee to a BAME Housing Association supporting it back into compliance; and a Local Authority during its stock transfer. She also currently sits on a London based ‘for-profit’ HA board where she Chairs the Governance and Compliance Committee; and is a Board Governor at York College and University Centre where she Chairs the Audit Committee. The Top 3-5 things I could be a go-to person for would include: Undertaking bespoke EDI consultancy projects Organisational EDI Health Checks Undertaking Diversity Network Accreditations (DNA;’s) Supporting housing organisations and individuals participating in the Board Trainee Programmes

Kush May-Chahal is Director of Training Services at Stop Hate UK and an HDN Associate. Kush is a researcher, trainer and an active knowledge exchange advocate. His work particularly focuses on victims' experiences, responses by support services and capacity building practitioners (in housing, police, education, voluntary and community-based services) to respond from a trauma informed/victim's perspective. His research on racist victimisation/hate crime has spanned over 30 years working at a local, national and international level. Kush's published work includes 'Supporting Victims of Hate Crime - A Practitioner Guide'.

Sarah is a professionally accredited Level 5 Leadership Coach (EMCC) and a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Step I and Step II practitioner, with a passion for empowering individuals to lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. With over 10 years of experience in the Housing Sector working in Human Resources, Sarah has a strong background in leadership development and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Her journey into coaching was shaped by both personal insight and professional experience, fuelling her commitment to supporting individuals, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential. Sarah’s coaching style is grounded in empathy, active listening, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by professionals today. She creates a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, respected, and inspired to grow. Through honest dialogue, reflective practice, and practical strategies, Sarah helps clients develop authentic leadership styles that align with their values and drive meaningful results. Whether it is navigating change, stepping into a leadership role, or striving to build confidence and clarity, Sarah offers coaching that’s both transformational and actionable.

Kam has 20 years’ experience championing and supporting inclusion in different sectors. She has worked for disability and domestic abuse organisations in research, training, and outreach roles, and later spent 12 years delivering and managing mentoring programmes for social housing providers nationally. Kam is currently a Board Member at MSV Housing and SYHA, is an Advisor & Assessor for the National Centre for Diversity and a Mentor and Associate with Housing Diversity Network – which means working with a range of people and organisations from different areas. Kam enjoys working in areas where she feels she can make a difference to places of work and communities – bringing out the best in and connecting people. As a mother of two, living in a diverse local community Kam appreciates the value of safe, secure, and affordable housing and how it can impact positively on communities and the health, education, and life chances for individuals.

My journey to becoming an inclusive trainer, facilitator, and coach was significantly influenced by my experience living and working in rural Kenya. There, I trained a team of local individuals to become HIV Peer Educators. Working within a cultural context so different from my own gave me a deeper awareness of my own privilege and motivated me to intentionally integrate principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of my work. My experience at Oxfam GB was another significant influence on my approach to training and enabling others. During this period, I developed a structured skill set, including qualifying as a Time to Think Facilitator and applying these techniques to facilitating numerous away days, strategy sessions, change management workshops, and project reviews. Additionally, I attained my first coaching qualification and served as an in-house trainer for the organisation-wide programme - Inclusive Management Development. This programme incorporated elements of feminist leadership and anti-racism in its content. Not long after leaving Oxfam I joined Salvation Army Homes as their Learning and Development Partner. Whilst in this role I sat on the EDI strategy group and delivered inclusive management and leadership training, wellbeing initiatives and led the design and delivery of neuro-inclusive workshops and a Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group. Additionally, I collaborated with Stonewall Housing to develop bespoke LGBTQ+ training modules. Over the past five years I have been developing my freelance consulting practice. This has included obtaining a coaching diploma and EMCC accreditation, and most recently co-founding the Women’s Coaching Collective. I have facilitated numerous away days, events, workshops, and meetings and delivered training on topics such as inclusive leadership and management, neuro-inclusion, and inclusive facilitation techniques. My clients have included the DEC, Alzheimer’s Society, Oxfam International, WWF, Voiceability. More information can be found on my website: https://www.facilitatewithempathy.co.uk I would be a good go-to person for – Facilitation If you are seeking a skilled facilitator for events such as workshops, away days, strategy sessions then I offer expert design and delivery that prioritizes inclusion, active engagement, and strategic thinking. I utilize a variety of techniques to accommodate diverse preferences, ensuring all participants can contribute effectively. My approach is responsive to emerging themes, employing methods that enable efficient and focused exploration of questions or rapid ideation when needed. Bespoke Training For tailored training programs, I offer sessions on topics including inclusive management and leadership, facilitation skills, coaching techniques, neurodiversity, and neuro-inclusion. A recent client shared the following feedback: "Esme recently ran a really thought-provoking workshop on exploring neurodiversity with my team.  She has such a calm, considered and inclusive approach and there were lots of lightbulb moments in the session for all of us as well as some really practical things to consider.” Coaching If you are interested in coaching for staff at any level within your organization, I am a qualified executive coach with EMCC accreditation. My coaching philosophy is rooted in calmness, kindness, and empathy, fostering trust and strong connections early in the relationship. I find that integrating challenge within this foundation, feels empowering rather than intimidating for my coachees. Train the Trainer If your goal is to develop internal capacity for inclusive practices, I can provide training and mentorship to equip your team members with skills to facilitate more inclusive meetings and group discussions through a train-the-trainer approach.

