Housing Conference
09 February 2027
Full-Day Conference
EICC, Edinburgh
Housing Conference
A must-attend one day conference for all Housing professionals
09 February 2027
EICC, Edinburgh
The programme will take a deep dive into the critical issues shaping Scotland’s housing future – from the pressures on local authorities and the need for faster delivery, to new approaches to ending homelessness and stabilising the rental market. With international perspectives from Finland and expert insights from across the UK, the conference will focus on practical action to deliver the right homes in the right places.
Featuring more than a dozen speakers, leading exhibitors and hundreds of delegates from housing, government, business and the third sector, this is Scotland’s most important forum for housing leaders in 2027. Speakers span government, industry, the third sector and universities, ensuring every part of Scotland’s housing system is represented.
The event will cut through political soundbites to focus on delivery: planning and land supply, supply chain bottlenecks, new finance models, tenant protections, and how local and national leadership can work together.
The programme will take a deep dive into the critical issues shaping Scotland’s housing future – from the pressures on local authorities and the need for faster delivery, to new approaches to ending homelessness and stabilising the rental market.
With international perspectives from Finland and expert insights from across the UK, the conference will focus on practical action to deliver the right homes in the right places. Featuring more than a dozen speakers, leading exhibitors and hundreds of delegates from housing, government,
business and the third sector, this is Scotland’s most important forum for housing leaders in 2027. Speakers span government, industry, the third sector and universities, ensuring every part of Scotland’s housing system is represented.
The event will cut through political soundbites to focus on delivery: planning and land supply, supply chain bottlenecks, new finance models, tenant protections, and how local and national leadership can work together.
Keynote Speakers
Màiri McAllan MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Housing
Scottish Government
Rt Hon Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Prof Juha Kaakinen
Professor of Work
Tampere University
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
2026 Keynote Speakers
Màiri McAllan MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Housing
Scottish Government
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Prof. of Practice
Tampere University
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor, Urban Studies
University of Glasgow
Susan Campbell
Director – Market Creation (Place)
Scottish National Investment Bank
Jane Wood
Chief Executive
Homes for Scotland
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
City Convener for Housing
Glasgow City Council
John Alexander
Chief Executive
Hillcrest
Why Attend
Learning Objectives
Understand the Scottish Government’s priorities in responding to the housing emergency.
Hear from international leaders on successful housing reforms, including Finland’s Housing First model.
Explore best practice from across Scotland’s local authorities, housing associations, and private developers.
Learn how finance, planning and construction reforms can accelerate delivery at scale.
Discuss how to balance tenant security with sustainable returns for investors and landlords.
Network with leaders across government, industry and the third sector to develop shared solutions.
Why Attend
Learning Objectives
Understand the Scottish Government’s priorities in responding to the housing emergency
Hear from international leaders on successful housing reforms, including Finland’s Housing First model
Explore best practice from across Scotland’s local authorities, housing associations, and private developers
Learn how finance, planning and construction reforms can accelerate delivery at scale
Discuss how to balance tenant security with sustainable returns for investors and landlords
Network with leaders across government, industry and the third sector to develop shared solutions
2026 Agenda
*Click speaker icons to see biographies
08:15 – 9:00
Registration and Refreshments
08:15 – 9:00
Registration and Refreshments
09:00 – 9:10
Chair’s Welcome & Introduction
Alison McLaughlin
Conference Chair
09:00 – 9:10
Chair’s Welcome & Introduction
Alison McLaughlin
Conference Chair
09:10 – 09:35
The Business of Housing: The Disruptions We Need
Rethinking the foundations of Scotland’s housing model
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
09:10 – 09:35
The Business of Housing:
The Disruptions We Need
Rethinking the foundations
of Scotland’s housing model
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
09:35 – 10:00
International Perspective: Finland’s Success
What it takes to make homelessness fall and stay down
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Professor of Practice
Tampere University
09:35 – 10:00
International Perspective:
Finland’s Success
What it takes to make homelessness
fall and stay down
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Professor of Practice
Tampere University
10:00 – 10:10
Q&A
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Prof. of Practice
Tampere University
10:00 – 10:10
Q&A
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Prof. of Practice
Tampere University
10:10 – 10:45
Glasgow: A case study
What Glasgow City Council is doing to shape and support housing growth
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
City Convener for Housing
Glasgow City Council
Paul Wood
Group Manager
Glasgow City Council
10:10 – 10:45
Glasgow: A case study
What Glasgow City Council is doing to shape and support housing growth
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
City Convener for Housing
Glasgow City Council
Paul Wood
Group Manager
Glasgow City Council
10.45 – 11:05
Refreshment Break
10.45 – 11:05
Refreshment Break
11:05 – 11:25
Delivering Affordable Housing
Attacking construction costs so that private & social landlords can once again afford to build enough houses to meet the demand
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
11:05 – 11:25
Delivering Affordable Housing
Attacking construction costs so that private & social landlords can once again afford to build enough houses to meet the demand
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
11:25 – 12:20
Rethinking Rent for Stability and Growth
Balancing tenant rights, investor returns, and long-term housing security
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Dr. Susan Aktemel
Founder & Chief Executive
Homes for Good
John Alexander
Chief Executive
Hillcrest
Susan Campbell
Director – Market Creation (Place)
SNIB
11:25 – 12:20
Rethinking Rent for Stability and Growth
Balancing tenant rights, investor returns, and
long-term housing security
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Dr. Susan Aktemel
Founder & Chief Executive
Homes for Good
John Alexander
Chief Executive
Hillcrest
Susan Campbell
Director – Market Creation (Place)
SNIB
12:20 – 12:30
Transition
12:20 – 12:30
Transition
12:30 – 13:00
Masterclass 1: Mitigating pressures of housing delivery in a changing landscape
Despite significant headwinds, the award-winning housing and commercial development at Water Row initiated the transformation of Govan, channelling much-needed life into the area. This session explores how the delivery team overcame external pressures through a flexible market route and extensive stakeholder collaboration. We will unwrap the project’s success, focusing on the practical application of early supplier involvement, innovative finance models, and value engineering to ensure delivery in an unpredictable landscape.
