All-Ireland Housing Awards 2026
Read all the shortlisted entries into this award category, young professional of the year, at the All-Ireland Housing Awards (AIHA) 2026 and find out who won the award on the night.
This award category showcases the rising stars of the housing sector who have been working in the industry for three years or under.
This award was sponsored by CIH Housing Academy.
Winner
Sydney Arthurs from Circle VHA
Statement of support
We first met Sydney in June 2024, when the Circle Voluntary Housing Association launched its property management apprenticeship programme in collaboration with Ballsbridge College of Further Education and SOLAS. The programme combines academic learning with practical experience in property management, offering benefits for both apprentices and employers. We believe Circle is the first organisation in the social housing sector to establish this program, and we hope it will set a precedent for colleagues in the industry.
From the outset, it was clear that Sydney was a candidate of exceptional potential. In her competency-based interview, she demonstrated excellent decision-making skills, the ability to prioritise, and a clear understanding of health and safety considerations.
Sydney began her apprenticeship in September 2024, and it quickly became evident how naturally suited she was to the role. She demonstrated a level of maturity and professionalism well beyond her age. At just 22 years old, she consistently conducted herself with confidence and composure in environments that would challenge more experienced professionals.
When offered a choice of estates, Sydney responded, “Of course I want to stay in Deerpark. This is where all the experience comes from.” Deerpark is an estate with significant challenges, including poor workmanship that led to water ingress, fire defects, cash flow issues, and high levels of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Sydney approached these challenges head-on, seeing them as opportunities to learn.
Initially, contractors or board members underestimated Sydney because of her youth. Her response stood out; she maintained confidence, articulated her views and focused on delivering outcomes without confrontation or seeking intervention.
In the weeks that followed, she gained trust and respect because of her technical knowledge, preparedness, and calm demeanour. As her apprenticeship progressed, Sydney’s capability and confidence grew steadily. She mastered property management processes, tenant/resident engagement, and the responsibilities of a managing agent.
A strong example was her leadership in a community clean-up at Deerpark Estate, a development of 635 homes. Sydney managed all aspects of the event, including conducting a risk assessment, arranging insurance, issuing stakeholder communications, and arranging supplies and PPE. Most importantly, she engaged residents and tenants through meaningful conversations, strengthening relationships and trust within the community.
Additionally, she coordinated the replacement of the estate’s intercom system, a project requiring tight scheduling, flawless attention to detail, and clear communication, which was highly welcomed by residents.
Sydney has positively impacted tenants in Muileann Gardens by leading the project to replace a damaged artificial play area with natural grass, and this year, she is also spearheading a biodiversity planting initiative that demonstrates sustainability and long-term benefits for the community. Sydney is proactive in the overall organisational work, offering constructive input that supports process improvements.
She volunteered for tender evaluation for a major kitchen and bathroom refurbishment, excelling through strategic thinking, governance awareness, and strong judgement. She has since been invited to contribute to drafting Circle’s procurement policy, a responsibility rarely afforded to someone at her career stage.
Sydney quickly became a valued and well-respected team member. After just one year, she secured a permanent role as an OMC administrator, and she leads the project of compiling the full database of all external Owners Management Companies (OMC) where Circle has its properties. This allows Sydney to stay informed and involved in tenants’ day-to-day lives, enhance the quality of services offered to Circle tenants, and, in the long term, increase the value of Circle-owned properties.
Her professionalism, dedication, and impact exemplify the qualities of an outstanding housing professional. Sydney’s future in the social housing sector is extremely promising, and it is a privilege to support her for this recognition.
Outcomes and achievements
Sydney joined Circle as our first-ever property management apprentice, and just one year later secured a permanent role as OMC administrator. In this position, she manages key databases and actively engages with external Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs) that oversee communal spaces for Circle tenants. Her primary objective is tenant-focused service. She has built strong relationships with private sector managing agents to improve tenants’ homes while also enhancing the value of Circle’s assets. Her strong understanding of property management enables her to identify improvements and promote sustainable living for tenants.
Her persistence has strengthened relationships with local authorities, leading to the establishment of regular meetings with councils and community gardaí to support improved tenant outcomes. Within her first year, Sydney led several projects, and alongside these initiatives, she consistently delivers high-quality day-to-day operational support, assisting tenants and residents with professionalism, care, and a positive attitude.
Her leadership potential has been recognised within Circle, with CEO John Hannigan repeatedly referring to her as a future successor – a light-hearted remark that reflects genuine confidence in her abilities. In May 2026, Sydney will complete her course and obtain her PSRA licence, marking the formal recognition of her achievements and professional development.