Beverley has worked for over 30 years in the areas of Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Disabilities, Coaching and Personal Development. Beverley is a qualified Myer Briggs Type Indicator, Strengthscope and NLP, PTLLS practitioner. Beverley has worked in and with the civil service and the housing sector; supporting them in meeting their Diversity and Inclusion strategies as a consultant and coaching their managers and employees. Beverley has been running her own management consultancy practise for over 12 years, where her interest is to work with people to discover strategies to answer such questions as: • How do I deal with impostor syndrome? • How do I raise my profile? • How to keep motivated? • What does it take to get promoted within the culture of this organisation? She uses various tools with her passion to listen, to provide you with the opportunity to focus on your strengths, achievements and moving to your next steps. Beverley believes it is important to lead by example in both her private and professional life to understand how having a growth mindset effects your performance. Beverley enjoys travelling and delights in supporting you on your journey to THRIVE and INSPIRE others.

Joanne is the Founder and CEO of SEE Change Happen, and a passionate advocate for building inclusive workplaces. As an Inclusive Culture Consultant and International Keynote Speaker, Joanne brings warmth, authenticity, and lived experience to her work—helping organisations create environments where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. Her journey as a transgender woman adds a deeply personal dimension to her mission, allowing her to connect with audiences and teams in a way that’s both meaningful and inspiring. Why work with Joanne? If you're looking to move beyond tick-box diversity initiatives and create lasting, people-centered change, Joanne offers a refreshing and practical approach. She works closely with HR, Talent Acquisition, and L&D professionals to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion into the everyday culture of organisations—making it real, sustainable, and impactful. A journey of change Joanne’s career path is a testament to resilience and reinvention. From serving in the Royal Air Force to running a successful IT business, she eventually followed her passion into the world of people and culture. Her guiding principle—“Smile | Engage | Educate”—reflects her belief in the power of empathy, connection, and continuous learning. Recognised and respected Joanne is a Fellow of both the Professional Speaking Association UK&I and the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals. Her work has been featured in Channel 4’s documentary The Making of Me, and she hosts the Inclusion Bites podcast. She’s also contributed her time as a Trustee for akt, the LGBT+ youth homelessness charity. Speaking that moves people Joanne’s keynotes are heartfelt, engaging, and thought-provoking. Whether she’s speaking at a global conference or an intimate team event, she helps audiences reflect, challenge assumptions, and take meaningful steps toward inclusion. Her talks often explore themes like imposter syndrome, unconscious bias, and the importance of belonging. If you're ready to take the next step in your inclusion journey, Joanne would love to be part of it. Her blend of expertise, empathy, and lived experience makes her a trusted partner for organisations looking to make a genuine difference.

