Matt Rhodes
Director of Communications and Public Affairs, The Hyde Group

Matt is a communications and public affairs leader, with a background across party politics, local government, and social housing. As Director of Communications and Public Affairs for The Hyde Group, a not-for-profit provider of 50,000 affordable homes across London and the South East, he works with national and trade media, builds relationships to influence stakeholders, and develops the group’s policy positions. During his time at MTVH, another social housing provider, Matt coordinated the activities of the G15 group of leading housing associations that collectively provide over 770,000 homes across the country, working across the political spectrum and with senior government officials. Before moving into social housing, Matt worked for the Labour Party in various roles over more than 12 years.

Hannah Jowett
Head of Communications and Brand, Yorkshire Housing

Hannah is head of communications and brand for Yorkshire Housing where she leads a full-service communications team including public affairs and external policy. Since joining, Hannah has led a reinvention of the Yorkshire Housing brand and its approach to communications. She is passionate about building teams where people can thrive and bring their ideas and creativity to life.

Hannah also leads communications for three housing partnerships across the devolved areas of South, West and North Yorkshire - working alongside housing CEOs, Local and Combined Authorities to deliver PR and influencing strategies to support the delivery of shared housing ambitions across the regions.

She is Vice Chair of the NHF’s National Influencing and Communications Committee.

Lucy Dixon
Head of External Affairs, Karbon Homes

Lucy leads on public affairs and communications for the North East Housing Partnership. She has more than 20 years’ experience in communications and public affairs, and has worked across the voluntary and public sector including RNIB, the British Red Cross and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Sonia Johal Squires
Head of Communication, Citizen

Sonia Squires is Head of Communications at Citizen Housing who have 30,000 homes across the West Midlands. A Fellow of the institute of Internal Communication, Sonia is an esteemed leader in the comms profession whose passion is in supporting leaders to drive greater connection. Sonia has worked across the education sector, NHS and now in social housing leading teams to deliver impactful comms that are truly centred on the audience.

Alex Diner
Head of External Affairs, National Housing Federation

Alex is Head of External Affairs and Campaigns at the National Housing Federation. He has previously worked as a solicitor, representing bereaved and survivors from the Grenfell Tower fire at the public inquiry. He has also worked as a political advisor, in the think tank sector, and has been a local councillor and a parliamentary candidate.

Danny Thorpe
Director of Communications & External Affairs, Clarion Housing Group

Danny Thorpe is Director of Communications & External Affairs at Clarion Housing Group, the UK's largest housing association, where he leads strategic communications, public affairs, and crisis management across the Group. A former elected Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Danny oversaw major regeneration projects including a £250 million council house building programme. He brings over two decades of experience spanning housing, local government, and event management, including the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A Chartered Fellow (CMgr FCMI) with expertise in stakeholder engagement and political communications, Danny is passionate about using communication to drive social impact and build inclusive communities.

Emma Midgley
Director of Business Services, Golden Lane

Emma joined Golden Lane Housing in April 2025 as Director of Business Services, leading Marketing and Communications, IT, Data and Digital, Governance and Risk, and People and Culture. She brings 11 years of housing experience within the not-for-profit sector, having held a range of operational and strategic leadership roles. Before joining Golden Lane Housing, she served as Director of Integration and Transformation at Johnnie Johnson Housing, guiding its successful merger with Sanctuary. Emma is passionate about creating strong communities and quality homes, using evolving regulation and data-driven insight to enhance tenant engagement, satisfaction, and positive organisational change.

Jessica Levy
Head of External Affairs, The Guinness Partnership

Jessica Levy is Head of External Affairs at The Guinness Partnership, where she helps the organisation tell its story and build relationships with political and sector stakeholders, to support the best outcomes for residents. Jessica has worked in local government, housing and the construction sector over the past decade, and was a political adviser before that.

Laura Roberts
Head of Communications, Hastoe Housing Association

Laura Roberts is Head of Communications at Hastoe Group, a leading rural affordable housing specialist, where she leads strategic internal and external communications, reputation management, and external affairs.

After starting her career in trade journalism, Laura moved into a series of PR agency roles, before spending nearly a decade as Head of Corporate Communications at the food and consumer goods charity IGD.

Laura joined the social housing sector in 2024 and is now responsible for shaping and delivering Hastoe’s communications strategy to enhance the organisation’s influence and impact.