President Overseas - Diary Update Two

Sydney, Australia - CIH President's Blog Stardate Tuesday 1st December 2009 , midair somewhere between Sydney and Auckland New Zealand. 1st Decemeber, but for you in the UK it is only just 1st December, for me it is 8pm. I am just beginning to get this 'time thing'. After about five weeks travelling from UK to Honk Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Melbourne and Sydney, the trick is you ring hotel reception and ask the time and if it is morning or evening and you then just go with the flow!

Other than the 'time zone' thing Australia was amazing and the Australasian Institute of Housing could not have made us more welcome. I say us because there are several of us Brits over here giving papers at both the Melbourne and Sydney conferences.

The Australian Social housing sector is extremely interesting. It is very small compared to the UK market but it plays an absolutely vital role that seems in the most part to be undervalued, except by those who it helps. But there is a real feeling that change is afoot. The Commonwealth Minister for Housing appears to be setting a climate for change and there is a real energy about the place. What is almost tangible is the raw energy and vitality that comes over when you speak to the dedicated housing professionals who are doing some amazing work. There seems a close affinity with the UK but everything is on such a smaller scale. The sector has that feel about it that suggests it is on the cusp of major change and in the next few years I think it will really find its feet and develop very quickly.

Meeting colleagues here is like meeting up with old friends, even though you have only just met. The Australasian Institute of Housing is carving out a professional practitioner position for itself that parallels that of CIH in its early years, but is doing this across an extremely large geographic area. Joan Ferguson, the CEO, almost seems to have the ability to dematerialise from one venue and reappear elsewhere, possibly hundreds of Kilometres away - scary but very impressive. Come to think about it, trying to keep track of our own Chief Executive Sarah Webb can be a bit like that.

We are about 30 minutes out of Auckland and just starting our descent so I just have time to tell you about the Aboriginal Housing Project we visited about two hours before we flew. Redfern is a small area on the outskirts of Sidney's city centre. Predominantly an Aboriginal inner city suburb that suffered extreme poverty and deprivation, it was the target of drug pushers and all the violence which is associated with this. A small core of community leaders, led by Aboriginal activist, Mick Mundine (brother to Tony Mundine of rugby league and super middleweight boxing fame), drew the community together through the formation of the Aboriginal Housing Association.

They have transformed the area from a 'No go' zone into an area with support structures and Mick and his team have given the people in the area real hope for the future. They have a vision that has survived all sorts of pressure for the Aboriginal Community Association to part with its valuable land assets. But they have hung on in there and in the words of Mick 'bring it on'. Inspirational, just inspirational! I just don’t know how they will bring their dream of redevelopment together but if anybody can I am sure it will be Mick and his team.

So the wheels are down and we are coming in on a 3 degree flight path, time to switch the computer off and stow it in the overhead locker for landing.

President Overseas - Diary Update One

Uniting a Global Housing Community is one of CIH's aims. This year is no exception and for the next few weeks I'm busy representing CIH and meeting our many friends on the other side of the world. In this first diary update I give you a flavour of what I've been up to.

Hong Kong - Arrived yesterday a little world weary and jet lagged after an 11 hour flight. It was actually a pretty good flight but sleeping on a plane during the day is not my strongest attribute. I arrived the day before things kicked off here so I at least get one night to recover before we start the cycle of meetings. In fact I have a message to meet Mr Poon Yuen Fong (Sanford) Chairman of CIH Asian Pacific tonight at 7pm when I am their guest at dinner. CIH Scotland Director, Alan Ferguson, will also be joining us so we can discuss our schedule and in particular the local issues that I will need to build into my formal address at tomorrow's joint Hong Kong Institute and CIH Asian Pacific Annual Dinner. It is not too bad for me but poor Alan only lands at 5.15 pm and has to get to the hotel and out again by 7.00pm - bet he doesn't arrive until coffee!

Beijing - It has been 'full on' since we got here just over two and a half weeks ago. We have had one day off duty which we used to visit the highlights of Hong Kong and do the tourist bit. We were in Hong Kong for three days starting with my speech at CIH Asian Pacific Annual Dinner. We've visited projects, met government officials, heads of large organisations - first here in Hong Kong, before flying to Beijing and landing in a blizzard and a temperature of minus three degrees. We froze our way around Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, several Government offices, housing projects and housing organisations before visiting a blooming big wall that stretched across mountain tops as far as you could see - talk about a planned maintenance programme.

Wuhan to Macau and back again - We flew on to Shanghai, then Suzhou, followed by Wuhan University where I delivered a presentation that was translated into Mandarin to a classroom of students (who I later discovered could speak perfect English). We then returned to Hong Kong with a side visit to Macau - exhausting but would not have missed it for the world!

On to Australia - CIH Asian Pacific are so thoughtful and hospitable it makes the whole experience unforgettable. The whole thrust of their strategy is to develop and grow their business, a task I am keen to use the presidential visit to help deliver. Their position in the Asian Pacific is complex and I will be keen to continue the dialogue with them and CIH as to how their business plan will develop. Well that's it for now, next time it is G'day Melbourne!

Richard Branson - If you are reading this...

It's becoming a habit isn't it? I'm on the train again, this time on my way to London Euston to attend a round table debate on the future for housing. Thinking about it, Richard Branson, if you should stumble across this blog, how about donating my rail fares to my chosen CIH Presidential Appeal charity Homeless International and in doing so help some of the one in six of the world's population that live in slums?