Debbie is a facilitator and qualified Executive Coach specialising in coaching, away day facilitation, strategy development, bespoke training, and neurodiversity awareness. With over 15 years in social housing and charity leadership, she has delivered large-scale transformation projects, embedded genuine resident involvement, and championed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, achieving Leaders in Diversity accreditation.  As a coach, Debbie supports people in career transition, helping them overcome barriers, build credibility, and influence in new roles and works with leaders to increase self-awareness, harness the diverse strengths of their teams, deal with conflict, and adapt their style for greater impact.  She designs workshops that are engaging and transformative, creating safe, trust-building spaces where attendees share experiences, shift mindsets, and explore concepts using tools like LEGO® Serious Play®, turning insight into behaviour change and practical actions that deliver organisational goals.  Debbie also serves as Chair of Trustees for Caudwell Youth and is an Independent Customer Services Committee Member for Hexagon Housing. Go to person for: coaching away day facilitation strategy development  bespoke training  neurodiversity awareness

Kami Nuttall has over 20 years’ experience working with a diverse range and size of organisations. Part of her work has involved designing and delivering training on specialist subjects. The last ten years has seen Kami develop her specialist knowledge on corporate culture, from auditing to transformation, she helps organisations develop and align psychological safety and inclusive cultures. Kami is Chair of RoSA, a Warwickshire based charity dedicated to supporting survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse and Assault. She's also a Trustee with HEART Academy Trust, and a Chartered Internal Auditor. With a passion for learning, she's working towards Level 5 Psychotherapy and Counselling.

John is an accomplished leader in resident engagement and experience, with extensive expertise in shaping strategies that amplify tenant voices and deliver measurable improvements in satisfaction. Drawing on over a decade of experience in housing, inclusion, and community engagement, John partners with housing providers to design and implement innovative solutions that put residents at the heart of decision-making. John’s experience includes leading engagement initiatives for more than 30,000 tenants and leaseholders for a nationwide housing association. During his tenure, he developed and implemented a Resident Engagement Strategy that significantly improved satisfaction levels, achieving 86% in 2023 and 90% in 2024. He also introduced a Resident Wellbeing Strategy, addressing critical issues such as mental health, social inclusion, and digital inequality, and launched the Helping Hands project, a £400,000 initiative providing hardship support, community funds, and tenancy sustainment programs. John’s approach combines strategic vision with practical delivery. He established multiple resident forums - covering extra care, retirement living, and key themes like equality, diversity, and sustainability - creating a network of 300 active resident members and embedding their voices within organisational governance. His work is underpinned by data-driven insights, including quarterly engagement reports and large-scale perception surveys to inform priorities and regulatory compliance. Before moving into consultancy, John also held roles as Respect and Inclusion Lead at Housing 21 and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Partner at the General Dental Council, where he developed strategies to embed inclusive practices and foster equitable environments. His early career includes operational leadership in employability services for people with disabilities at ENABLE Scotland. John holds a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management and is trained in change management, leadership, and mental health first aid. Today, as a freelance consultant, he helps organisations strengthen resident engagement, enhance wellbeing, and build inclusive communities.

Anil holds a CMI Level 7 qualification and is an EMCC Professional member. Anil is professionally qualified and has over 25 years' experience in Learning and Development. He is passionate about the inclusive development of people and organisational performance. Has successfully initiated, implemented and measured people development projects, with cross sector experience including working in matrix and complex organisational structures. He is a proactive influencer within senior teams and stakeholder's groups across organisations to enable and embed learning and development strategies. Examples of successes include culture change, leadership and management development, compliance regulation learning, and customer service programmes; as well as frameworks for talent management, behaviours, performance appraisals and EDIB. Anil says... “Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is very important to me. I am grateful to every coaching opportunity that I have had, they have helped me to make my practice closer and reflective of D&I practice, both in my mindset and actions/language. I have been coaching using a D&I lens, consciously and unconsciously for over 12 years now. I am humbled to know that every experience I go through will help me to make the next one even more rewarding and helpful for my coachees”.

