Leading with purpose: A quarterly update on our EDI journey

I am proud to formally introduce myself as the new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lead for the Chartered Institute of Housing. While many of you know me in my capacity as the director of CIH Northern Ireland, taking on this broader remit for the business feels like a natural extension of the work we have been driving in recent years.

In Northern Ireland, equality isn't just a nice-to-have or a corporate buzzword; it is the bedrock of housing provision. Due to our unique historical context, ensuring fairness in how we allocate and manage homes is central to the housing profession. Equality impact assessments aren't just good practice – they are a statutory requirement for public bodies under the Good Friday Agreement. This deep-rooted culture of accountability is something I am eager to promote across all CIH activities.

Lessons in community cohesion

Given recent political shifts across the UK and Ireland, community cohesion has climbed back up the housing agenda. Housing practitioners everywhere can look to Northern Ireland as a leader in this space.

As I write this, today I had the privilege of attending the Community Relations Council Good Relations Awards 2026. It was a humbling reminder of the transformative power of grassroots work. I was particularly moved by the recognition of Valerie Walker, whose dedication to the 'Housing for All' programme demonstrates how intentional, shared housing can break down generational barriers. It is this kind of on-the-ground excellence that we want to champion through our EDI work.

Guided by expertise: Our EDI Board

CIH’s work is steered by the brilliant minds on our EDI Board, a group of dedicated professionals who ensure our strategy is both ambitious and achievable. The Board is chaired by Rohini Sharma Joshi OBE, who was recently interviewed by my colleague Liam Turner in CIH Unlocked.

We are currently working through an operational plan designed to embed EDI into the fabric of CIH professional development. Key objectives we are currently tracking include:

• Enhancing EDI CPD – developing a quarterly programme of webinars linked to our core campaigns
• Improving data – reviewing our EDI census questions to better understand our membership and the wider profession
• Knowledge sharing – incorporating more diverse content from partners and stakeholders into our Knowledge Hub.

Join the movement: Equality in Housing

One of our most significant milestones this quarter is the launch of our Equality in Housing campaign led by our EDI vice lead Emma Elston. I want to personally invite every one of you to sign the pledge.

This isn't about CIH monitoring your organisation. It is a public commitment to making our sector a fairer place. We know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to EDI; every organisation has its own challenges and local context. By signing up, you’ll gain access to resources and activity roundups to help you champion change in a way that works for you.

It is a two-way relationship – if you have a success story, we want to hear it. Let’s learn from each other.

Sharpening our tools

To support your learning, I’m delighted to promote two upcoming webinars that dive deep into the themes of connection and community:

1. Bridging cultures, building communities in Ireland and Northern Ireland – a look at how we navigate diverse cultural landscapes.
2. Building community cohesion – practical strategies for housing professionals to foster belonging.

I also encourage you to make frequent use of CIH’s Housing Rights website. It remains an essential tool for providing leadership on housing rights, particularly for non-UK nationals, and we are committed to keeping this commentary current and accessible.

This is an exciting chapter for CIH. I look forward to working with you all to ensure that home is a place where everyone, regardless of background, feels they belong.