That’s a wrap on a hugely successful Community Housing 2023 conference!
The event in early May attracted over 400 delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors from across government, academia, not-for-profit organisations, the private sector, and the community housing industry. This was the first face-to-face conference hosted by CHIA NSW since 2019.
Please enjoy this photo journal of Community Housing 2023.
Sydney Street Choir opening Community Housing 2023
Day one of the conference was opened by an inspired performance from the Sydney Street Choir, a musical community with many members who have lived experience of homelessness. How often do you see a room of conference-goers in suits clapping along to a choir at 9am on a Wednesday!
Standing ovation for the Sydney Street Choir
CHIA NSW CEO Mark Degotardi officially opening Community Housing 2023
One of the conference’s first sessions discussed investment opportunities in the Housing Australia Future Fund and what its future means for the NSW community housing industry.
Pictured L-R: Ryan Murphy – Director, Real Estate Strategy at Queensland Investment Corporation, Charles Northcote – CEO at BlueCHP, Carrie Hamilton at Housing Action Network, Rowena Johnston – Chief Credit Officer at NHFIC, Emma Nicholson – A/ Head of Policy and Innovation at NSW Land and Housing Corporation.
Day one ended with a wide-ranging discussion between a handful of significant industry figures about the current community housing state of play.
Famey Williams – Chief Executive, Aboriginal Housing Office
Following the conclusion of the Day 1 conference program, we moved onto our social program, with networking drinks in the Landcom Lounge and then the conference dinner at Dockside Darling Harbour.
The Landcom team addressing delegates in the Landcom Lounge
Pictured: Carolyn Doherty – CEO at Argyle Housing, Debbie Georgopoulos – CEO at Women’s Housing Company, Rebecca Pinkstone – CEO at Bridge Housing and CHIA NSW Chair, Michele Adair – CEO at Housing Trust and former CHIA NSW Chair.
Guests were treated to a passionate address from NSW Minister for Housing and Homeless, The Hon. Rose Jackson who reaffirmed the NSW Government’s intention to confront the state’s housing crisis. Her speech and Q&A with CHIA NSW CEO, Mark Degotardi set the scene for one of the highlights of the entire conference event.
Minister Rose Jackson addressing the crowd
The CHIA NSW Board with Minister Rose Jackson
Day two of Community Housing 2023 was host to discussions on best practices for advocacy and government relations, learning from co-op housing about community and tenant engagement, social housing estate renewal opportunities, a masterclass on futureproofing industry assets, and much more.
The future of community and tenant engagement
Pictured: Caitlin McDowell – Head of Policy at CHIA NSW, Louise Crabtree-Hayes – Associate Professor at University of Western Sydney, Yvonne Jenkins – Tenant Representative at BRANCH co-op, Nick Sabel – CEO at Common Equity
Right Image Pictured: Bridge Housing tenant, Johnathon sharing his story in Advocacy That Works
Closing the conference was Young Australian of the Year 2022 Dr Daniel Nour, who founded Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit organisation delivering free medical care to people experiencing homelessness. Dr Nour ended the conference on a moving note about how it’s possible to bridge the gap between healthcare and homelessness.
Dr Daniel Nour
CHIA NSW Chair Rebecca Pinkstone officially closing Community Housing 2023
CHIA NSW would like to thank all the speakers and facilitators for sharing their expertise, perspectives, and personal stories with attendees. We also extend a special thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors, without whom Community Housing 2023 would not have been possible.
We hope everyone who attended the conference enjoyed the event and look forward to hosting again in 2025. Until then, from all of us here at CHIA NSW, thank you!