Jane Atherton is an Executive Coach, Coach Supervisor and Organisational Development specialist. She established her Organisational Development practice in 2018 after almost thirty years working at a senior level in the social housing sector. Jane is a qualified coach and holds a Post Graduate degree in Coaching Supervision. She is a qualified Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strengthscope practitioner and uses these to support the people she coaches. Today, Jane works inside and outside of the housing sector, coaching individuals and teams to help them to raise understanding and awareness, working towards achievement of their goals.

Aubrey is a qualified coach and Learning and Development professional with a background in Organisational Development and a reputation as an insightful, collaborative, passionate and inspiring coach, and consultant. He has worked across a wide range of business sectors, becoming experienced in coaching leaders and potential leaders to people who are looking for coaching to support their personal development. Aubrey’s career journey as a coach and L&D professional over the last 18 years has taken him into the following business sectors: housing sector, public sector, financial services, investment and retail banking, global management consulting, food retail, energy services and more. Aubrey has a people focused approach to delivery. He has experience of working vertically within large and small organisations and enjoys collaborating closely with clients at organisation, team and individual level. Aubrey’s coaching style is to work towards creating a safe space/platform. He will use a vast array of tools and techniques to support his coaching practice. He will challenge and support to enable a reset or reframe a belief that might be hindering a person from fulfilling that unforeseen potential. Aubrey holds an Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching, CIPD Post Graduate Degree in Human Resource Management, Psychometric Level A and B Accredited Practitioner, CIPD Certificate in Training and Development and is an IBM-Kenexa Leadership accredited facilitator – High Performance Behaviour for Leaders. He is also a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Sue is a learning and development specialist with over 20 years’ experience in needs analysis, course design and delivery and a background in HR Management. Her passion is designing and facilitating high quality, enjoyable and inclusive workshops that support, coach and challenge the learner. A strong advocate for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Sue has designed and delivered EDI training for British Airways, NHS Financial Services and a number of housing associations throughout the UK – including being instrumental in rolling out EDI training for Weaver Vale Housing from the Board to all staff members, workforce-wide training for Muir Group, and facilitating several away days and training interventions for Arches Housing. Sue has established excellent relationships with a range of EDI professionals within the social housing sector to share best practice and to continue to challenge herself. Sue's mentoring work witih HDN in the North West led to successfully winning the CIPD Award for Best Coaching & Mentoring Initiative in 2016. Sue works across several sectors and has a special interest in social housing. Degree educated in Languages & Politics, she also has a range of professional qualifications to support her work - including Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ), British Psychological Society Level A and Level B, Emotional Intelligence Diagnostic (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory), CIPD Certificate in Training Practice, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Business Practitioner, ILM and CMI accredited trainer.

Lisa Vine is an LGBT+ Advocate, Consultant and Trainer based in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Supporting public, private and third sector organisations as they strive for LGBT+ inclusion, Lisa has six years of direct experience supporting trans and non-binary people and the wider LGBT+ communities, through 1-1s and advocacy services. Lisa has also developed and delivered LGBT+ inclusion training sessions and workshops to over 2000 professionals from a variety of backgrounds; including for those from the housing, nuclear and wedding industries and those in frontline services including police officers, midwives, nurses, GPs, teachers and counsellors, to name a few. Lisa’s breadth of experience also enables her to offer consultancy services and she regularly supports organisations with the development of inclusive policies and procedures, in particular relating to working inclusively with and for trans and non-binary colleagues and clients. Furthermore, Lisa works with organisations to complete LGBT+ Inclusivity Assessments, which may include confidential staff surveys, assessment of existing systems and infrastructures and the organisation’s online presence. This enables Lisa to provide a comprehensive report, detailing where an organisation is, in terms of their LGBT+ inclusivity, and includes a short, medium and long-term strategy for improvement. Described as a ‘one woman powerhouse’ on local BBC radio, Lisa’s proudest achievements are winning Leicester Pride’s ‘Unsung Hero’ Award and being referred to as the ‘fairy trans mother’ on national television by a group of young people she had supported and advocated for. When she’s not doing all things LGBT+ inclusion, Lisa can be found in a pub or cafe after a long walk with a hot drink and a good book or a puzzle book! In the summer months she can often be found in a tent, after a day of exploring the countryside.

