Conference Speakers

Seasoned procurement professional Joey has a strong track record in delivering successful procurement solutions both in the housing sector and NHS.  

An MCIPS Advanced Practitioner, he started his career as a procurement apprentice straight after completing A Levels and he has a proven ability to lead and manage procurement projects of varying complexity and value.  

As Procurement and Project Manager, he works with clients on a wide range of procurement projects, acting as their lead contact, and managing the process from project kick-off to mobilisation.  

Mathew founded Echelon Consultancy in 2005, followed several years later by Pretium Frameworks, Echelon Improvement Partnerships and more recently Quantum Training and joint venture E2EX.  

He has over 28 years’ experience in the development and delivery of asset management and associated projects within the affordable housing sector as a client, contractor, and consultant. 

He blends his entrepreneurial role of developing the Echelon Group, with an active project lead role within Echelon Consultancy, maintaining an intimate knowledge of the issues facing the sector and remaining accessible to clients. 

He has built a reputation for developing innovative delivery models and goes out into the sector to share best practice, speaking regularly at industry events and delivering training. 

Mathew devotes much of his spare time to housing-related causes, as a trustee of the Construction Youth Trust, and Herts Young Homeless, which focuses on preventing homelessness. 

Tracy Brescia, Bell Global’s Chief of Staff, has a cross-functional remit of uniting people from all departments to facilitate communications across the Group, and resolving issues to ensure the business runs efficiently and aligns with strategic goals.  

Tracy’s career prior to Bell covered two major positions in the Trading Support team at Credit Suisse First Boston in Canary Wharf and in Mergers & Acquisitions with Price Waterhouse Coopers in Rome, Italy.  

For the past 25 years in Bell, Tracy has held the position of Quality Manager, Head of Bids, Quality and Compliance Director, and subsequently moved to her current role in 2023, as the direct support to Bell Global’s Chief Executive, Craig Bell.  

Tracy works closely with Senior Leaders in steering departmental strategies and risk mitigation, with a focus on EDI, ESG, L&D, GDPR, Digitisation, and Compliance, ensuring Bell’s supporting functions align with the needs of all stakeholders and operations. Tracy’s remit as a main Board Director leads her to maximise Corporate Social Responsibility and embed BCDR in all Bell activities. 

John focuses on turning complex business challenges into practical, data-driven solutions. His experience spans technology, systems design, and operations, and he leads teams to improve efficiency, manage risk, and deliver measurable results. He’s particularly interested in how data and automation can transform decision-making, reduce waste, and unlock growth across industries. At the heart of his work is making technology accessible, scalable, and commercially relevant.  

Steven has extensive public procurement experience advising central government, local government, other contracting authorities and utilities at all stages of the procurement lifecycle, including designing procurement strategies, advising throughout the procurement process into contract management and in relation to procurement challenges.  Having spent time both in private practice and as general counsel in an innovative defence contractor, Steven has a unique procurement skillset and is able to appreciate the perspectives of both contracting authorities and suppliers.  Steven has a particular specialism in framework agreements having recently completed a PhD in public procurement law on this topic.  Steven is ranked in Chambers UK for public procurement law and has published various articles in leading public procurement journals and his research on frameworks is about to be published in a forthcoming book.  He is a member of the Procurement Lawyers Association and the prestigious Public Procurement Research Group at the University of Nottingham. 

Andy has been with Hyde for 11 years and is currently the Head of Commercial Transactions, overseeing the Procurement and Accounts Payable teams. He began his career at Deloitte, where he spent eight years as a Management Consultant specialising in supply chain and procurement for both public and private sector clients. His work included strategic sourcing, global cost reduction, and procurement organisational design. He also spent time on secondment at the London Olympics, delivering tenders for the Catering, Cleaning & Waste team. At Hyde, Andy is responsible for driving procurement strategy, commercial efficiency, and procurement regulatory compliance. 

Luke has worked in social housing for over 20 years in contractor, consultancy and asset management delivery roles. 

He joined Hyde in 2020 and leads the delivery of its energy and sustainability programme, including its net zero pathway. Hyde is a founding member of the Greener Futures Partnership and Luke serves as Hyde’s principal representative.  