Heather O’Donnell
Senior Technical Support Manager
SPA
Mairi Laverty
Director
Collective Architecture
12:30 – 13:00
Masterclass 1:
Mitigating pressures of housing delivery in a changing landscape
Despite significant headwinds, the award-winning housing and commercial development at Water Row initiated the transformation of Govan, channelling much-needed life into the area. This session explores how the delivery team overcame external pressures through a flexible market route and extensive stakeholder collaboration. We will unwrap the project’s success, focusing on the practical application of early supplier involvement, innovative finance models, and value engineering to ensure delivery in an unpredictable landscape.
Heather O’Donnell
Senior Technical Support Manager
SPA
Mairi Laverty
Director
Collective Architecture
12:30 – 13:00
Masterclass 2: Making Retrofit Investable: Unlocking ROI, Capital and Healthy Homes
Retrofit has the technology, policy backing and urgency to scale, yet investment continues to lag. A core reason is that retrofit returns remain uncertain and difficult to assess upfront, making them hard to fund at scale. This session explores how the absence of early stage ROI visibility constrains both public and private capital, and why uncertainty rather than low returns is the real blocker. Drawing on housing, infrastructure and energy investment models, the session examines what makes retrofit investable and how better insight can de risk decisions before delivery. It considers how scaling retrofit can alleviate fuel poverty, tackle poor quality housing and create healthier homes, while setting out the role councils and housing associations can play in shaping credible, scalable funding pathways that deliver benefits for current residents and future generations.
Amandeep Kalra
Founder and CEO
GreenFlip
Dr Gemma Bone-Dodds
Director of Insight and Policy
BE-ST
12:30 – 13:00
Masterclass 2:
Making Retrofit Investable:
Unlocking ROI, Capital and Healthy Homes
Retrofit has the technology, policy backing and urgency to scale, yet investment continues to lag. A core reason is that retrofit returns remain uncertain and difficult to assess upfront, making them hard to fund at scale. This session explores how the absence of early stage ROI visibility constrains both public and private capital, and why uncertainty rather than low returns is the real blocker. Drawing on housing, infrastructure and energy investment models, the session examines what makes retrofit investable and how better insight can de risk decisions before delivery. It considers how scaling retrofit can alleviate fuel poverty, tackle poor quality housing and create healthier homes, while setting out the role councils and housing associations can play in shaping credible, scalable funding pathways that deliver benefits for current residents and future generations.