Colin is a skilled facilitator who has been working in the field of diversity, inclusion, and leadership for over 20 years. His passion for leadership and diversity arises from both his own experience and from a belief that improving leadership and diversity practice in organisations is vital to improving people’s lives. I also train facilitators in facilitation and group dynamics. “My clients say that it is less the answers I give that are important to them, and more the questions I ask that get them to think and come up with their own solutions – giving them more insight into what is going on in their teams and organisations, and for them personally as well.” Colin has worked with organsiations in the public, private and third sectors and with people from Boards to people working directly within communities. Some of the sectors he has worked in include housing, arts, higher education, local authorities and government.

Shruti Bhargava is one of our most experienced facilitators who can work with you to design and facilitate an event tailored to your needs. As a former Chair who herself commissioned and worked with facilitators to co-design away days for her Board, Shruti is uniquely placed to understand what Boards and leadership teams need from their away days. Shruti is known in housing for being a strong advocate of social purpose, race equality, lived experience, and championing the voices of the most marginalised. Her past work also includes training and facilitation with tenants’ groups, leading on housing inspections, and leading on transformational change ‘Best Value’ programmes. As a facilitator Shruti especially enjoys using participatory and creative approaches to work with groups on vision and purpose, help them unpick ‘impossible’ problems, and design solutions. She is a member of the International Association of Facilitators.

Sohini Petrie is a leadership consultant, executive coach, and founder of Harikoa. With a first career in IT, strategy, and organisational change, she brings over 20 years’ experience across public, private, and voluntary sectors. She now partners with organisations to create more inclusive, equitable, and human-centred cultures, helping leaders and teams embed anti-racist, trauma-informed, and relational practices in their everyday work. Sohini is a board member of Riverside Scotland, and chairs SEIN, a charity fostering collaboration and belonging in the south east of Glasgow.

Caroline Gitsham MBE is an accomplished and values-driven leader with over 30 years’ experience in the public and housing sectors, including 15 years at executive level. Passionate about customer service, social value, and meaningful change, she has built a career dedicated to helping people, organisations, and communities thrive. As the founder of Caroline L Gitsham Consulting Ltd, a North East-based consultancy, Caroline works to encourage, challenge, and inspire people and organisations to enhance their contribution to customers, communities, and society. Her consultancy portfolio delivers tangible results in business strategy, transformation, culture, and customer excellence. Caroline’s leadership impact extends far beyond consultancy. She brings extensive governance experience, having served as Chair of Humankind, Chair of Tees Valley CCG, and Founder and former Chair of WISH North East, where she championed women’s leadership and workplace inclusion. She was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to business in the North East and currently serves as Vice Chair of Waythrough and Governor at The Link School in Sunderland. Grounded in authenticity, collaboration, and courage, Caroline blends strategic excellence with emotional intelligence. Her personal ethos—centred on kindness, fairness, honesty, leadership, and zest—drives her belief in people and their capacity to make a difference. Admired for her ability to connect strategy, culture, and performance while inspiring teams to achieve their full potential, she brings clarity, creativity, and compassion to every collaboration—helping people and organisations realise their potential and deliver lasting impact. Caroline is described by clients as “highly flexible and personable,” “refreshingly honest,” and “able to challenge thinking to help new ideas emerge.” She spends time on agendas she is passionate about and is currently an Associate with the Disruptive Innovation Network, an Ambassador for Clear Signal, a Partner with Hive, and an Associate with the Housing Diversity Network.