The Housing Forum Futures Network 2026/27 Cohort

MARCUS YEOMANS

CHAIR OF THE FUTURES NETWORK

ARCHITECT

HTA DESIGN

Marcus is an architect specialising in the delivery of urban residential developments, with a particular focus on social and affordable housing provision. He has led projects ranging from low-rise terrace housing to complex apartment blocks, often within constrained urban environments, with a consistent aim of creating accessible, high-quality homes that meet community needs. Detail-oriented and solutions-driven, Marcus prioritises commercial value while ensuring the highest standards of design and technical quality. As a lead consultant, he works closely with housing associations, local authorities, and a wide range of sub-consultants to deliver schemes that balance cost efficiency, design integrity, and long-term sustainability. Passionate about addressing housing challenges, Marcus maintains a keen interest in innovative construction methods and industry best practice to support the continued improvement of affordable housing and to enhance processes, raise construction quality, and ultimately expand access to well-designed homes for all.

STEPHEN MEDHURST

DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE FUTURES NETWORK

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

POTTER RAPER

Stephen has been working in the construction industry as a Quantity Surveyor for just over a decade, with a background in residential, educational, commercial and listed buildings. Currently based in Potter Raper’s Cambridge office Stephen is involved in multiple residential and commercial projects which vary from small refurbishments to large re-developments. Stephen’s role is to provide cost and budget planning as well as financial reporting during a project. He is particularly keen to hear about new innovations within the industry and smarter ways in which clients can gain value for money. Stephen is also an RICS mentor and enjoys providing support to other surveyors looking to gain RICS membership. 

VICTORIA ALABI

TECHNICAL MANAGER (LONDON & EAST)

SOVERIEGN NETWORK GROUP

I am a Technical Manager at Sovereign Network Group (SNG), supporting development opportunities across the London and East region. With over eight years’ experience across developer, contractor, and client-side organisations, I have built a strong background in technical due diligence, design management, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery. I hold a Master’s degree in Construction Project Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, and have worked on a range of residential, regeneration, care and education projects throughout my career. 

I am passionate about delivering high-quality homes and places that positively impact people’s lives and communities. Having worked across different parts of the industry, I have developed a real appreciation for the role that collaboration, communication and strong relationships play in successful housing delivery. 

A people person at heart, I enjoy building relationships, learning from others and bringing different perspectives together to solve problems. Beyond my professional work, I have a keen interest in design and enjoy exploring the creative side of the built environment. I am naturally curious and always looking for opportunities to learn, develop and broaden my perspective. 

I am excited to be part of the Futures Network and look forward to connecting with like-minded professionals, learning from different disciplines and contributing to conversations that help shape the future of housing. 

RACHEL BLACKLER

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

INNER CIRCLE CONSULTING

Rachel is a housing and sustainable development consultant providing critical project management for large, multidisciplinary project teams on regeneration and housing projects, including a large regeneration project in Truro on behalf of Cornwall Council, Grahame Park in Barnet and Joyce and Snell’s in Enfield.   

HASAN CENKTAS

SENIOR ARCHITECT

HTA DESIGN

I’m a Senior Architect, working at HTA Design in London. My expertise lies in the early design stages of projects where my roles include exploring feasibility, design development, and bringing projects to planning. My ability to draft and present design ideas with a wide variety of media has led to my involvement on numerous capacity studies, bids, and competitions across the UK. Over the last few years I’ve gained a good understanding of our clients’ specific needs and requirements within the Build-to-Rent sector: this has enabled me to successfully fulfil the role of Design Guardian for several key HTA projects. I spend a lot of my free time making architectural illustrations, and am currently working on a project to draw every Greggs in London. 

LEWIS CHANT

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

CHIC

As Partnerships Manager, I enjoy building strong, long-term relationships with our supply chain partners and helping them get the most out of the frameworks they are appointed to. Working within the housing sector, I collaborate closely with suppliers to understand their business, support their development and ensure they consistently deliver high-quality services for our members. A key part of my role is supplier performance management, using regular engagement, performance reviews and open communication to drive continuous improvement, encourage collaboration and share best practice. I believe it’s important to support the whole supply chain, from SMEs and local businesses through to larger Tier 1 contractors, recognising the different strengths and challenges each brings to the sector. Ultimately, I’m passionate about building strong partnerships that deliver value, improve service quality, and achieve the best possible outcomes for residents. 

IMOGEN CUNNINGHAM

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

LATIMER – CLARION HOUSING GROUP

Imogen is an Assistant Project Manager at Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group. Her role involves leading key pre-construction activities from land acquisition through to construction, including risk, cost and programme management. Prior to joining Clarion through its graduate scheme, Imogen worked at Notting Hill Genesis in housing management and policy. This broad affordable housing experience has strengthened her commitment to overcoming barriers to housing delivery and increasing access to affordable homes. Imogen places a strong emphasis on collaborative working and partnership-driven delivery. She is passionate about building high-quality homes which meet a growing demand, whilst creating positive outcomes for residents. 