Shortlisted entries
Eoin Hicks - Radius
Application entry
- Individual nominated: Eoin Hicks
- Organisation: Radius
Statement of support
I am pleased to nominate Eoin Hicks for the Young Professional of the Year Award. Since joining Radius as a housing apprentice in September 2024, he has shown remarkable growth, professionalism, and commitment to our tenants and customers - qualities that set him apart as an exceptional emerging leader.
Outstanding Commitment and Development
Eoin came to Radius with limited experience in the housing sector, but that didn’t deter him. In the last 18 months he has taken every opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow within the role. He has shown a high level of enthusiasm and commitment to developing both technical and professional housing skills both inhouse combined with his studies as part of the Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice. Eoin has actively sought opportunities across the organisation to gain broad experience and deepen his professional knowledge. His dedication and the consistently high standard of his work reflect a young housing professional invested in making a meaningful difference.
Professionalism and Team Contribution
Shortly after joining the Communities team his natural aptitude and reliability led to him being entrusted with a range of Housing Officer responsibilities at an early stage, tasks often reserved for more experienced staff. When carrying out these tasks he has demonstrated maturity, professionalism, and a positive approach to the challenges that he has encountered. He has also received extremely positive feedback from his lecturers and was recently nominated for the Apprenticeship of the Year award by the College.
Impact on the Organisation
Within a short time, Eoin has become a highly valued member of the Communities team. His commitment, hard work, and rapid development have contributed meaningfully to the organisation’s success. He embodies the true value of apprenticeship programmes - bringing fresh energy, capability, and a willingness to learn.
“Eoin has rapidly become one of the most capable and trusted early career professionals within our housing team.”
Director of Communities
Eoin is a shining example of what a housing apprentice can achieve with dedication, the right attitude, and a drive to learn. His contributions, both to colleagues and to the tenants we support, demonstrate maturity beyond his experience and a genuine passion for housing. He would be a truly deserving recipient of the Rising Star Award.
Outcomes and achievements
Making a difference for Tenants and Customers
Eoin’s strong communication and interpersonal skills have been evident in his work with tenants, including residents in our Independent Elderly schemes. His ability to build rapport and provide reassurance has made a genuine difference to the tenants who he has worked with assisting them to navigate significant life changes.
A tenant recently commented:
“I was anxious about moving to a new home and what it entailed. Eoin’s guidance and assistance throughout the process helped make the move less stressful.” – PB
Eoin has recently taken on the management of several challenging general needs housing schemes. He has used his skills and the experience he has gained to engage sensitively and effectively with tenants who have various high-level complex needs including hoarding and property condition issues. He has successfully assisted these tenants to obtain the right support to allow them to sustain their tenancies. He has also shown confidence and skill in addressing a number of cases of high-level antisocial behaviour; carrying out investigations, including reviewing cctv, interviewing the parties involved while managing difficult conversations with clarity and fairness. He has liaised closely with the PSNI, CRJNI and other statutory agencies and legal representatives to achieve positive outcomes in these cases.
Amanuddin Hamidi - The Iveagh Trust
Application entry
- Individual nominated: Amanuddin Hamidi
- Organisation: The Iveagh Trust
Statement of support
The Iveagh Trust would like to endorse Amanuddin Hamidi for the CIH Young Professional Award. Amanuddin started in the role of Project Manager within the Trust’s Asset Management team, six months ago, in August 2025. Amanuddin has ‘hit the ground running’ in a role and sector that was very new to him. He is a skilled, competent and highly professional Project Manager, with a great future in social housing ahead of him.
Amanuddin contributes to the Trust and the lives of the Trust’s tenants in a way that goes beyond managing assets or delivering projects. He pairs his approach of the technical role with empathy, awareness and has a strong understanding of people and the importance of tenant engagement.
His approach sees him contribute not just to sustainable technical solutions but also to sustainable communities. This is demonstrated in the two examples of his achievements below.
He is very much committed to delivering a good service for our tenants, staff and community. He contributes daily to positively impact our tenants' lives and homes. He has a strong understanding of the role that a safe and quality home plays in improving people’s wellbeing and can change lives.
Both Aman’s professional and personal approach to his career embodies the values of all things social housing. He is a highly professional and talented housing practitioner. He’s been a great addition to the Trust and the sector.