The Greener Futures Partnership is a unique collaboration of five of the UK’s largest not-for-profit social housing providers: Abri, Anchor Hanover Group, Home Group, the Hyde Group and Sanctuary Group, which share the core objective of creating sustainable tenancies, homes and communities. 

Luke holds a degree in Building Surveying and has experience in stock investment, data usage for asset management and repairs and maintenance procurement. Luke also has extensive knowledge about direct labour organisations, skills gap and supply chain shortages, energy, contract delivery and future planning.  

Andy is passionate about helping organisations thrive through strong governance, clear strategy and effective leadership. With over 15 years’ senior experience as a Chief Executive, Corporate Director and Chief Fire Officer, he has also advised Welsh Government ministers and served as Her Majesty’s Inspector of Fire Services in Wales. Andy was awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to the fire sector. Today, he works widely in housing and beyond, supporting boards, resident groups and national panels to strengthen governance, build confidence and achieve meaningful impact. He also enjoys coaching leaders and teams to perform at their best. 

Toby founded the campaign 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, creating video and podcast interviews with councils about what works, and what needs to change, to get more homes built (www.1-5m.co.uk). He is also partnerships director for the Housing and Development Network, supporting council-owned development companies (www.theHDN.co.uk). After 25 years managing a marketing agency, he now undertakes occasional consultancy to help councils and the development industry engage with each other to accelerate housing and regeneration projects. In his spare time, he cycles and is the co-founder of Velocity Magazine, focused on cycling and the built environment industry. 

Tim leads the Regime Development and Regulatory Support functions in BSR.  Across a thirty-plus year career as a health and safety inspector, he has been involved in a variety of industries and topics.  He also led operational delivery of HSE’s work in southern England on the major accident hazard industries and conventional safety.

Matthew Grenier is the Business Development Director at HACT, where he oversees the delivery of strategic partnerships, communications, marketing and engagement for the organisation. He works closely with senior leaders to address challenges and identify emerging opportunities, ensuring HACT’s initiatives align with the evolving needs of the sector. Matthew joined HACT in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience from a career that has spanned strategic leadership, marketing, and business development. Through his leadership, Matthew has helped HACT expand its impact through transformative solutions like the award-winning Retrofit Credits and Social Value proposition tools. His dedication to fostering collaboration and delivering measurable social value makes him an integral part of HACT’s mission to empower the housing sector to create sustainable and thriving communities.

Elly is Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Peabody Trust responsible for repairs and maintenance, neighbourhood management, tenancy services, data and customer contact across Peabody’s property portfolio providing 108,000 homes to more than 200,000 residents.  Elly has over 25 years of experience in the housing sector, working her way up from supported housing officer to executive level roles. Elly is the President of the Chartered Institute of Housing, chairs the National Housing Federation Knowing our Homes group and is leading the London Coalition skills initiative.  

As Chief Investment Officer at Placefirst, Anna is part of the senior leadership team with over 20 years’ experience in the property sector. Anna has played an instrumental role in developing and executing Placefirst’s real estate strategy and previously held the role of Director of Operational Capital Markets at Savills. Anna supports on increasing the size of Placefirst’s residential portfolio, developing and executing the investment strategy, and overseeing the management of the investment portfolio. Prior to that Anna was an investment partner at Addington Capital which is a UK real estate investment & asset management company based in London with transactions to date of over £1bn. 

Alison Inman is the Chair of Tpas. She is a Past President of the Chartered Institute of Housing and former Chair of the National Federation of ALMOs. Alison currently sits on the boards of two housing associations and is vice-chair of the Labour Housing Group. She was a co-founder of SHOUT, the social housing campaign group and in 2017 received an OBE for services to social housing tenants.

Aaron is responsible for the day-to-day running and strategic direction of Echelon Consultancy, working alongside group CEO Mathew Baxter, and directors Sharon Hunt and Jessica John to lead the Echelon Group. 

Aaron, who has over 20 years’ experience in asset and facilities management as a client, contractor, and consultant, has a diverse role across the operational aspect of the business, leading project teams on options appraisals, business review and transformation projects, and procurement processes. 

He has led on the procurement of a wide range of works, services and supplies related to managing assets and estates; both under long-term strategic arrangements and short-term emergency contracts.  

