Audit and Risk Conference 2021 brochure

AUDIT 

AND RISK 

CONFERENCE 

BIRMINGHAM | 1-2 DECEMBER 2021 

Hilton Metropole, 

Birmingham and virtual 

Book three 

places 

get a fourth 

HALF 

PRICE 

Sponsors: 

In partnership with:

About Audit and Risk 2021 

The risk landscape has been irreversibly disrupted in the last 20 months. 

We have been forced to reassess pressure points and refocus our 

businesses on what matters most and what could mean the difference in 

these difficult times. The need for strong leadership, good governance and 

the role of the board and the audit committee is vital in managing risk and 

ensuring the long-term stability of housing associations. 

This year’s Audit and Risk Conference is a timely opportunity for us to 

reflect on how to drive our shared agenda forward. The programme 

includes a range of topical subjects, high-profile speakers and plenty of 

opportunities to learn, share, discuss and network. It is designed to equip 

you for the year ahead, no matter what comes next. 

This year’s conference 

will focus on: 

• The financial stability of the 

sector and business planning. 

• Audit and risk in a hybrid 

environment. 

• Linking data to performance. 

• Measuring and reporting on 

ESG (environmental, social and 

governance) performance. 

• Creating an effective 

complaints handling culture. 

• Developing a successful ethics 

and compliance programme. 

• Delivering sustainable 

construction. 

In Birmingham or 

virtually? 

You choose. 

The conference will be held simultaneously at the 

Hilton Metropole in Birmingham and on our virtual 

event platform. 

If you’re attending in Birmingham, we’ve put extra 

measures in place to keep you feeling safe, confident 

and comfortable throughout the two days. Early 

booking is recommended to ensure you reserve one 

of the limited places to be part of the live audience in 

Birmingham. 

If you decide to join us online, it’ll be the slick, 

interactive experience that you’ve come to expect from 

an #NHFVirtual event with plenty of opportunities to 

ask questions, join discussions and meet your peers. 

And whatever ticket you purchase, you have options if 

you change your mind and you’ll receive access to all 

of the session recordings in our rich content library for 

three months after the event. 

Click here to book online 

events@housing.org.uk | 020 7067 1066 

@natfedevents | #NHFAuditRisk

Meet your chair 

Meet the sponsors 

An essential part of conference attendance is the opportunity to connect 

with potential partners to explore services and solutions that can help your 

organisation deliver its mission and social purpose. 

Shruti describes herself as ‘diversity 

personified’. Her mottoes are ‘Don’t even 

try and put me in a box’, and ‘Do the right 

thing’. She is currently Chair of Unity 

Homes & Enterprise, and an independent 

consultant & facilitator with particular 

interests in complexity and systems. 

Shruti Bhargava, 

Chair, 

Unity Homes & Enterprise 

With offices in Birmingham and Manchester, Anthony Collins 

Solicitors has grown to be one of the top UK law firms advising 

the housing association sector. We have one of the largest socilal 

housing teams in the country, ranked Band 1 in Chambers and 

Partners and Tier 1 Legal 500. 

www.anthonycollins.com 

Decision Time gives you a better way to practice good governance, 

including a cloud-based risk management solution that enables 

users to assess, control and manage risks on a centralised platform. 

With a simple, focused, visual approach, we can help you improve 

and embed risk management across your organisation. 

www.decisiontime.co.uk 

RSM’s specialist social housing group provide audit, tax and 

consulting services to over 150 registered providers, putting us 

amongst the top audit providers in the UK. Over the years we have 

developed a longstanding sectpr presence and established strong 

relationships with the Regulator, NHF, Winmark Affordable Housing, 

sector publications and press. 

www.rsmuk.com 

As an insurer of the public and voluntary sectors for over 25 years, 

we understand the importance of everything you do. Residents rely 

on the vital services housing associations provide. From remedial 

work to risk avoidance advice, our package is designed to help keep 

tenants safe and comfortable. 

www.zurich.co.uk/municipal 




It’s time to plan for the 

best case scenario. 

At Zurich Municipal we believe in a brighter future for our 

communities. That’s why we make it our purpose to help make 

them more resilient. 

For 27 years we’ve insured housing associations, helping 

you to better understand and reduce the risks you face. 

Whether it’s guidance from our in-house risk experts 

to ensure that your vital services are not disrupted, 

responding to a major incident within 24 hours or 

championing sustainable methods of construction, we 

can work with you to help understand what can go right. 

