Welcome to WISH Yorkshire & Humberside

Kam Urwin has over 18 years’ experience of working in the Not for Profit, Charitable and Private Sector focused on supporting and championing inclusion, diversity and equality. After leaving university having worked in the telecoms sector, travelled globally for 2.5 years, Kam worked with women fleeing domestic violence and people with disabilities for a number of years. These experiences ignited Kam’s passion to work to help create a fairer more equal society for all. For 12 years, Kam delivered and managed award winning Mentoring Programmes for inclusion and diversity for 60 plus Social Housing organisations – which included junior staff up to Board Members nationally.

Kam has recently set up freelance as an, Inclusive events Facilitator and Mentoring Programmes for Diversity Specialist. Kam believes that networking and mentoring both foster positive connections and greater understanding between people who may not ordinarily come together. With this in mind Kam has become Chair of WISH Yorkshire having previously been a Board Member at WISH North West, attended numerous WISH events and witnessed first-hand the impact of inspiring and inclusive events for women who wish to develop and increase their confidence.

Outside of work Kam has been on her local school events committee for 6 years, arranges community events and loves to read, run, spend time with her children and more recently perform on stage!

Megan Henderson has worked in housing since 2003 in a variety of customer facing and back office support roles. With a background initially in textile design, Megan returned to University to undertake a Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management qualifying in 2010 and has worked as HR Manager for Leeds Federated since. The role has a broad remit from day to day HR, payroll, Learning and Development, Organisational Development and Management Development. Megan has worked closely with staff and wider organisation to achieve IIP Gold in 2012 and to retain this in 2015. Megan has worked with Housing Diversity Network as a mentor since 2008 and chaired the NHF HR group for the Yorkshire and Humber and North East regions since 2011. She joined the WISH Yorkshire and Humber Board in 2016 and is also on the Board for Harrogate Housing Association.

Outside of work Megan enjoys the outdoors, especially the Lake District and performs with Leeds Gilbert and Sullivan Society (though thankfully they don’t just perform G&S shows!) the highlight of which was undertaking the role of Little Red in a production of Into The Woods.

Lizzie joined Savills graduate scheme in September 2015 having graduated from Oxford Brookes University. She sits in the Leeds housing valuation team.

Lizzie specialises in valuing social housing stock, primarily for loan security purposes. Working for a range of lenders and registered providers, Lizzie is responsible for supporting the wider housing valuation team in all aspects of the valuation process. 

Lizzie’s interest in property, particularly residential, was first established during work placements at surveying and planning practices which prompted her decision to study planning and property development at University. She passed her professional qualification to become a qualified Chartered Surveyor in May 2018. 

Building Surveyor at Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing

Sue originally joined the organisation back in 2011 as an apprentice after embarking on a career change from a school secretary.   Sue successfully achieved her apprenticeship, secured a position within the asset team and has gone on to study further qualifications in Construction, Housing and Leadership to continue her professional development.  

Away from work Sue volunteers at her local Riding for the Disabled Association sessions, giving those with physical and learning disabilities the opportunity to enjoy something that has given her so much pleasure over the years.   Sue will openly admit to been an avid, boarding on obsessed, Huddersfield Town fan and travelled over 6000 miles to watch every game in their inaugural Premier League season. 

After attending her first WISH event out of curiosity, Sue has attended many more since, each time leaving with a positive vibe, upbeat and brimming with ideas to embed into her work life but most of all the knowledge that there is a supportive group of like-minded women who are more than happy to share their wealth of knowledge and expertise. 

Communications Manager for Leeds Federated Housing Association

Hannah is an experienced communications professional who is passionate about working for organisations with a social purpose. As Communications Manager for Leeds Federated, she delivers strategic change communications and project management for its business transformation project and oversees communications across the organisation.

Before joining the housing sector in 2013, she worked in a wide range of roles across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors including local government and the NHS.