Amanuddin is committed to his professional development, having gained a BSc in Civil Engineering, in 2015, from Karden University, Afghanistan and upon relocating to Ireland, Amanuddin graduated with a 2:1 in MSc Project Management, in late 2025, from University of Dublin (UCD), under a competitive Scholarship Programme. He is also currently completing the PMP Certification in early 2026.
Further to this since joining the world of social housing, just six months ago, Aman has been very proactive in building on his understanding of the sector, both from within the Iveagh Trust and also by looking outwards, having signed up for CIH membership and attended his first CIH conference alongside actively participating in CIH courses such as ‘Unlocking affordable housing delivery: Strategies, challenges and opportunities’ and ‘What does the new government's approach to housing delivery mean for the sector?’.
Outcomes and achievements
Contribution to the Housing Need
Amanuddin’s most significant output has been his project management of the long-term void programme within the Iveagh Trust. Within a very short period of four months of being in the role, Aman, successfully scoped, tendered, awarded and delivered on the refurbishment of flats within our Kevin Street Estate - seeing the return of 10 long term voids to the Housing Team for letting under the Affordable Housing Scheme.
Commitment to Building Communities
Amanuddin is multilingual, with the ability to speak upwards of seven different languages and dialects, which has improved engagement and service delivery on projects that involve our culturally diverse tenancies. A welcomed addition to improving and building the communities within the Trust and in time, wider a field.
Another key output of Amanuddin’s is his lead in the roll out of a Playpark Project in the Kevin Street Estate, the most densely populated housing estate in Ireland, with a high volume of families with young children. Again, Aman has successfully scoped, tendered and awarded this donation funded project and is currently planning mobilisation for the construction stage and completion into March 2025.
Further to this, having realised that there is a gender gap with playparks and outdoor spaces, as part of the project scope, Aman is working with local artists together with the committee members and kids of Kevin Street to design and curate a street artwork piece, that will aid as a ‘Tik Tok’ dance back drop, hoping to encourage young girls into community spaces within the estate.
Sarah Flynn - Co-operative Housing Ireland
Application entry
- Individual nominated: Sarah Flynn
- Organisation: Co-operative Housing Ireland
Statement of support
Sarah Flynn is an outstanding example of a young professional whose impact far exceeds her time in the housing sector. Since joining Co-operative Housing Ireland at the end of 2024, Sarah has demonstrated exceptional professionalism, drive and commitment to tenants, delivering tangible results in a short period of time while upholding the highest standards of practice.
After a very short onboarding period, Sarah hit the ground (literally, the streets of Dublin) running and quickly impressed colleagues and Member Tenants alike with her quiet determination to get things done, strong and speedy work ethic, and commitment to delivering the best outcomes for Member Tenants wherever possible.
Following a short onboarding period, she took responsibility for managing 493 homes in the Dublin City Council area, including 462 new homes that she allocated, let and now manages. This scale of responsibility, particularly so early in her career, reflects both her capability and the confidence placed in her by the organisation.
Her professionalism, speed in working through allocations and lettings, efficient and collaborative ways of working and attention to detail has impressed everyone who interacts with her, she has also had a positive impact on the ways of working of more experienced colleagues.
In 2025, she led a shift within the team towards completing more of the allocations process digitally, reducing reliance on paper and postal correspondence. This has sped up our allocation timeframes, made our work more sustainable and contributed to us getting tenants into their new homes more quickly. This has been particularly valued by nominees who have transitioned from homelessness. She managed this complex process with sensitivity and care, ensuring applicants felt informed, supported and treated with dignity throughout. At Brookfield Heights in Dublin 8, Sarah allocated 79 homes, with approximately half of the nominations coming from homelessness services.
As we go into 2026, Sarah’s workload continues to be high as she allocates new developments. Despite a high and demanding workload, she has taken time to support and train new team members, sharing knowledge and contributing ideas to improve service delivery across the wider team. She continues to contribute ideas for making our allocations and lettings processes more efficient, timely and sustainable. She has demonstrated strong potential for continued professional growth within the social housing sector. Her willingness to learn, adapt and support colleagues demonstrates maturity beyond her years and a strong commitment to the profession.
Member Tenant compliments for Sarah:
“Sarah was so kind, helpful and caring. She explained everything – she is the best.”
“Sarah Flynn made everything easy, smooth and quick. I felt I could approach her with any issues, and that made me feel safe and heard.”
In summary, Sarah Flynn exemplifies the qualities of a Young Professional of the Year. Her achievements in a short period of time, her commitment to continuous improvement and her dedication to ethical, tenant-centred practice mark her out as a rising star in the housing sector.