Find out more: zurich.co.uk/NHF 0800 232 1901 

Calls may be recorded or monitored to improve our service. 

Zurich Municipal is a trading name of Zurich Insurance plc, a public limited company 

incorporated in Ireland. Registration No. 13460. Registered Office: Zurich House, 

Ballsbridge Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. UK Branch registered in England and Wales 

Registration No. BR7985. UK Branch Head Office: The Zurich Centre, 3000 Parkway, 

Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 7JZ.

Agenda at a glance 

Day one: Wednesday 1 December 2021 

Book by 

19 November 

to save 

£150 

09:00 Onsite registration and virtual platform opens 

10:00 Chair’s opening remarks 

Shruti Bhargava, Chair, Unity Homes & Enterprise 

10:10 Economic update: the ramifications of the current outlook on sector ambitions and business plans 

Rose Grayston, Senior Program Manager, Housing, New Economics Foundation 

10:55 The Regulator’s analysis of the risks facing the housing sector 

Fiona McGregor, Chief Executive, Regulator for Social Housing 

“A well organised, 

stimulating and thoughtprovoking 

two-day 

conference featuring 

topical and interesting 

themes.” 

Board Member 2020 

11:35 Networking break 

11:55 Breakout sessions and peer to peer roundtables – please select one option 

12:00–12:40 Delivering sustainable 

construction 

Alix Bedford, Risk Proposition Manager, Zurich 

Sponsored by 

12:10–12:50 Maximising the value of the 

committee to your organisation 

Sue Harvey, Partner, Campbell Tickell 

Archana Makol, Chair of A&R Committtee, Accent 

Sarah Smith, CFO, Optivo 

11:55–12:45 Peer to peer roundtable 

Audit and risk in a remote world 

Paul Roberts, Board Member, Regenda Group 

John Mansergh, Director of Business Assurance, 

South Lakes Housing 




Day one continued... 

12:40 Lunch break Embedding better risk management practice 

David Braziel, Technical Director, Decision Time. 

Sponsored by 

Breakout sessions and peer to peer roundtables – please select one option 

13:30–14:10 What does VFM look like in an 

unpredictable world? 

Keith Ward, Partner, Head of Social Housing, RSM 

Sponsored by 

13:40–14:20 Using data to manage risk and 

remove uncertainty 

Katie Moore, Interim Director of Assurance, 

Procurement & Transactions, Citizen 


Managing internal and external audit 

programmes 

Jenny Brown, Chair, Longhurst 

Fred Angole, Board Member, Notting Hill Genesis 

Paul Bayly, Head of Governance and 

Compliance, National Housing Federation 

14:15 Refreshment break 

14:40 ESG reporting: developing robust standards to drive investment in positive environmental and social outcomes 

Brendan Sarsfield, Chair, The Sustainability for Housing Board 

David Cleary, MD & Head of Housing, Lloyds Banking Group 

Fayann Simpson, Board Member, L&Q 

15:25 A reality check: boosting supply whilst improving quality of existing homes 

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation 

Rachael Orr, Director, Placeshapers 

Tim Weightman, Group Executive Director for Assets and Investment, Places for People 

16:05 Chair’s closing remarks and end of day one 

16:15– Networking and drinks and entertainment 

Book three 

places 

get a fourth 

HALF 

PRICE 

18:00 Exposing the tactics of fraudsters and how to protect you and your organisation against them 

James Freedman, the UK’s first Fraud Prevention Ambassador 




Agenda at a glance 

Day two: Thursday 2 December 2021 

09:15 Chair’s opening remarks 

Shruti Bhargava, Chair, Unity Homes & Enterprise 

09:25 Customer regulation: what the changes mean for your role and organisation 

Kate Dodsworth, Director of Consumer Regulation, Regulator for Social Housing 

Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman 

Book by 

19 November 

to save 

£150 

Going beyond compliance: how can you ensure your organisation is fit for purpose on resident relations? 

Jenny Osbourne, Chief Executive, Tpas 

Valerie Oldfield, Chair, Together with Tenants resident advisory panel 

Alan Strickland, Director of External Affairs & Resident Involvement, Optivo 

10:10 Refreshment break and meet the exhibitors 

11:05 Breakout sessions and peer to peer roundtables – please select one option 

11:05–11:45 Quality and safety: putting new 

regulation into practice 

Yinka Bolajie, Executive Director – Property and 

Development, Wandle 

11:15–11:55 Restoring trust in audit and 

corporate governance: how to ensure you fit 

the bill 

Craig Thornton, Director of Audit and Risk, 

Sovereign 

John Butler, Policy Leader, National Housing 

Federation 


Mergers and partnerships 

Ian Clark, Executive Director of Business 

Improvement, Together Housing 




Day two continued... 

