In association with
A must-attend conference for housing professionals addressing Scotland's housing emergency
9 February 2027
EICC | EDINBURGH
About
Building on the momentum of The Business of Housing 2026, The Business of Housing 2027 returns as Scotland’s flagship forum for housing leaders, focused on turning policy into delivery across the whole housing system.
Set against Scotland’s housing emergency, the programme will bring together housing associations, councils, developers, investors, community organisations and academics to explore practical ways out of the current housing stalemate – how we plan, fund and deliver new homes, support innovation such as community-owned and community-led housing schemes, and align local and national leadership to get projects moving.
Bringing together voices from government, industry, local authorities, universities and the third sector, the conference will showcase practical solutions, new partnerships and innovative finance models; confirmed speakers are listed below, with many more still to be announced.
Plenary Sessions
Breakout Sessions
The conference will host three plenary sessions where we will focus on: i) The national grid and how it must keep pace with Scotland’s renewable ambitions; ii) Skills and Workforce gaps have emerged across the sector, creating a barrier to delivering major projects, who is responsible and what are their plans; iii) UK and Scottish Ministers’ will outline their policies and plans to support industry, education and the wider energy infrastructure.
Delegates will choose to attend two Masterclass sessions from:
i) Hydropower & Pumped Storage, ii) Tidal Energy, iii) Battery Storage & Flexibility, and iv) Renewable-powered Data centres. Following lunch and networking, delegates will choose to attend two Leadership Streams: i) Revisiting Nuclear, ii) Investing in Scotland’s energy mix, iii) Maximising our renewables estate and iv) Bridging technology
Plenary Sessions
The conference will host three plenary sessions where we will focus on: i) The national grid and how it must keep pace with Scotland’s renewable ambitions; ii) Skills and Workforce gaps have emerged across the sector, creating a barrier to delivering major projects, who is responsible and what are their plans; iii) UK and Scottish Ministers’ will outline their policies and plans to support industry, education and the wider energy infrastructure.
Breakout Sessions
Delegates will choose to attend two Masterclass sessions from:
i) Hydropower & Pumped Storage, ii) Tidal Energy, iii) Battery Storage & Flexibility, and iv) Renewable-powered Data centres. Following lunch and networking, delegates will choose to attend two Leadership Streams: i) Revisiting Nuclear, ii) Investing in Scotland’s energy mix, iii) Maximising our renewables estate and iv) Bridging technology
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Confirmed speakers
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Cabinet Secretary for
Social Justice and Housing
Scottish Government
Willie Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Holdings Ltd
Prof. Duncan McLennan
Emeritus Professor,
Urban Studies
University of Glasgow
Alison Watson
Director
Shelter Scotland
Richard Meade
CEO
SFHA
Chris Dougray
Founder
Dougray
Confirmed 2027 Speakers
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Cabinet Secretary for
Social Justice and Housing
Scottish Government
Willie Haughey
Chair
City Facilities Management
Holdings Ltd
Prof. Duncan McLennan
Emeritus Professor,
Urban Studies
University of Glasgow
Alison Watson
Director
Shelter Scotland
Richard Meade
CEO
SFHA
Chris Dougray
Founder
Dougray
See all 2026 speakers on our desktop site.
Why Attend
- Understand Scottish and UK Government priorities for delivering clean power and energy security.
- Examine where Scotland's transmission reinforcement programme stands and whether the grid can keep pace with renewable ambition.
- Explore the workforce challenge facing Scotland's energy transition and where accountability for closing the skills gap sits.
- Assess the investment case for the North Sea under the current fiscal regime and what a more stable framework could look like.
- Debate Scotland's nuclear dilemma and the implications of policy divergence within a shared UK grid.
- Evaluate the role of CCUS, solar, tidal and long-duration storage in Scotland's next phase of energy development.
- Network with leaders across government, industry and academia to develop shared solutions for Scotland's energy future.