Hannah is an Accredited Practitioner and member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). She has a degree in Media Studies and recently completed a post-graduate level CIPR diploma in internal communications focusing on business change. She has mentored others through the Housing Diversity Network programme and has a coaching qualification from the Institute of Customer Service. As part of the WISH Yorks and Humber board, she wants to encourage other women to pursue a housing career and develop their skills and confidence.

Away from work she is a trail runner who loves exploring the great outdoors. 

Sam runs her own management and technology consulting company, ISAY Consulting, is a non-executive director on the Board of Great Places Housing Group and lead Business Transformation Associate with the Housing Quality Network (HQN).

Sam has a wealth of technology experience gained in private, public and not for profit sectors and a track record in successfully leading large teams and large- scale changes. As well as digital expertise Sam is an accredited coach and SFIA (Skills for the Information Age) consultant.  She is passionate about developing talent, transforming teams and harnessing technology to deliver successful business outcomes working with people and organisations to make a positive difference.

Rachel has worked in the housing, charity and public sectors over the past 7 years and is a solicitor in the Housing team at Capsticks Solicitors LLP. Rachel specialises in advising housing associations, charities, public sector bodies and voluntary sector organisations on corporate, regulatory and governance issues.

Having attended many WISH events during her time living in London, Rachel was delighted to join the WISH board in the Yorkshire and Humberside area upon moving back to her hometown of Leeds.Rachel has extensive experience advising registered providers and charities on a wide range of governance and corporate issues including mergers and restructures, constitutional amendments, charity law and RSH regulatory compliance and brings this experience to her role as board member.

Outside of her professional life, Rachel has a keen interest in gender studies having complied a Masters degree in Gender Sexuality and Law in her spare time and runs a Book Club in Leeds. Rachel also enjoys practicing yoga and travelling where possible!

I am 58 years old, married to Alan, we live in Leeds, have two sons and a daughter and three Granddaughters. I have worked in the Housing Sector for twenty years, in Tenancy Enforcement and Anti-Social Behaviour. I currently work for Incommunities as their Tenancy Enforcement Manager where I am responsible for the delivery of their ASB service.

I initially became involved  in this field on a voluntary basis having moved to the UK and suffered pretty horrendous ASB I assisted a local housing association to develop an ASB process, which led to a job offer and the rest is history!

Alan and I currently combine work with caring for our daughter who is severely disabled and are volunteer helpers with HCPT a charity who take disabled children and adults to Lourdes, we also help fundraise for them.

Outside of work I love to cycle and am a member of Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club (YLCC) a women only cycle club for women of all ages and sizes who have social rides  usually from Wetherby  every Friday and Sunday.

Alan and I look after our 3 Granddaughters every Friday and like nothing better than spending time with our family.

Jane is an experienced Organisational Development (OD) professional. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, she has a proven track record in senior roles delivering strategic OD and HR. She is passionate about all things employee engagement and is proud to have supported businesses to achieve top spots in The Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For, along with National Training Awards and Investors in People. She has worked in the social housing sector for thirty years, most recently as Director of People and Risk at the New Charter Group up to March 2018.

She became an independent consultant and coach in 2018 and runs her own business called Hooga Consulting.

She is Chair at Ashton Pioneer Homes and Non-Executive Director of Quest Media both of which are based in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

I am a Social Housing Property Solicitor with experience in all aspects of residential and commercial property related matters. Based within the Social Housing Team of Bevan Brittan LLP in Leeds, I now work almost exclusively with Housing Associations and have specialised in development work including disposals and acquisitions; Section 106 sites and more complex structures which involve golden brick and back-to-back development arrangements with local authorities and private developer companies. I also work on large scale security charging projects for private individuals, limited companies and Housing Associations.

I was keen to join WISH in order to help promote the role of women in the Social Housing sector through developing networking opportunities and sharing knowledge and experiences within a friendly and supportive setting.

During my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my partner and his son and our two horses out on the farm where we live near Harrogate.