Outcomes and achievements
Since joining Co-operative Housing Ireland in late 2024, Sarah Flynn has delivered measurable improvements in allocation efficiency, tenant experience and team practice within her first year in role. She has successfully allocated, let and now manages 462 new homes across the Dublin City Council area, contributing directly to reducing void turnaround times and supporting timely access to secure housing.
In 2025, Sarah led a shift towards increased use of digital communication within the allocations process. This reduced reliance on paper-based correspondence, improved response times and supported more sustainable working practices. These changes helped speed up allocations, particularly for nominees transitioning from homelessness, ensuring applicants were kept informed and supported throughout the process.
Sarah’s work at Brookfield Heights in Dublin 8 resulted in the successful allocation of 79 homes, with approximately 50 per cent of nominations coming from homelessness services. Her approach combined efficiency with empathy, ensuring a dignified and tenant-centred experience.
Beyond individual caseload delivery, Sarah has supported team development by sharing knowledge, training new colleagues and contributing practical ideas to improve consistency and service delivery across the wider neighbourhood team.
Alongside service delivery, Sarah has actively sought feedback, learned from experienced colleagues and applied best practice to continuously improve her performance and professional competence.
Jake Agnew - Choice Housing
Application entry
- Individual nominated: Jake Agnew
- Organisation: Choice Housing
Statement of support
Jake Agnew joined Choice in August 2024 as an Apprentice Housing Officer. He is a participant in the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Housing Practice, an innovative educational programme designed to empower the next generation of housing professionals. The apprenticeship programme aims to ensure that participants are equipped with the necessary knowledge and competencies to thrive in their housing careers.
As well as working towards a qualification, Jake is gaining invaluable experience at Choice through his role as Apprentice Housing Officer.
Jake is an exceptional Apprentice Housing Officer who has demonstrated outstanding commitment, professionalism and practical ability within a short period of time in this role. Through his performance, attitude and clear dedication to learning, Jake has gained a reputation for being a ‘shining star’ here in Choice.
From the outset of his apprenticeship, Jake has shown a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for housing. His progress to date, combined with the respect he has earned across the organisation, makes him a highly deserving candidate for the Young Professional of the Year Award.
Jake has gained significant hands-on experience by spending time with every department within the organisation, as well as across all areas of the Tenant and Client Services Directorate. This breadth of experience has allowed him to develop a strong practical understanding of housing operations and a clear understanding of what it means to work for Choice.
Jake’s ability to work independently with such ease and eagerness clearly demonstrates his strong practical application of learning. He confidently undertakes a wide range of tasks, consistently applying his knowledge effectively and efficiently. His ability to manage practical responsibilities with competence highlights his maturity and professionalism, particularly given his early stage in the sector.
His line manager, Area Housing Manager, Courtney Scates stated: “I have never been so impressed with a new start as I am with Jake. His dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism truly make him stand out as an exceptional apprentice. I genuinely believe Jake is operating at a level where, upon completing his course, he could seamlessly transition into a Housing Officer position. His reputation as a motivated and driven individual makes him a real asset to Choice and I am so glad he chose to come here for his Apprenticeship.”
Jake is particularly outstanding in his interactions with tenants, consistently demonstrating empathy, professionalism and excellent communication skills. He approaches tenant engagement with care and consideration, ensuring that tenants feel listened to, supported and respected.
He is a highly valued team member with a reputation for being motivated and driven. Carol Ervine, Choice’s Group Director of Tenant and Client Services, has commented on how much she values Jake’s dedication to Choice, a trait that has made him a real asset to the organisation and one that colleagues are extremely grateful for. With a very bright future ahead, Jake would be a very deserving recipient of this award, and his success would be warmly welcomed across Choice.
Outcomes and achievements
Jake has demonstrated professional commitment to Choice, the communities in which he works, as well as a commitment to his profession. He has won a Choice Staff Award in recognition of his commitment. He was also nominated for the North West Regional College’s Apprentice of the Year award. Additionally, Jake travelled to London to spend the day with the CIH President after being selected from nominations of all the CIH apprentices. He is excelling in his studies and his role as Apprentice Housing Officer with Choice.
Speaking of his experience Jake said: "As a participant in the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Housing Practice, I’m gaining invaluable knowledge and skills that are essential for a career in housing. The comprehensive curriculum and practical experience, combined with the support from mentors across Choice and fellow apprentices, is enriching my learning experience. I’m excited about the future and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in our communities."