2026 Agenda
08.50 – 09.00
Registration & refreshments
09.00 – 09.10
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
09.35 – 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
10.45 – 11.05
Refreshment Break
10.00 – 10.45
Glasgow: A case study
What Glasgow City Council is doing to shape and support housing growth
Rt Hon. Lord Haughey
Chair
City Holdings Management
Paul Wood
Group Manager
Glasgow City Council
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 Holdings 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 Holdings Management
Dr. Susan Aktemel
Founder & Chief Executive
Homes for Good
John Alexander
Chief Executive
Hillcrest
Susan Campbell
Director – Market Creation (Place)
SNIB
12.30 – 13.00
Masterclass 1: Mitigating pressures of housing delivery in a changing landscape
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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
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Amandeep Kalra
Founder and CEO
GreenFlip
Dr Gemma Bone-Dodds
Director of Insight and Policy
BE-ST
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch, Exhibitor Showcase and Networking
14.00 – 14.50
Housing as a Foundation: Ending Homelessness and Regenerating Communities
(TRACK B) Overcoming barriers to build faster, smarter, and at scale
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
14.50 – 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
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
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
Conference close
Conference close
2026 Speakers
*Click image to see biography
Màiri McAllan
Former Cabinet Secretary
for Housing
Scottish Government
Name
Title
Organisation
Name
Title
Organisation
Name
Title
Organisation
2026 Sponsors
Agenda and Timings
Session 1: Grid
08.50 – 09.00
Registration & refreshments
08.50 – 09.00
Registration & Refreshments
08.50 – 09.00
Chair’s welcome & Introduction
Erikka Askeland
Conference Chair & News Editor
Founder, Mediacraft
08.50 – 09.00
Chair’s welcome & Introduction
Scotland has more renewable generation potential than almost anywhere in Europe, but turning that potential into delivered clean power depends entirely on whether the grid can be built, connected and operated at pace. Scene‑setting plenary with sponsor remarks, keynote addresses and a Nordic model case study, culminating in an expert grid panel.
Erikka Askeland
Conference Chair & News Editor
Founder, Mediacraft
09.00 – 09.10
Headline Sponsor Welcome
Ross McKenzie
Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer
Drax Group
09.00 – 09.10
Headline Sponsor Welcome
Ross McKenzie
Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer
Drax Group
09.10 – 09.30
Academic Keynote
Professor John Underhill
Interdisciplinary Director for Energy Transition and Professor in Geoscience and Energy Transition
University of Aberdeen
09.10 – 09.30
Academic Keynote
Professor John Underhill
Interdisciplinary Director for Energy Transition and
Professor in Geoscience and Energy Transition
University of Aberdeen
09.30 – 09.50
How Shetland can lead the way on a Nordic model for all of Scotland
The Nordic model of energy management, benefits belong to the people – can Scotland can transition to this model.
Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP
Minister for Public Finance
Scottish Government
09.30 – 09.50
How Shetland can lead the way on a Nordic model for all of Scotland
The Nordic model of energy management, benefits belong to the people – can Scotland can transition to this model.
Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP
Minister for Public Finance
Scottish Government
09.50 – 10.00
Questions from the audience
09.50 – 10.00
Questions from the audience
10.00 – 10.45
Can Scotland’s Grid Keep Up with Ambition?
Scotland has no shortage of renewable energy ambition, but can the grid keep pace? This session will bring together those responsible for planning, operating and delivering our electricity network to examine what is changing, where the barriers remain and what needs to happen now to unlock investment and accelerate delivery.
Christianna Logan
Director of Customers & Stakeholders Director
SSEN Transmission
Ross McKenzie
Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer
Drax Group
Claire Dykta
Director of Strategy & Policy
and Chief Strategy Officer
NESO
10.00 – 10.45
Can Scotland’s Grid Keep Up with Ambition?
Christianna Logan
Director of Customers & Stakeholders
SSEN Transmission
Ross McKenzie
Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer
Drax Group
Claire Dykta
Director of Strategy & Policy
and Chief Strategy Officer
NESO
Session 1: Grid
Session 2: Skills & Workforce
Session 2: Skills & Workforce
11.05 – 11.50
Closing the Skills Gap — Who Is Responsible?