VALENTINA DEL FUOCO

TECHNICAL MANAGER

MTVH

Valentina Del Fuoco is a Technical Manager at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, with over 19 years of experience across architecture, contracting, development and housing associations. Having worked throughout the development lifecycle, Valentina brings a unique cross-sector perspective to the delivery of residential and regeneration projects. She has a particular interest in building safety, design quality, digital collaboration and technical assurance, and is passionate about sharing knowledge and supporting continuous learning across the industry. As a member of The Housing Forum Futures Network 2026/27 cohort, she is keen to contribute to shaping safer, more sustainable and better-connected housing delivery 

LEANNE DEVLIN

SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR

ABRI GROUP

I am a Sustainability Co-ordinator for Abri, which is a broad role, covering reporting, internal comms and supply chain, to name a few. Previously I was a secondary geography teacher and DofE lead. 

MATT GIBBONS

SITE MANAGER

LOVELL PARTNERSHIPS

Matt Gibbons is a Site Manager at Lovell Partnerships, currently working on the Leaside Lock development in East London. Having progressed through Lovell’s graduate programme into site management, Matt has gained experience across both the commercial and operational sides of residential construction. 

He currently manages the delivery of two residential blocks comprising over 200 homes, coordinating site teams, subcontractors and stakeholders through the construction and finishing stages. Matt has a particular interest in leadership, quality and developing effective ways of managing teams and delivering projects. 

As he continues to progress towards a senior management role, Matt is looking forward to broadening his understanding of the wider housing sector, learning from others across the industry and contributing his own perspective from the construction and delivery side. 

RACHAEL HOOKWAY

PROJECT MANAGER

CAST CONSULTANCY

Rachael is a Project Manager and Employer’s Agent at Cast Consultancy, specialising in residential-led and mixed-use developments. With 14 years of experience across the public and private sectors, she has worked on a wide range of regeneration and development projects, including Build to Rent, Shared Living, Later Living, and Affordable Housing. She is looking forward to participating in the Futures Network Programme to further develop her professional skills and industry knowledge.

SOPHIE HOWE

STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGER

LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN

I am a Strategic Asset Manager at Camden Council, where I lead housing asset review programmes, including asset performance evaluation, acquisitions, and disposals. This has given me a unique perspective on strategic asset management in social housing, where my work focuses on evidence-based decision making that balances the provision of quality homes, a changing compliance landscape and increasing financial pressures. I have a particular interest in asset strategy and service design, with experience designing and delivering new strategic programmes. Prior to joining Camden, I held asset management and policy roles within central government in New Zealand. I am looking forward to participating in the Futures Network Programme to broaden strengthen my leadership skills and build connections with peers from across the housing sector.

AIMEE HUTTON

LAND & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER (NORTH)

THE GUINNESS PARTNERSHIP

Aimee Hutton is Land and Partnerships Manager (North) at The Guinness Partnership, specialising in affordable housing delivery, land acquisition and strategic partnerships. Aimee has also recently completed a Board Trainee programme with the HDN and VICO Homes. Passionate about increasing the supply of high-quality affordable housing, Aimee is particularly interested in collaboration, place-making and developing future leadership within the housing sector 

NIAZ ISLAM

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

LONDON BOROUGH OF HACKNEY

Niaz Islam is a Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB) with an MEng in Civil Engineering, bringing experience across client-side housing delivery and Tier 1 construction. He currently works client-side for Hackney Council, supporting the delivery of multiple housing regeneration schemes from pre-construction and procurement through to construction and handover, with a focus on programme, cost, quality, risk and contractor management. 

Previously, Niaz worked with the Berkeley Group delivering high-specification residential developments in London, including the award-winning Westmont Club Residences, which received an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award in 2025. His experience spans construction management, procurement, contract management, quality assurance and multidisciplinary project delivery. 

Niaz joined the Futures Network to broaden his understanding of the housing sector, learn from experienced industry professionals and build relationships with the next generation of housing leaders. 

ZAHID JUSSAB

SOLICITOR – REAL ESTATE PROJECTS

DEVONSHIRES

Zahid’s previous experience includes acting for landlords, tenants and developers on residential property and leasehold enfranchisement matters. Zahid specialises in leasehold enfranchisement and freehold acquisitions under the Leasehold Reform Acts, advising registered providers and housing associations on complex property matters.  

Zahid also works as part of the wider Real Estate & Projects team, assisting clients on sales, purchases, land transfers, right to buy, right to acquire, licences to alter, deeds of variations and buybacks. 

SHANNAN KAMALENSON

ARCHITECT

AIREY MILLER

Shannan is an Architect and Principal Designer for Building Regulations and CDM at Airey Miller, with eight years’ experience across architecture, urban design, technical delivery and building safety. Her work spans residential and mixed-use regeneration, high-density housing, high-rise development and façade remediation, giving her experience from early design and placemaking through to construction, compliance and delivery. She is passionate about creating safe, high-quality homes and neighbourhoods that genuinely support the people and communities who live in them. Working across both architectural and Principal Designer roles has shaped her interest in bringing design, construction and regulation closer together, with a strong focus on early collaboration, clear responsibility and protecting design quality throughout delivery.  Shannan is particularly interested in inclusive placemaking, strengthening the role of architecture within housing delivery, and ensuring that the need for more homes does not come at the expense of safety, quality or long-term community value.