He conducts reviews of operational delivery models, with a view to moulding them into procurement models and supports organisations through change management and service improvement programmes. Aaron is also a certified Thomas International Practitioner. 

Jess leads on the strategic direction of Echelon Group business Pretium Frameworks. 

Founded in 2015, it manages an ever-growing suite of frameworks, two of which are in their third generation, on behalf of various housing provider Contracting Authorities.  

These cover services including fleet services, building and fire safety, consultancy services, decarbonisation delivery, materials supply and managed services, and all stages of the development process. 

Jess also manages Pretium’s development pipeline to ensure that the business continues to grow and add there are plans in the pipeline to launch two new frameworks this year, and several more across 2026. 

She works closely with Contracting Authorities, clients and suppliers acting as a bridge between all three parties, helping to develop strong relationships, supporting clients to secure compliant procurement routes and ensuring that the frameworks deliver for all parties

Kris is a Partner in Devonshires’ Real Estate & Projects Group and specialises in public procurement, projects, and commercial contracts. Kris has extensive experience advising contracting authorities (including local authorities, registered housing providers, universities and collaborative procurement vehicles) on all aspects of public procurement law and practice and their obligations under the public procurement legislation.  This includes advice on the procedures to be followed, framework agreements, dynamic markets, in–house awards, and procurement consortia arrangements. Kris also provides advice on the consequences of non-compliance with the legislation and the risk mitigation strategies that can be adopted. 

Richard is a strategic and operationally focused director with over 20 years’ experience within the housing and facilities management sectors as well as having proudly served in the British Army. He is a director and co-owner of Exactly which is an IT consultancy specialising within the social housing sector, supported by a team of specialist project managers, solution consultants and application developers. Often leading from the front, Richard takes an active project management and entrepreneurial business development role within Exactly

Lewis first discovered Bell Group while at school. He had seen the Bell branded vans, which have a large presence in his local area of Fife in Scotland and decided to research the company. Simultaneously he came across a bulletin advertising the painting and decorating apprenticeships with Bell and immediately applied. Unfortunately, the process was delayed due to Covid but he was able to interview the following year, and successfully joined the team.  

He began his apprenticeship in the inaugural year of the Bell Modern Apprenticeship at its Training Centre in Airdrie. During his apprenticeship he was given the opportunity to gain further training and completed first aid, PASMA, and SSSTS qualifications, as well as the Aspiring Leaders course, gaining an SVQ Level 6 in Occupational Work Supervision.  

On completion of his apprenticeship in October 2024, Lewis was given the opportunity to become a trainee QS and is now enjoying his new position as trainee surveyor. He was also very proud to win Bell Apprentice of the Year at the Bell Leadership Conference, held at the ICC in Birmingham in March 2025. 

Vlad Nedelcu is a seasoned director with over 15 years of strategic experience in the social housing sector. His passion for people development, electrical compliance (FIET), commitment to excellence, and multi-project management skills have driven growth, profitability, and innovation. 

Vlad’s first-hand experience and commitment to excellence, paired with his deep commercial & legal acumen, have contributed significantly to the company’s success. He is dedicated to empowering teams, fostering innovation, and creating a positive impact within the sector (CIHM). His influence extends beyond PiLON & United Living Property Services, making him a key contributor to the advancement of social housing infrastructure. 

As a Resident Board Member for Hexagon Housing Association, Sonji offers an invaluable blend of lived tenant experience and professional strategic insight. She is an elected member of the Performance Review, Repairs, and Strategic Core Groups, where her expertise in scrutiny ensures rigorous accountability through data analysis and benchmarking, challenging the status quo for better outcomes.   

Sonji is a seasoned strategic and change management professional who brings over 20 years of expertise to rigorously scrutinise and transform housing operations. Her unwavering commitment to authentic tenant engagement ensures that systemic shift and performance enhancement is firmly rooted in residents’ needs, delivering tangible and impactful change.  

Dr Rebecca Rees is a partner and Head of Public Procurement at Trowers and Hamlins. Rebecca is a leading national expert in public procurement law, consistently ranked as among the world’s leading government contracts lawyers (Who’s Who Legal).  Rebecca has significant experience in advising clients in the public, private and third sectors on Public Procurement (under both the previous Regulations and the new Procurement Act), subsidy control, projects, construction and building safety strategy issues. 