Amandeep Kalra
Founder and CEO
GreenFlip
Dr Gemma Bone-Dodds
Director of Insight & Policy
BE-ST
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch, Exhibitor Showcase and Networking
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch, Exhibitor Showcase and Networking
14:00 – 14:50
Housing as a Foundation: Ending Homelessness and Regenerating Communities
(TRACK A) Tackling homelessness and driving regeneration through housing-led renewal
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Prof. of Practice
Tampere University
Alison Watson
Director
Shelter Scotland
William Kyle
Managing Director
Urban Union
14:00 – 14:50
Housing as a Foundation: Ending Homelessness and Regenerating Communities
(TRACK A) Tackling homelessness and driving regeneration through housing-led renewal
Prof. Juha Kaakinen
Prof. of Practice
Tampere University
Alison Watson
Director
Shelter Scotland
William Kyle
Managing Director
Urban Union
14:00 – 14:50
Unlocking Delivery: Restoring Confidence and Clearing the Path
(TRACK B) Overcoming barriers to build faster, smarter, and at scale
Josiah Lockhart
Chief Executive
Changeworks
Alison Condie
Managing Director (Scotland) Barratt Redrow
Jane Wood
Chief Executive Officer
Homes for Scotland
Lesley Peaty
Regional Director
SPA
Chris Dougray
Founder
Dougray
14:00 – 14:50
Unlocking Delivery: Restoring Confidence and Clearing the Path
(TRACK B) Overcoming barriers to build faster, smarter, and at scale
Josiah Lockhart
Chief Executive
Changeworks
Alison Condie
Managing Director (Scotland) Barratt Redrow
Jane Wood
Chief Executive Officer
Homes for Scotland
Lesley Peaty
Regional Director
SPA
Chris Dougray
Founder
Dougray
14:50 – 14:55
Transition
14:50 – 14:55
Transition
14:55 – 15:35
Tailoring Housing to Local & Regional Needs
Meeting the diverse housing challenges of Scotland’s places
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
Dr. John Boyle MRICS
Director of Research and Strategy
Rettie
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
City Convener for Housing
Glasgow City Council
14:55 – 15:35
Tailoring Housing to Local & Regional Needs
Meeting the diverse housing challenges of Scotland’s places
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
Dr. John Boyle MRICS
Director of Research & Strategy
Rettie
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
City Convener for Housing
Glasgow City Council
15:35 – 15:50
Refreshment Break
15:35 – 15:50
Refreshment Break
15:50 – 16:00
Ministerial Keynote: Scotland’s Housing Emergency
The government’s priorities for urgent action and long-term reform
Màiri McAllan MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Housing Scottish Government
15:50 – 16:00
Ministerial Keynote: Scotland’s Housing Emergency
The government’s priorities for urgent action and long-term reform
Màiri McAllan MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Housing
Scottish Government
16:00 – 16:30
Political Panel Discussion
Meeting the diverse housing challenges of Scotland’s places
Màiri McAllan MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Housing
Scottish Government
Willie Rennie MSP
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Parliament
Mark Griffin MSP
Scottish Labour
Scottish Parliament
Craig Hoy MSP
Scottish Conservative & Unionist
Scottish Parliament
Cllr Thomas Kerr
Councillor
Reform UK
16:00 – 16:30
Political Panel Discussion
Meeting the diverse housing challenges of Scotland’s places
Màiri McAllan MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Housing
Scottish Government
Willie Rennie MSP
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Parliament
Mark Griffin MSP
Scottish Labour
Scottish Parliament
Craig Hoy MSP
Scottish Conservative & Unionist
Scottish Parliament
Cllr Thomas Kerr
Councillor
Reform UK
– 16:30
Conference Close
– 16:30
Conference Close
8.45 AM – 10.15 AM
Time
H3
Name
Title
Company
Name
Title
Company
Name
Title
Company
Name
Title
Company
2026 Speakers
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Juhan Kaakinen
Prof. of Practice
Tampere University
Prof. Duncan Maclennan
Emeritus Professor
University of Glasgow
Susan Campbell
Director – Market Creation (Place)
Scottish National Investment Bank
Jane Wood
Chief Executive
Homes for Scotland
Cllr Ruairi Kelly
City Convener for Housing
Glasgow City Council
John Alexander
Chief Executive
Hillcrest
Alison McLaughlin
Conference Chair
Company
Alison Condie
Managing Director (Scotland)
Barratt Redrow
Alison Watson
Director
Shelter Scotland
Kirsty Parry
Sales and Marketing Director
Urban Union
Dr. Susan Aktemel
Founder & Chief Exevei
Homes for Good
Heather O’Donnell
Senior Technical Support Manager
Scottish Procurement Alliance
Lesley Peaty
Regional Director
Scottish Procurement Alliance
Mairi Laverty
Director
Collective Architecture
Dr. Gemma Bone-Dodds
Director of Insight and Policy
BE-ST
Graham Simpson MSP
Reform UK
Scottish Parliament
Willie Rennie MSP
Scottish Liberal Democrat
Scottish Parliament
Josiah Lockhart
Chief Executive
Changeworks
Mark Griffin MSP
Scottish Labour
Scottish Parliament
Dr. John Boyle MRICS
Director of Research and Strategy
Rettie
William Kyle
Managing Director
Urban Union
Amandeep Kalra
Founder and CEO
GreenFlip
Chris Dougray
Founder
Dougray
Paul Wood
Group Manager
Glasgow City Council
Craig Hoy MSP
Scottish Conservative & Unionist
Scottish Parliament
Cllr Thomas Kerr
Councillor
Reform UK
2026 Partners
The Business of Housing 09 February 2027, EICC, Edinburgh
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