Tom Selway - Director, Cadene PR
Tom Selway runs Bristol based Cadence PR, a community consultation agency specialising in planning PR. Cadence has an excellent reputation for providing human, meaningful and considerate consultation programmes, helping facilitate constructive conversations with communities and as a result, better schemes for all. Current schemes in Bristol include Goram Homes and Hill’s Baltic Wharf, Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter, Homes England’s Brislington Meadows, and MEPC’s St Mary le Port.
Ben Silvey - Director YMCA Bristol, YMCA Brunel Group
Gavin Smart - CEO, Chartered Institute of Housing
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.
Amahra Spence - Co-founder & Creative Director, MAIA
Amahra Spence is a cultural producer, artist and founder of MAIA. In 2013, she set up the organisation to support artists in striving for justice, through resource redistribution and building social infrastructure. MAIA are developing a series of spaces that redistribute the cultural sector's hospitality spend to invest in systemically underinvested-in communities. In 2020, Amahra established the Black Land & Spatial Justice project following a campaign which raised over £30,000. She was also invited to join England’s first Land Commission, working with the Liverpool City Region Mayor to review and suggest uses for public land for community wealth building.
Rebecca Stockman - Director, LivShare Housing and Consultancy Ltd
Rebecca has been involved in the provision of housing for many years having worked leading YMCA in South London for a number of years, and since founding LivShare (livshare.life), a housing consultancy company focused on assisting the design and delivery of affordable housing for people on low income by making use of a sharing economy. Rebecca is also a board trustee of Keychange and Faith in Action Merton Homeless Drop-in and an MSc student.
Phil Stott - Head of Construction and Sustainability, YTKO
Phil Stott is the Head of Construction and Sustainability at YTKO and lead for the Enabling Housing Innovation for Inclusive Growth project. Phil has worked in construction for over ten years, working closely with Government, industry supply chains and innovators. He looks to raise the bar for the built environment; making the sector a place in which an individual can thrive, strive and feel included.
Jez Sweetland - Project Director, 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.
Paul Sylvester - Head of Housing Options, Bristol City Council - Housing and Landlord Services
Paul has worked in housing and homelessness for over 23 years. As Head of Housing Options, Paul leads the City Council’s response to homelessness working in partnership with the wider homelessness sector. Passionate about making a difference with a focus on early intervention and prevention
