Say hello to the new leaders of CIH Futures

There have been some exciting changes to our CIH Futures board following our Annual General Meeting earlier this autumn.

CIH Futures is a board of young members who aim to transform our member offer. The heart of everything they do is around membership, helping us to make positive changes to make our offer as attractive, valuable and accessible as possible to younger housing professionals. Futures develop projects and campaigns to engage, involve and up-skill across the sector.

After holding the reins as chair for two years, James Ballentyne has now stepped down from his role as chair, paving the way for Halisha Kaur CIHM, development manager at Bromsgrove District Housing Trust previous vice chair and now chair, to take up this role.

Halisha said:

"To be the chair of CIH Futures is an absolute privilege and I’m looking forward to carrying on James’ work to champion the next generation of our sector's talent.

"At the beginning of my career, CIH Futures stood strong as a reminder that as a sector, we are diverse; we are innovative and we are impactful. As chair, I will ensure that Futures continue make the same impression on the many young professionals who are welcomed through our doors"

Also stepping into a new role, CIH Futures team member Emma Gilbank Cert CIH, service manager for sustainability and climate change at Connect Housing, has now become vice chair of the group. Emma will help Halisha lead the board to achieve the Futures Foundations:

• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Increasing membership among young professionals
• Highlighting housing as a career of choice
• Building new ambitious partnerships and relationships in order to do more for the sector.

Emma said:

“I am so excited to take on the role of vice chair of CIH Futures, to support a team of inspirational and diverse young professionals in shaping the future of the housing sector.

“Over the next two years, we want to build an inclusive community where younger voices can be platformed, and where we can support each other in our careers.”

Calling all housing professionals under 35 – Join CIH Futures networking group!

If you’re interested in getting more involved with CIH Futures and want to chat with younger housing professionals, join the new Futures networking group on LinkedIn. Futures will announce their first networking event for the first 500 members to join.

Futures are incredibly proud of their diverse and inclusive culture and will be recruiting new board members in the new year. Join the group to make sure you don’t miss out on all the opportunities coming your way in 2024.