I was humbled the other week to be involved in a sponsored sleep-out by a group of 16 apprentices to support my Homeless International. The sleep-out happened in the centre of Coventry on the evening of the 5 October 2009, World Habitat Day. The apprentices from Whitefriars, part of West Mercia Housing Group had researched the work of the charity and had designed and built a replica slum dwelling.

I am pleased to report that the event attracted a lot of local media interest helping to promote the charity. Homeless International's chief executive Larry English and Chairman Eric Armitage OBE also attended and supported the event, which was an added bonus. The young apprentices raised more than £1,150 for Homeless International, but perhaps more importantly it raised their own understanding of just how privileged we and they are to live lifestyles we often take for granted. And, when you think about it, this is mainly down to being born in one part of the world and not another. The only down side to this great event is that the apprentices have challenged me to follow their lead and to sleep-out in their replica slum to raise more money. Oh the resilience of youth. Of course I will keep my promise but my efforts are going to have to wait for the weather to warm up a little. Oh, and Richard you could be my first sponsor, or better still you could raise your own sponsorship and join me. Watch this space!

On a serious note though, please help me to support this very important charity and continue the impressive work done by following the example set by our inspirational apprentices. Homeless International supports partners in Africa and Asia who are working with slum communities to reduce poverty and improve living conditions. Homeless International depends on the generous support of individuals and organisations. Check out their current appeals and find out how you can get involved on their website. You can also make a donation on my Just Giving Site.

A Peak Behind the Scenes

Well, here I am again. This time you find me letting the train take the strain as I head south to a meeting with Anthony Mayer, chairman of the Tenant Services Authority. CIH chief executive Sarah Webb is joining us and I fully expect to have an interesting and informed discussion. Anthony is a great character and is always well informed and focused on the current agenda.

As housing professionals it is important that our expertise and awareness fashions the country's housing agenda. The TSA exists to champion tenants and our role is to advise and turn good practice into reality. These discussions help to keep CIH at the heart of sector decision-making, and ensures that policy and practice are shaped to give the best deal for tenants. After all, this is who we work for.

As I watch the countryside flash by, it gives me time to update you on other parts of the presidential day. As soon as I finish my meeting I have to scoot back to Euston to get the train home in time to get changed and drive out to Telford in Shropshire to present the awards and do the closing speech at the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group's Awards Ceremony. This is one of a number of awards presentations that I've been honoured to attend since becoming President. In any profession it is easy for your job to become a 9-5 grind. In recent weeks seeing the dedication that so many people in our profession have for going the extra mile has been truly inspiring. One of the best things about being CIH President is the chance to meet some amazing people who genuinely believe that they are 'just ordinary'. For 'just ordinary' people they are doing some pretty extraordinary things! To be part of helping you tell your stories is quite a humbling experience and I'm so proud to represent you. Enough of that, I am in danger of becoming all emotional and missing my station.

So, my final destination for today's blog is the garden of a certain honourable gentleman's rented home. It is a another fine example of just how much work CIH does behind the scenes to make sure Government hears the views of our 22,000 members. And of course Government is always eager to share their message with you.
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In my next blog I'd like to pay tribute to this year's Presidential Appeal, Homeless International, but until then, I've got to make tracks…

Welcome to my Presidential Year

Previously, to address many people at the same time you spoke at events or you wrote a letter. Nowadays it is all about Twitter, You Tube and micro sites. And of course blogging. Thanks to my children I am dragged into the modern age. But I admit that there are times when I am dragged in backwards and upside down. Having said that, I am delighted that thanks to technology I can keep you informed about what is going on at the press of a button.

Welcome to my blog. This will be the first of many when I will update you on the events I attend and work I conduct on behalf of CIH, along with my inevitable thoughts and opinions on situations of the day.

For my first blog I'd like you to indulge me as I download my thoughts on what being CIH President means to me, and how I am fulfilling the role. Apparently a week is a long time in politics. So between now and June, by which time the next general election must have taken place, there is a lifetime of politics for us as housing professionals to have an impact on future decision makers. This is what I see as a fundamental task of my position as CIH President. It is a function I look forward to and accept with pride.

From current to future members of government, from civil servants to increasingly powerful local authorities, and from regulators to funders, I'd like decision makers to know that in the housing profession we are not just competitors for funds. We are industry experts who have a deep and often unrivalled understanding of the communities in which we work and are committed to serving. We have knowledge of how to work creatively and in partnership to find solutions to functional and societal problems.

Of course, we all know that in these tricky times we have some acute challenges to come. Drastic cuts are going to be made across the public sector. Our collective job, and mine as CIH President, is to ensure that housing remains at the top of the agenda and to counter the inevitable and damaging "NIMBYism" that localism will attract. Through lobbying and interaction I will do everything I can to ensure that residents' needs and desires are appreciated and prioritised at all levels of government.

Of course my role is not just about interacting with government. There's also a need to ensure that good practice is shared and celebrated across local, regional and international borders. As always, we also need to work hard to continue to encourage talented people into the sector from all walks of life. I have never known a time when "leadership" has been needed more and I will do all I can to help encourage and develop those leadership skills within the sector.

That is my vision, and this is what I intend to concentrate on over the coming months. I have already attended functions where I have learnt far more about the excellent work taking place across the country and deliberated with influential people. But that is for the next blog.Thanks for reading. I'll keep you posted and I'll tell you about my first meeting with a certain Mr Brown.