11:45 Lunch break 

12:35 Breakout sessions and roundtables – please select one option 

12:35–13:15 Building safety: remediation 

and retrofitting 

Speakers to be announced 

Sponsored by 

12:45–13:25 Fighting back against a cyber 

attack 

David Armstrong, Chief Financial Officer, 

Flagship Group 

Laurie Brown, Director – Information Security, 

Flagship Group 


Code of Governance: 12 months in 

James Tickell, Partner, Campbell Tickell 

Paul Bayly, Head of Governance and 

Compliance, National Housing Federation 

13:15 Refreshment break and meet the exhibitors 

13:45 Scanning beyond the horizon: building resilience in a crucial decade of challenges 

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Housing 

Linda Nash, Chair, LiveWest 

Aileen Murphie, Director, National Audit Office 

14:25 Closing remarks and end of the conference 

“This is the one conference I make sure I 

attend each year - always relevant with a great 

range of talks that generate good debate.” 

Head of Risk and Governance, 2020 




Risk and assurance: 

A guide for housing 

association boards 

The last few years have brought significant events that have 

caused the housing sector and the nation to rethink and 

reshape approaches and strategies, and to adapt the way we 

operate. We’ve combined elements of our previous guides to risk 

management and assurance into this new practical handbook for 

board members. 

Now more than ever, board members must ensure that the risk 

management and assurance processes their business have in place are 

reliable and robust. 

This new guide: 

· Provides boards with an overview of the key principles of risk 

management and assurance whilst aiming to support them in 

fulfilling their responsibilities. 

· Will help to instil a strong sense among boards of potential risk 

and assurance issues, and assist housing associations and the 

sector in delivering more for residents. 

· Presents some ideas for further thought and discussion among 

board members about how they can prepare for the future 

from the position of an insightful understanding of the present.

ASSURANCE 

ACADEMY 

VIRTUAL | 23 NOVEMBER 2021 

Programme 

9:30 Welcome from the chair 

Lee Glover, Partner, Haines Watts 

Online 

only 

9:40 Developing a robust board assurance framework 

Matthew Humphrey, Partner, RSM 

Tuesday 23 November, online only 

The Assurance Academy delivers a crash course on key audit and 

risk issues in the housing sector. Whether you’re new to the sector, or 

looking to refresh and update your knowledge, this is a must-attend 

for anyone involved in an audit or risk role. 

Topics include: 

• Board assurance frameworks. 

• Stress testing. 

• Regulatory standards in the sector. 

• Changing operating environments and how you need to adapt. 

10:30 Gaining assurance in a changing operating environment 

Paul Roberts, Board Member, Regenda Group 

11:10 Refreshment break 

11:40 Stress testing – how to do it well 

Gursh Bains, Committee Member, Octavia Housing 

12:30 Regulatory standards – how to ensure you’re not 

falling behind 

Karen Doran, Assistant Director - Regulatory Operations, 

Regulator of Social Housing 

13:10 Chair closes 




How to book 

AUDIT 

AND RISK 

CONFERENCE 

BIRMINGHAM | 1-2 DECEMBER 2021 

Early bird rates 

In-person In-person Virtual Virtual 

Early bird Standard Early bird Standard 

Book by 

Friday 19 

November 

to save 

No cancellation fees for 2021 

We know how important it is right now to have 

flexibility in booking which is why are offering the 

option for you to change your in-person ticket to 

the virtual option and vice versa nearer to the event 

with any price difference fully refunded. These 

offers will end 30 days before the event. 

NHF member 1,000 homes £495 £645 £395 £470 

Public sector/not for profit £595 £745 £470 £545 

Private sector £745 £895 £575 £650 

ASSURANCE 

ACADEMY 

VIRTUAL | 23 NOVEMBER 2021 

Early bird rates 

Virtual Virtual 

Early bird Standard 

Book by 

Friday 5 

November 

to save 

Group offer 

It’s really productive 

to attend events with 

your colleagues to 

discuss and develop 

ideas that can be 

applied to your 

organisation, so 

when you book three 

places you’ll get a 

fourth half price. 