Scotland’s energy ambitions will only be delivered if we have the workforce to match them. With major projects competing for the same skills, this session will examine where the biggest gaps are emerging, who is responsible for closing them, and what industry, government and education need to do differently.
Isla Robb
Director of Supply Chain, Skills & Communities
Energy Transition Zone Ltd
(ETZ)
Dr Kenneth Leitch
Principal Investigator
HCI Gateway
tbc
Energy Skills and Partnership
Organisation
Session Three: Parallel Masterclasses
Session 3: Masterclasses
11.55 – 12.25
Masterclass 1: Hydropower & Pumped Storage
Scotland has the water, infrastructure, and expertise to lead the next era of hydropower. With major pumped-storage projects progressing, this masterclass will explore how Scotland can turn its natural advantage into long-term energy storage, unlock investment and supply-chain opportunities, and deliver the flexibility our increasingly renewable electricity system needs.
Masterclass 2: Tidal Energy
Scotland is already at the forefront of tidal energy innovation, but can it turn that expertise into a commercial industry? This masterclass will explore what needs to happen next to accelerate deployment, attract investment, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and ensure Scotland captures the economic opportunity from a technology it has helped pioneer.
11.55 – 12.25
Masterclass 1: Hydropower & Pumped Storage (tbc)
Masterclass 2: Tidal Energy (tbc)
12.25 – 12.30
Transition
12.25 – 12.30
Transition
12.30 – 13.00
Masterclass 3: Battery Storage & Flexibility
As renewable generation grows, Scotland needs the ability to store power and use it when it is most needed. This masterclass will examine the rapidly growing battery storage market, the role it can play in balancing the grid, and what is needed to turn Scotland’s significant project pipeline into operational infrastructure.
Masterclass 4: Renewable-powered Data centres
AI and data centres are creating unprecedented demand for electricity, but could that demand become an opportunity for Scotland? This masterclass will explore how our renewable resources could help attract the digital industries of the future, while addressing the challenges around grid capacity, energy efficiency, resilience, and the delivery of sustainable economic growth.
12.30 – 13.00
Masterclass 3: Battery Storage & Flexibility (tbc)
Masterclass 4: Renewable-powered industry data centres (tbc)
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch and networking
Session 4: Parallel Leadership Streams
Session 4: Leadership
14.00 – 14.45
(Track A)
Leadership 1
Revisiting “No New Nuclear” in a Small Modular Reactor Era
Scotland’s opposition to new nuclear was shaped in a very different energy landscape. With small modular reactors emerging and electricity demand rising, this session will revisit whether that position remains sustainable and examine what Scotland’s nuclear policy could mean for future investment, skilled jobs, energy security, and industrial growth.
Jamie Bannerman
Associate Director
Copper Consultancy
David Green MSP
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Parliament
14.00 – 14.45
(Track A)
Leadership 1
Revisiting “No New Nuclear” in a Small Modular Reactor Era
Jamie Bannerman
Associate Director
Copper Consultancy
David Green MSP
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Parliament
14.00 – 14.45
(Track A)
Leadership 2
Is Scotland’s Energy Mix Still Investable? Revisiting “No New Nuclear” in a Small Modular Reactor Era
Billions of pounds of energy investment are within Scotland’s reach, but capital has choices. This session will examine where investors see opportunity, what is undermining confidence and whether Scotland is sending a clear enough message to the market to secure the long-term investment needed across its changing energy mix.
Alison Wilson
Managing Director
Inverness & Cromarty Firth
Green Freeport (ICFGF)
David Whitehouse
CEO
Offshore Energies UK
(OEUK)
14.00 – 14.45
(Track A)
Leadership 2
Is Scotland’s Energy Mix Still Investable? Revisiting “No New Nuclear” in a Small Modular Reactor Era
Alison Wilson
Managing Director
ICFGF
David Whitehouse
CEO
OEUK
14.50 – 15.35
(Track B)
Leadership 3
Is Scotland Maximising Its Renewables Estate?
