All-Ireland Housing Awards 2026
Read all the shortlisted entries into this award category, learning and development champion, at the All-Ireland Housing Awards (AIHA) 2026 and find out who won the award on the night.
The learning and development champion award looks to recognise and celebrate organisations or individuals who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to career development, whether that be their own or those of their employees.
Winner
Stephanie Bennis from Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Statement of support
Stephanie is an exceptional learning and development leader whose commitment and innovation is displayed daily as she leads a small workforce development team in housing services division. Although she leads a small team of three, her impact is divisional and organisation wide, and often felt across the wider housing sector. She brings innovative approaches to skills development, dedication to professional growth, and clear application of learning to improve housing services.
Unique approaches to skill development
Stephanie oversees the Housing Services Customer Support Apprentice Programme and the Housing Services Graduate Trainee Programme. In 2025, she led her team to support over 100 housing services staff across multiple development workstreams, including four graduate cohorts and three apprentice teams. She drives innovative and engaging learning methods e.g. graduate trainees complete a structured business improvement project that culminates in a Dragons’ Den style pitch to senior NIHE leaders. This challenges graduates to apply theory to real housing services related issues, which strengthens their confidence and helps improve services.
For apprentices, Stephanie continues to co-deliver a cross sector programme involving several housing associations, providing unique opportunities to develop wider sectoral knowledge. Apprentices work together to deliver a collaborative, sector focused project presented in a ‘You’re Hired’ style event. This innovative approach strengthens communication and teamwork, which are key skills required for front line housing roles.
The success of these initiatives were recognised in 2024 when the apprentice programme was shortlisted for two awards - the CIH All-Ireland Housing Awards (Working in Partnership) and the NIHE Staff Awards (Collaboration), demonstrating Stephanie’s determination and leadership in advancing standards. Stephanie work has also been recognised, with her team receiving the ‘Professionalism in the Workplace’ award in the 2025 All-Ireland Housing Awards.
Commitment to professional development and development of existing staff
Stephanie’s dedication to professional development goes beyond early career development of the graduate and apprentice programme. She has expanded development opportunities for experienced housing services staff.
In 2024/25, she supported seven staff in completing the CIH Level 5 Diploma in Housing, delivered in house by a CIH accredited tutor. In 2025, she proactively worked with CIH to secure and deliver a pilot CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homeless Services, enabling eight frontline housing services staff to join the first cohort. Her commitment to developing learning pathways demonstrates her focus on building skills, where it is most needed.
Stephanie also oversees delivery of the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership, which targets aspiring leaders and she manages any issues that arise. Over the last four years, four cohorts of housing services staff have completed this programme through a successful partnership with South Eastern Regional College.
Stephanie also champions CIH membership. She leads her team to actively promote CIH resources, events, and webinars, supporting approximately 300 NIHE staff in maintaining membership and engaging in ongoing professional development.
Application of learning in the housing sector
Through innovation, drive and a genuine passion for developing people, Stephanie has championed a learning and development approach that develops our housing services workforce - She is an exemplary learning and development champion.
Testimonial
- ‘Stephanie is an outstanding learning and development leader whose innovation and commitment have transformed skills development across the Housing Executive. Leading a small team, she delivers organisation-wide impact through creative programmes that truly embed learning into real service improvement. From award-recognised apprentice and graduate initiatives to expanding profession qualifications for existing staff, Stephanie consistently builds capability where it matters most. Her passion for people development, partnership working and application of learning makes her a true champion for the housing sector.’ Sarah McAdorey, head of estates, NIHE.
Outcomes and achievements
Throughout 2025, Stephanie has led her small team to support 72 graduate trainees, 28 housing apprentices, and 29 existing housing services staff through a variety of learning and development opportunities. She demonstrates ongoing commitment to enabling both personal and professional growth opportunities for all staff.
Stephanie has also been the driving force behind coordinating community placement opportunities for all apprentices. These placements enhance apprentice’s understanding of the communities they serve and services they provide.
