More than a roof over my head: the social benefits of affordable housing
Join SIMNA NSW for a workshop exploring the social impacts of access to affordable housing. This is a great opportunity to understand what’s involved in measuring the social and other impacts of affordable housing, connect with other people doing this work, and hear from the experts about their experiences.
This breakfast event is being held on Tuesday 7th June 2016 and is being hosted by Urbis.
When: Tuesday, 7 June 2016 from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM (AEST)
Where: Urbis – Level 23 Tower 2 201 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Places are limited, so be sure to register today! Get your tickets here.
About this workshop
We will be convening a panel of affordable housing and social impact measurement experts to discuss the practice and the challenges. The panel will include Karen Walsh from St George Community Housing, academic expert Stephen Bennett from the Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales, Mark Peacock from the Impact Investing team at Social Ventures Australia and Mike Meyers from the National Affordable Housing Consortium.
Each panellist will provide a snapshot of their work relating to measuring the social impacts among occupants of affordable housing, and our facilitator, Nicki Hutley will then lead us in a discussion regarding the challenges and how our speakers have addressed them, as well as exploring national and international best practice.
About our speakers
Karen Walsh is General Manager, Group Business Initiatives at SGCH. Her 27 year career spans the UK and Australia in a range of Government and non government agencies, 12 years in NSW State Government in senior and executive roles in Aboriginal, public or community housing – leading strategy and reform; strategic partnerships; policy development; community regeneration; business development and improvement; and service planning. Six years ago Karen left the public service to join the executive team at SGCH as General Manager, Housing Services and Renewal. This role had key responsibilities for social and affordable housing strategy, policy and delivery; service improvement; community regeneration and place-making; social impact; programs and project development. In August last year, Karen took on a new role as GM GBI. This Division is about the organisation’s growth, innovation and new business. It is also focused on SGCH’s active portfolio management strategy; estate renewal; strategic partnerships; government policy influence; social impact; investment and procurement and service improvement. Karen is a Director on the Boards of PowerHousing Australia, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre and Shelter NSW. Karen was also a Director on the SGCH Board for 18 months from 2008-2010.
Stephen Bennett is passionate about helping organisations to improve their capacity in creating social change. At the Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales, Stephen has worked closely with a range of not-for-profits, governments and corporates to assist them understand, articulate and measure their social outcomes. His research focuses on outcomes measurement across a range of social contexts, including housing and homelessness and children and young people, and organisational contexts such as placed-based, collaborative and collective impact initiatives. Stephen is currently taking a leading role in the development of a shared measurement system to support the progression of measurement across the social purpose system.
Mark joined SVA in 2012 and leads all housing and property related transactions within the Impact Investing team. Specifically, Mark works across the social, affordable, disability and Indigenous housing sectors to structure financing opportunities that generate both a financial and social return for investors and the broader community. This included Mark leading the due diligence, structuring and documentation of SVA’s first transaction from its $30m social impact fund, seeded by Hesta, a $35bn industry super fund. Mark has also developed an organisational wide strategic perspective on housing, recognising the need for increased supply of stock along the housing continuum supported by more effective services and where appropriate transition opportunities made available to those in need. Mark previously worked at CBA and Westpac for a decade, across a range of management roles in product, pricing and marketing. In addition, Mark lived and worked in South East Asia as a strategic advisor with Opportunity International and in a commercial banking role with ANZ.
Mike is Managing Director of the National Affordable Housing Consortium and has 33 years experience in senior executive roles in social and affordable housing, including direct housing provision, policy development and legal and advisory services in the UK and in Australia from 1996. Mike is the Founder of the National Affordable Housing Consortium, one of Australia’s leaders in the provision of affordable housing, with 3,000 dwellings built in the last 5 years, $1.3 billion in private investment attracted and 500 dwellings in the construction pipeline.
About our facilitator
Nicki Hutley is Director of Urbis’ Economic Advisory practice and has more than 25 years of economic, financial market and public policy experience, providing advice to public and private sector clients across a broad spectrum of public policy issues. Nicki is currently designing and developing an Economic and Social Impact assessment for the WA Housing Authority, to ensure affordable housing can deliver an optimal return on investment based on a broad range of outcomes. Prior to joining Urbis, Nicki held senior positions with Access Economics and then KPMG. Nicki is also a regular contributor to Australian media, and is a regular guest co-host of Sky Business’ ‘Street Sweep’ program.
Enquiries: Poppy Wise (pwise@urbis.com.au) or (02) 8233 7639.