Scotland has extraordinary renewable energy resources, but generating more power is only part of the opportunity. This session will ask whether Scotland is extracting maximum economic value from its renewable’s estate, from jobs and supply chains to communities and inward investment, and what needs to change to deliver greater benefit at home.
Joanne Allday
Head of Strategy & Business Development
Port of Cromarty Firth
Eddie McAvinchey
Director for Scotland
(Investment and Advisory)
National Wealth Fund
14.50 – 15.35
(Track B)
Leadership 3
Is Scotland Maximising Its Renewables Estate?
Is Scotland’s planning, consenting and investment framework enabling solar, repowering and emerging technologies like tidal and long‑duration storage to fulfil their role in a more complex renewables mix?
Joanne Allday
Head of Strategy
Port of Cromarty Firth
Eddie McAvinchey
Director for Scotland
National Wealth Fund
14.50 – 15.35
(Track B)
Leadership 4
CCUS: Scotland’s Bridge Technology or a Distraction?
Scotland has the geology, industrial clusters, and offshore expertise to become a major player in carbon capture and storage, but questions remain about cost, scale, and delivery. This session will examine the case for CCUS, where the opportunity lies and whether it can deliver meaningful decarbonisation alongside economic value for Scotland.
Andy Brooks
Director of New Ventures
North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA)
Dr Christian Calvillo Munoz
Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Energy Policy,
University of Strathclyde
14.50 – 15.35
(Track B)
Leadership 4
CCUS: Scotland’s Bridge Technology or a Distraction?
Does CCUS genuinely offer Scotland a competitive advantage by reusing offshore infrastructure and skills, or is it slowing emissions reduction and extending fossil fuel dependence under political cover?
Andy Brooks
New Ventures Director
NSTA
Dr Christian Calvillo Munoz
Senior Research Fellow
University of Strathclyde
15.35 – 16.00
Refreshments and networking
15.35 – 16.00
Refreshments and networking
Session 5: UK & Scottish Ministers
Session 5: Ministers
16.00 – 16.10
Ministerial Keynote (Scotland)
Stephen Gethins MSP
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
Scottish Government
16.10 – 16.20
Ministerial Keynote (UK)
Stephen Gethins MSPMinister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
Scottish Government
16.10 – 16.20
Ministerial Keynote (UK)
Michael Shanks MP
Minister of State (Minister for Energy)
UK Government
16.10 – 16.20
Ministerial Keynote (UK)
Minister of State (Minister for Energy)
UK Government
16.20 – 16.50
Q&A
Delegates will have the opportunity to ask ministers direct questions.
16.20 – 16.50
Q&A
Delegates will have the opportunity to ask ministers direct questions.
Conference close
Conference close
2026 Agenda
08.15 – 09.00: Registration and Refreshments
08.50 – 09.00: Chair’s Welcome & Introduction
Alison McLaughlin, Conference Chair
09.10 – 09.30:
The Business of Housing: The Disruptions We Need
Rethinking the foundations of Scotland’s housing model
Prof. Duncan Maclennan, Emeritus Professor, Urban Studies, 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
10.00 – 10.10: Q&A
Prof. Duncan Maclennan, Emeritus Professor, Urban Studies, University of Glasgow
Prof. Juha Kaakinen, Professor 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
10.45 – 11.00: 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
10.25 – 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
Susan Campbell, Director – Market Creation (Place), Scottish National Investment Bank
12.20 – 12.30: Transition
12.30 – 13.00:
Masterclass 1: Mitigating pressures of housing delivery in a changing 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
Amandeep Kalra, Founder and CEO, GreenFlip
Dr Gemma Bone-Dodds, Director of Insight and Policy, BE-ST
13.00 – 14.00: Lunch, Exhibitor Showcase and Networking
14.00 – 14.50:
Housing as a Foundation: Ending Homelessness and Regenerating Communities
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
14.50 – 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. Urban Studies, University of Glasgow
Dr. John Boyle MRICS, Director of Research and Strategy, Rettie
Cllr Ruairi Kelly, City Convener for Housing, Glasgow City Council
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, Former 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, Former 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
The Business of Housing 09 February 2027, EICC, Edinburgh
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