Homes at the Heart

Gavin Smart CIHCM is chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing. He joined in 2012 as director of policy and practice, was made deputy chief executive in 2014 and chief executive in December 2019. Prior to CIH, Gavin was assistant director of research and futures at the National Housing Federation and in his early career, held research roles at the then-Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Trina co-founded Building Better with four housing association colleagues during the National Housing Federation's Greenhouse programme in 2018. Since then Building Better has grown to become an alliance of 25 organisations committed to delivering the highest quality housing through MMC with aggregation and collaboration at its heart.

Previously, the CEO of United Communities for 16 years, Oona is passionate about improving choices for older members of our community to be able to live in safe, good quality homes and communities with brilliant care. In 2017, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research global approaches to housing millennials, including intergenerational housing and co-housing communities. Oona is Chair of the Bristol Housing Festival Steering Group and is on the Board of Second Step.

Paul has worked in housing for over 30 years currently CEO of Elim Group, until recently he was Cabinet Member for Housing at Bristol City Council and on the steering group of the Bristol Housing Festival.

Jez has initiated and managed strategic development in a variety of settings. His previous positions include CEO of Guildhall Barrister’s Chambers, and CEO of a charitable national skills training organisation. He founded the Bristol Housing Festival in 2018 and believes collaboration is the key to lasting social development. Jez lives in Bristol with his wife, Joanna and his three children.