She promotes innovative approaches to skill development. For example, she facilitates collaborative projects where apprentices work alongside housing association apprentices to design and deliver improvement pitches during the ‘You’re Hired’ event. These projects focus on key areas such as customer service, tenancy management, and wider personal and professional development.
Through her leadership and creativity, Stephanie has created hugely beneficial learning experiences that enhance staff development in housing services.
Shortlisted entries
Barbara Hannigan - Co-operative Housing Ireland
Application entry
- Individual nominated: Barbara Hannigan
- Organisation: Co-operative Housing Ireland
Statement of support
Barbara Hannigan’s nomination for the Learning and Development Champion Award is strongly supported by clear, sustained evidence of exceptional commitment to career development, innovative learning approaches, and the practical application of learning within Co-operative Housing Ireland and the wider social housing sector.
Over more than two decades, Barbara has demonstrated a unique and intentional approach to professional growth, progressing across multiple disciplines including housing operations, tenant advocacy, finance, leadership, and digital transformation. Rather than following a linear career path, Barbara has consistently challenged herself and sought learning opportunities that broaden skills and deepen sectoral impact. This cross-functional development is a defining strength of her nomination and reflects a genuine commitment to lifelong learning aligned with organisational and sector needs.
Barbara’s learning journey is underpinned by extensive Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Beginning with a CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing Practice, Barbara built a strong professional foundation in housing policy, tenancy management, and sustainable communities. This was followed by a Level 6 qualification in Applied Business Management, strengthening expertise in housing finance, governance, and law. In recent years, Barbara has undertaken an ambitious and highly relevant programme of study in data analytics and leadership, achieving distinctions and first-class honours at levels seven and eight, alongside professional certifications in Google Data Analytics, Power BI, predictive analytics, and leadership development. This sustained investment in CPD through 2025 clearly demonstrates an ongoing and proactive commitment to personal and professional growth. This commitment was formally recognised in 2025 when Barbara was awarded a First Class Honours Higher Diploma in Science in Data Analytics for Business (Level 8).
What distinguishes Barbara as a Learning and Development Champion is the consistent and effective application of learning in practice. As Asset and Loan Finance Manager, Barbara directly applied advanced analytics and business intelligence skills to improve loan management, forecasting accuracy, performance dashboards, and financial governance within Co-operative Housing Ireland. These improvements enhanced transparency, supported better decision-making, and strengthened organisational compliance and reporting.
Barbara’s current secondment as Project Lead for a new Financial Management System further evidences the practical impact of her development. This role brings together housing operations, finance, data analytics, and digital systems transformation, demonstrating how Barbara’s learning has evolved into leadership capability that benefits the entire organisation. By embedding data-led practices and supporting organisation-wide systems change, Barbara is contributing to improved service delivery and long-term sustainability within social housing.
In summary, Barbara meets and exceeds the judging criteria for the Learning and Development Champion Award through unique and purposeful learning choices, sustained CPD commitment, and clear, measurable application of learning within the social housing sector. Her career demonstrates how continuous learning can drive organisational improvement, innovation, and positive outcomes for communities, making Barbara a highly deserving nominee for the Learning and Development Champion Award.
Outcomes and achievements
Barbara’s learning and development has delivered clear and measurable outcomes for Co-operative Housing Ireland. Through the application of advanced analytics, finance and systems knowledge, Barbara has strengthened loan management, forecasting accuracy, performance reporting and financial governance. These improvements have supported stronger decision-making, increased transparency and enhanced organisational compliance.
Her leadership in the implementation of a new Financial Management System represents a significant organisational achievement, embedding data-led practices and improving efficiency across finance and operations. The integration of learning into day-to-day practice has reduced manual processes, improved reporting capability and supported long-term organisational sustainability.
Key learning from Barbara’s development journey highlights the value of continuous professional development that is directly aligned with organisational needs. Her approach demonstrates how targeted learning, when actively applied, can drive meaningful improvement across systems, services and governance in the social housing sector.
Barbara is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