Book three 

places 

get a fourth 

HALF 

PRICE 

NHF member 1,000 homes £145 £195 

Public sector/not for profit £175 £225 

Private sector £245 £295 

There are no hidden costs in our prices – you won’t pay VAT on Audit and Risk 2021 event tickets. 

Alternatively, email us at 

events@housing.org.uk or 

call 020 7067 1066 




As an NHF member, you have access to special rates or services from our Preferred Suppliers 

– reputable partners who have expertise within the social housing space. We negotiate 

preferential terms and conditions with these partners to help you save money, so that you 

can use your resources as efficiently as possible to deliver on your social mission. 

Our Preferred Suppliers 

HouseMark 

HouseMark helps you benchmark 

your housing management and 

maintenance and track issues 

such as homelessness, anti-social 

behaviour and tenant involvement. 

Isio 

New but established. Isio’s twenty 

partners led the pioneering pensions 

practice at KPMG, from where they 

originate. Simplifying the language 

and work around pensions, Isio 

provide a tailored service for housing 

associations. 

My Home Contents Insurance 

My Home is an affordable and 

flexible scheme designed to protect 

your tenants against a whole range 

of risks and there’s no cost to you as 

a member. 

MRI Real State Software 

Our preferred housing management 

solutions provider, MRI (former 

Castleton), offers a range of services 

to support your business operations 

and digital initiatives, offering 10% 

discount for NHF members. 

PfH 

The PfH consultancy offer includes 

strategic sourcing, spend analytics, 

strategic reviews, procurement health 

checks, merger solutions, asset 

management supply chain reviews 

and outsourcing solutions. 

Phoenix Software 

Phoenix Software is the UK’s leading 

supplier of software, hardware, 

devices, IT solutions and Software 

Asset Management services to housing 

associations in the UK. They offer 

members up to 60% off selected 

products and services 

Vantage UAV 

Vantage UAV is a drone services and 

solution company that can support 

projects on asset management, 

building safety, development, and 

regeneration. Their drones obtain high 

quality images of buildings in a safer, 

faster and more accurate way so that 

you can make informed decisions. 

Find out more: 

housing.org.uk/suppliers

The NHF’s Sector Suppliers are trusted companies that have been carefully curated and 

selected to provide expert advice and solutions for your organisation and its needs. 

Save time and money on research. 

Work with suppliers who understand your needs and have experience in working in the social housing sector. 

Our Sector Suppliers: 

AceOn 

Pioneering renewable energy 

and battery specialists 

supporting organisations in 

meeting Net Zero Carbon 

targets. Products provide an 

income stream for housing 

associations, whilst lowering 

tenant electricity bills and 

reducing carbon. 

Advantage Utilities 

Advantage Utilities is a forward 

thinking, energy and utilities 

consultancy passionate about 

helping housing associations 

cut costs, improve efficiency 

and achieve Net-Zero 

ambitions. 

Forbes Solicitors 

Offering NHF members a 

complete housing service, 

including frontline consultancy 

underpinned by litigation and 

wider legal reassurance. 

Life & Progress 

Providing modern Employee 

Assistance Programmes, to 

pioneer a unique supportservice 

for residents. Their 

Tenant Support & Wellbeing 

Service provides residents 

with confidential ‘supportin-the-moment’ 

counselling, 

professional advice and 

practical information. 

Maximus UK 

An end-to-end provider 

delivering more than 20 

employment, training, health 

and disability-related services 

to employers across the UK, 

through a dedicated account 

management team. 

Mobysoft 

Social Housing intelligence 

software to help landlords 

protect and maximise revenues, 

mitigate welfare reforms and 

embed efficiencies. 

MyConcern 

MyConcern provides 

safeguarding software and 

service for housing providers 

and the third sector. 

Parking Control 

Management (UK) Ltd 

(PCM) 

Parking Control Management 

(UK) Ltd (PCM) provides costneutral 

parking management 

services to commercial and 

residential clients across their 

privately owned car parks 

Pennington Manches 

Cooper 

Recognised for providing 

premium legal advice across a 

wide range of clients within the 

social housing sector. 

Resource Solutions 

Specialising in helping 

supported housing providers 

recover all necessary and 

eligible accommodation service 

costs through services charges. 

VAT Solutions 

Indirect tax specialists working 

exclusively in the care and 

housing sector. Achieving 

considerable VAT benefits 

for clients and implementing 

significant business efficiencies 

which spread well beyond VAT. 

Find out more: housing.org.uk/suppliers

Audit and Risk Conference 2021 brochure

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?