Echelon Conference Agenda
Thursday 9th October 2025
The theme for this year’s conference is “The Future is Here” with a focus on navigating the new regulatory environment and working within the parameters of new standards and we have a packed agenda lined up for you:
09:15 - 10:00 | Registration, Refreshments and Exhibition - Woolwich Suite | ||
10:00 - 10:15 | Welcome and introduction to the day ahead Mathew Baxter, CEO, Echelon Group - Woolwich Suite | ||
10:15 – 11:15 | Keynote 1, Woolwich Suite TBC | ||
11:15 - 11:45 | Break – Exhibition & Networking | ||
11:45 - 12.45 | Innovarium Sessions x 3 Sharing Ideas, Best Practice and Innovation | ||
1a | Innovarium 1a, Woolwich Suite Who Will Build Tomorrow? • Chair: Elly Hoult, President of the CIH and Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of Peabody • TBC, Bell • Joey Barron, Procurement and Project Manager, Echelon Consultancy Despite the breadth of amazing career opportunities available within the housing sector, many housing professionals simply “fell into” their roles. In this session, CIH President Elly Hoult discusses her CHOOSE HOUSING presidential campaign, which aims to increase awareness of these opportunities, promote diversity, and inspire more people to choose housing as a career. We also explore the role of apprenticeships, hearing from young people working within the sector and the organisations that are championing the next generation. | ||
1b | Innovarium 1b, W Club Clause and effect: The Procurement Act in Action • Chair: Echelon Group CEO, Mathew Baxter • Dr Steven Brunning, Legal Director, Public Procurement, Addleshaw Goddard • Rebecca Rees, Partner and Head of Public Procurement, Trowers & Hamlin The introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 marked the biggest change to public procurement law in the UK this century. In this session we explore the procurement landscape eight months down the line. | ||
1c | Innovarium 1c, M Club Behind the numbers: data driving better repairs • Matthew Grenier, Business Development Director, HACT • TBC • TBC Effective data management, record keeping, and information management are crucial to ensuring accountability and transparency, as well as improving services. In this session we look at developing a standard approach to data management and hear from organisations that are taking a data-driven approach to improving repairs and maintenance service delivery. | ||
12.45 - 14:00 | Lunch - Exhibition & Networking | ||
14:00 – 15:00 | Keynote 2, Woolwich Suite Building for the future but can we maintain it? • Chair: Toby Fox, Founder of the 1.5m New Homes campaign • Rachael Williamson, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs, CIH • Robbie Tucker, Head of Bid Management, Hill • Anna Hwang, Chief Investment Officer, Placefirst Our speakers will delve into the Government’s ambitious plans to build 1.5 million homes, examining the challenges that come with such a colossal undertaking. This session will explore the critical questions surrounding the feasibility of the programme, the skill set required to deliver it, and the long-term implications for the maintenance and sustainability of the new housing stock. | ||
15:05 – 16:05 | Innovarium Sessions x 3 Sharing Ideas, Best Practice and Innovation | ||
2a | Innovarium 2a, Woolwich Suite Frameworks: Fact vs Fiction • Chair: Jessica John, Director, Pretium Frameworks • Kris Kelliher, Partner, Devonshires • Andy Clorley, Head of Commercial Transactions, The Hyde Group The introduction of the new Procurement Act is leading to an increase in the use of frameworks but not all frameworks are created equal, so what should you be looking out for and what questions should you be asking? This session focuses on best practice and busting some of the myths around what can and can’t be delivered through frameworks. | ||
2b | Innovarium 2b, W Club More than a tick box: making tenant involvement matter • Chair: Sonji Nurse, Member of the Housing Ombudsman Resident Panel, and Resident Board member at Hexagon Housing • TBC • TBC Organisations with strong tenant engagement perform better across the board and have higher levels of tenant satisfaction but it remains the exception and not the norm. In this session, chaired by Sonji Nurse, Member of the Housing Ombudsman Resident Panel, and Resident Board member and member of the Customer Service and Investment committees at Hexagon Housing, we explore the impact that proactive consumer regulation is having on meaningful tenant engagement, looking at what still needs to be done. | ||
2c | Innovarium 2c, M Club Title TBC • TBC • TBC • TBC | ||
16:05 - 16:25 | Break – Exhibition & Networking | ||
16.25 - 17.20 | Ask The Experts Interactive Q&A session - Woolwich Suite | ||
17.20 - 17.30 | Event close – Echelon Group CEO Mathew Baxter | ||
17.30 - 19.00 | Drinks Reception and exhibition | ||
