Social value

In 2014, we created the UK Social Value Bank, in partnership with Simetrica-Jacobs. Social value isn't just intrinsic to social housing, it's central to who we are.

Data-driven

Since 2018, we've created five iterations of the UK Housing Data Standards, in partnership with OSCRE, to the social housing sector can leverage the power of big data.

Communities

In 2018, we established the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment. Since then, over 250 organisations have joined our networks.

Andrew van Doorn OBE

Chief Executive

Andrew is the Chief Executive of HACT. HACT partners with organisations across the housing sector to drive value for residents and communities through insight-led products and services which encourage innovation and foster collaboration. HACT helps them measure their social value, better understand the communities they serve, broker collaborations with the NHS, and connect with like-minded organisations.

Andrew has worked for HACT for 20 years and in housing, homelessness, supported housing, community development and wider social policy and practice for over 30 years. He is a Non-Executive Director at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Andrew was awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours List 2023 for services to housing.

@AndrewvanDoorn
@HACThousing

Alex Lubbock

Director of Operations

Joining HACT in September of 2024, Alex has over twenty years experience working across the Built Environment in a variety of roles. The last decade Alex has been at the forefront of best practice in the sector including leading on strategy and policy for Cabinet Office on Digital, Manufacturing and Technology in the sector.

He joined HACT having previously been in a Global Construction role for the British Standards Institution overseeing the delivery of Kitemark for customers products and services. Prior to that Alex was Managing Director of the UK subsidiary of a global tech platform called BIMobject. Alex retains a strong interest in the development and impact of the Built Environment and is currently a member of the board for the Digital Twin Skills Academy. Alex joined HACT to support its stakeholders and clients to create and drive lasting impact for communities.

Matthew Grenier

Business Development Director

Matthew joined HACT in 2021, although he has worked on and off for them since 2006. Before joining HACT he had run his own company, managing all strategic partnerships and the delivery of a range of communications and marketing services, working closely with senior leaders, trustees and staff to build brands that deliver business objectives, on time and on budget. He has written and edited numerous research reports, articles and blogs, as well as co-authored a book on Chinese communism.

Gavin Cansfield

Kalwant Grewal

Treasurer

Mary Gibbons

Mary is an experienced CEO, NED and qualified housing professional specialising in housing, development, regeneration, community engagement, care and support. Currently Chair of HCHA a small London based housing association and from October 2024 Mary leads Octavia Housing as Managing Director for the London Region at Abri. Mary has held various senior roles in the housing sector as Chief Executive of Moat, CHP and Hundred Houses Society. Mary feels privileged to work in housing because of the positive impact it can have on well-being and life chances.

Rachel Honey-Jones

Rachel is Head of Community Regeneration at Newydd HA. Outside of the day job she is also Board Member at Merthyr Valley Homes – Wales’ first tenant and employee mutual – a CIH Cymru Housing Futures Panel Member and was a Finalist in 24 Housing’s Young Leaders 2015.

Michelle Levi

Michelle has worked in social value for over 20 years, at a strategic and project level. She is currently Social Value Lead for Jacobs, global providers of technical and professional services, and is responsible for managing Jacobs’ approach to social value across Europe identifying opportunities for Jacobs to create social impact and drive engagement across the region. Prior to joining Jacobs, she worked for construction company, Laing O’Rourke, leading a team delivering social value and engagement on complex private and public sector projects.

Jules Bickers

Jules is the Director of Property at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, where he leads the teams providing maintenance, complex repairs, estate services and void-management for MTVH's 57,000 homes across London, East Anglia and the East Midlands. Before joining MTVH, he led the national housing consultancy team at Capita GL Hearn and has over 20 years housing sector experience across large and small registered providers, local authorities, sub-regional groups, private developers and voluntary organisations and hostels.

Shaun Holdcroft

Shaun Holdcroft has worked in the affordable housing sector for the past 18 years. He is currently Chief Growth Officer with responsibility for technology, data, process and change management. Previously he has also acted as Operations Director overseeing landlord services and tenanted stock acquisition.

Shaun joined Legal & General Affordable Homes from settle. As Executive Director, he was in charge of all services to customers and property, looking after 200 staff and c.£50m of revenue. Prior to this, he was Director of Resident Services London and Commercial Portfolios at Hyde Housing Group and Head of Housing at Southwark Council. Alongside a track record of establishing strong performing teams, he has eight years’ experience working at boardroom level.

Gemma Bell

Gemma is a Partner in a law firm and brings with her vast experience in charity law and governance. She has spent her legal career advising social housing providers. Gemma grew up in social housing and knows first-hand the vital and positive contribution housing associations make, it's what has driven her chosen career path.

Nigel Wilson

Nigel is Group Chief Executive of Trident Group, which he joined in September 2023. He is passionate about the social purpose of housing associations and that the voice of tenants is firmly at the heart of this. He has experience supporting the work of the National Housing Federation, Northern Housing Consortium and Housing Association Charitable Trust at board level.

Caroline Pillay

Caroline Pillay is a Senior Partner at Airey Miller Partnership and Chair of the Airey Miller’s Councils’ Councils Building Homes Forum, Caroline is also a Non-Executive Director of Social and Sustainable Capital and an ambassador for Women in Social Housing.

A seasoned built environment professional Caroline specialises in supporting public sector providers as a client-side advisor in the planning and delivery of Council re-development programmes. Caroline has advised on numerous housing projects including Housing PFI and major estate regeneration schemes. With a background in social care Caroline has been able to combine her diverse academic qualifications and experience across the broad spectrum of housing including specialist sector.

Prior to joining Airey Miller Caroline was for over 10 years director of her own Ltd company CAP Regeneration consultants providing client-side support for the delivery of major projects with councils. More recently as a partner within Airey Miller Partnership which established in 2015 as a subsidiary Airey Miller Ltd to provide the combined skills of strategic, commercial and technical services specifically targeted to support Local authority development programmes and activity.

Caroline is extremely passionate about improving social housing, placemaking and regeneration and the positive impact this brings for improving lives, transforming spaces, enhancing existing communities and creating new ones. An established speaker and chair Caroline supports the sector as a contributor at various housing industry conferences and events.

In her spare time Caroline mentors aspiring housing young professionals as an informal mentor

Michelle Dawson

Michelle has worked in housing since 2007 at a number of nationally-recognised organisations contributing to the positive regeneration and social impact within local communities. At Hammerson, Michelle was Community Investment Manager where she developed and led the company’s community strategy across the UK. At Battersea Power Station Development Company Michelle conceptualised & established a Community Interest Company to deliver programmes linked to the regeneration of the iconic power station. In these roles Michelle played a leading role in strategy, vision and regeneration.

With wide-ranging experience, Michelle has worked on projects for communities across the country, from Aberdeen to London. Michelle’s professional career illustrates her passion for communities across the UK.

Her work has focused heavily on community empowerment and regeneration, with an end goal of ensuring communities are actively involved in local development. Michelle joined Abri, one of the south’s largest housing providers, in 2020 and holds the position of director of housing and communities.