Aman is a recognised industry leader having played a key role in transforming fire safety across the built environment. With a background as both a former fire and rescue service officer and a fire engineer, Aman combines extensive operational and technical expertise with a commitment to advancing fire safety through digital innovation and information management.

Between 2019 – 2023, Aman served as Deputy Chair of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC), providing strategic guidance to the Secretary of State on building safety standards and regulations. In 2023, he was appointed as one of the inaugural members of the Building Safety Regulator’s Building Advisory Committee (BAC), where he currently leads the Approved Document B Technical Review and serves as Chair of the BAC Higher Risk Building Thematic Working Group. In this role, Aman is instrumental in implementing the new regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings and operationalising the “golden thread” of building information.

Aman is Chair of the British Standards Institution (BSI) committee FSH/0, where he oversees the strategic direction and ongoing development of all fire safety British Standards.

Aman was awarded with an MBE for his services to building and fire safety in the 2025 New Years Honour List.

Alan Tonkin is a leaseholder in Ashburton Triangle in the Emirates Stadium and a resident representative on Newlon’s Repair Service Procurement Panel facilitated by Echelon.  

Alan returned to the UK in 2021 after decades in Australia. In Melbourne, he dedicated his career to adult education as a Country Field Officer for Victoria’s Council of Adult Education. Guided by subsidiarity, Alan empowered rural communities to establish their own locally elected committees, ensuring decisions were made closest to the point of delivery. He supported these committees with vital training in governance, strategy, and management. Previously, Alan brought his electrical/electronic engineering expertise to teaching roles in Canada and Colombia, following a student apprenticeship with Plessey UK and work at Marconi Space and Defence Systems. 

Robbie has been working in the housing sector for almost 20 years. Starting his career at Edinburgh Council’s DLO, he led its successful Charter Mark accreditation, and the customer has always been central to Robbie’s approach.  

Robbie is now at Hill, the top ten housebuilder. As Hill’s Head of Bid Management, he works with colleagues to ensure its proposals and commitments deliver the objectives of its local authority and housing association clients, partners and residents. 

Robbie has an MA from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Project and Enterprise Management from the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, UCL.

John Wallace joined Clarion Housing Group as the Director of Procurement in May 2021, having previously worked as Procurement Director for the Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association. 

John began his career as a laboratory assistant before becoming a qualified Master Brewer. Having spent 10 years in brewing production, John moved onto various procurement roles in the industry prior to spending two years in the food industry working for one of the country’s leading chilled food producers. In 2006 he joined the NHS, being involved in the growth and development of two regional procurement organisations before joining Anchor in the role of Head of Procurement and Purchasing. 

John holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, and is also a graduate of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management. 

Holly is a seasoned compliance professional with over nine years of experience in the construction health and safety sector, with particular expertise in CDM 2015 regulations. Her former role as a regulator at the Environment Agency gave her a strong foundation in legislative frameworks and regulatory interpretation – skills she now applies to the evolving landscape of building safety.  

She has played a key role in interpreting and applying the Building Safety Act 2022, sharing insights with clients and the wider industry. Holly’s proactive, pragmatic approach has positioned her as a rising expert in this field. She leads a team of skilled consultants delivering end-to-end compliance solutions under the BSA 2022 through a robust framework she developed at FRMS.  

An engaging and influential speaker, Holly regularly presents at industry events – from roundtables to CPD sessions – helping clients understand their responsibilities and navigate regulatory change with clarity and confidence. 

Beyond her technical leadership, Holly is a passionate advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion. She founded Frankham’s Women’s Network, which is already driving positive internal change, with plans to connect with broader industry networks. 

Rachael is director of policy, communications and external affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing. She brings over two decades of experience across central government and the charity sector, with a strong track record in policy, external affairs, communications, campaigning, and member engagement. Prior to joining CIH, Rachael held senior roles at Citizens Advice and in central government, including the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Rachael is a passionate advocate for the housing profession and plays an active role in shaping sector thought leadership.