Meet the speakers: SFHA Engagement Conference
Read our interviews with some of our exciting line-up of speakers for this year's virtual Engagement Conference on 7 September.
Beverley Graham
Conference session: Funding as a catalyst for change
As Director of Housing, Beverley is responsible for all aspects of tenancy management, including rent collection, tenant engagement, neighbourhood management and the development of services across our housing portfolio.
Beverley has 30 years of experience working at Fife Housing Group, beginning her journey as an administrations officer in 1991. Beverley’s first experience of management was in the role of Housing Support Manager, before progressing to Housing Manager in 2016 and more recently, in August 2021, with her promotion to Director of Housing.
Beverley also sits on the Board of Management at Horizon Housing Association and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Chartered Managers Institute (CMI).
You can read Beverley's interview here.
Stephen Connor
Conference session: The future of digital engagement
In his role as Development Manager for the Tenants Information Service (TIS), Stephen works closely with tenants and landlords across the housing sector, delivering and developing a wide range of cutting-edge engagement projects.
He is responsible for providing knowledge, information, training, development and support to landlords and tenants to influence positive change in housing service delivery.
Stephen joined TIS in July 2017, having previously worked for Glasgow City Council’s Housing & Regeneration Services as a policy officer. Through his 14 years’ experience working within the housing sector, he has developed a wide range of skills and invaluable experience in delivering innovative, collaborative, affordable and sustainable answers to housing challenges.
You can read Stephen's interview here
John Sills
Conference session: Seeing the world from the outside in
John is Managing Partner at the customer-led growth company, The Foundation.
He's spent most of the last 25 years making things better for customers, He’s been in front-line teams delivering the experience, innovation teams designing the propositions, and global HQ teams creating the strategy.
He now works with companies across industries and around the world, and before joining The Foundation spent twelve years at HSBC, latterly as Head of Customer Innovation.
He regularly writes on Customer Experience and Innovation, and has his first book on the topic being published by Bloomsbury in February 2023.
You can read John's interview here.
Paddy McKenna
Conference session: Today's youth, tomorrow's customers: The hows and whys of youth engagement
Paddy joined Cassiltoun Housing Association in 2016 as a Community Development Officer and since then has worked alongside the community responding to local aspirations and building a team to enable project delivery. Paddy is now Cassiltoun’s Community Development Manager, has had a managerial role since 2018 and became part of the Senior Leadership Team in 2022.
Paddy is responsible for leading on tenant participation, asset based community development projects, securing and managing external funding, as well as leading the Community Team. Paddy has had various roles in youth and community work across the third sector, has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a MEd in Community Learning and Development.
You can read Paddy's interview here.
Dr Louise Sheridan
Conference session: Today's youth, tomorrow's customers: The hows and whys of youth engagement
After a stint working in banking and pensions, Louise discovered the world of Community Education. After her studies, she did various youth and community development jobs. This included working for Who Cares? Scotland, setting up South Lanarkshire Young Carers Project and working for Save the Children in Barrowfield, Glasgow.
Following a different path, Louise joined the University of Glasgow and has been lecturing there ever since. Still passionate about youth work, Louise did a PhD that looked at Youth Participation. Keen not to lose touch with 'the real world', Louise set up a voluntary organisation that aims to build community spirit and connections. The Community Garden is producing some amazing fruit and veg. Louise currently leads the PG Diploma/Masters in Adult Education, Community Development and Youth Work.
You can read Dr Louise's interview here.
SFHA Virtual Engagement Conference
7 September