MEGHAN KINGSLEY-WALSH

HEAT DECARBONISATION MANAGER

LONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM

As Heat Decarbonisation Manager at the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, I lead programmes that support the decarbonisation of homes across the borough, including retrofit, energy efficiency and low-carbon heat projects for council housing. Having worked across all housing tenures, I am passionate about delivering better outcomes for residents, overcoming the challenges of decarbonising existing homes, and identifying innovative income generation opportunities to support investment in sustainable housing. I am particularly interested in the role of heat networks in delivering affordable, low-carbon heating at scale and helping housing providers meet their net zero ambitions. Through the Futures Network, I look forward to developing my leadership skills, learning from peers across the sector and contributing to the future of housing. 

FINLAY LAMBOURNE

PROJECT SURVEYOR

BUGLER GROUP

I’m a Project Surveyor working in the construction industry and currently studying for my BSc in Quantity Surveying. My role involves managing projects from pre-construction through to completion, coordinating contractors and consultants, monitoring programme, cost, quality and compliance, and helping to ensure projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget. I’m keen to learn from others, share knowledge where I can, and contribute to discussions on delivering high-quality housing developments. 

JADE MANOUCHEHRI

ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR

BIRKETTS

Jade Manouchehri is an Associate in the Residential Development Team at Birketts LLP, advising housebuilders, developers, landowners, registered providers and later living operators on residential development and strategic land projects. Alongside her legal practice, she is actively involved in industry leadership and collaboration initiatives to drive positive change across the housing sector. Jade is passionate about housing delivery, sector collaboration and improving diversity and inclusion across the built environment. 

ANNA MAYBRICK

SENIOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

VISTRY GROUP

Anna is a Senior Development Manager at Vistry Group, working on residential development projects across the Central Home Counties. She holds an MSc in Real Estate and joined Vistry in October 2019 as part of the graduate programme, where she spent 24 months rotating through key departments, before joining the Development team full-time at the end of 2021. Anna’s role involves working across the full development lifecycle, from land acquisition and planning through to delivery, with a particular focus on affordable housing and partnership working, including working with JV partners and Homes England. She is looking forward to joining the Housing Forum’s Futures Network, where she hopes to further develop her leadership skills, broaden her industry knowledge, and build lasting connections with fellow professionals from across the sector.   

BECKY MAYO

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL MANAGER

PEABODY

Becky is a qualified architect with experience delivering residential, commercial and mixed-use projects across all RIBA Plan of Work stages in London, the home counties and the midlands. As an Assistant Technical Manager at Peabody, she works within the Technical Client function, helping to address complex regulatory, environmental and commercial challenges through developing design and technical standards for new build homes and establishing processes to meet statutory obligations that relate to, for example, building safety. Becky moved from architectural practice into the social housing sector to have a greater impact on the communities that housing serves, an interest that developed during her academic studies. 

MIRUNA MAZILU

ASSOCIATE

PRP

Miruna Mazilu is an Associate Architect at PRP with over 10 years of proven track record of delivering high quality, large-scale residential and mixed-use schemes through the planning process. From early-stage feasibility studies to managing complex planning submissions, she excels at leading multidisciplinary teams to bring ambitious masterplans to life. Miruna is passionate about landscape-led design, with recent projects like Brooklands Grove and Ashmere Phase 2 (Ebbsfleet Garden City) reflecting her commitment to creating vibrant, sustainable communities that harmonise with their surroundings. Beyond her practice, she is a regular university guest critic and lecturer, dedicated to mentoring the next generation of architects. 

ADAM POINTON

MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

GENUIT GROUP

I’m the Group Materials Development Manager for Genuit Group plc. I have been with Genuit Group now for 5 years, starting as a Graduate and now in my third year as a manager. My responsibilities include investigating and researching new, sustainable alternative materials to the traditional materials we use within our products. The main focus of this is to substitute virgin polymers for recycled polymers in our plastic products, while also exploring other sustainable options (bio-polymers, sustainable fillers, sustainable additives, etc.). In order for this to be a success I work closely with our technical teams, procurement teams, clients and our suppliers directly so our businesses can use the right materials, with the right specifications and the right quality so that our sustainable product portfolio is a success for us and our customers, plus lowering our carbon emissions for a more sustainable future.

JOSHAN RAI

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

WATES RESIDENTIAL

Joshan Rai is a Development Assistant at Wates Residential, working towards the RICS Planning and Development pathway. His experience spans residential development and regeneration, with exposure to public-private partnerships. In his current role, Joshan supports the feasibility and development of residential-led schemes, working across design, planning, viability, funding, commercial considerations and stakeholder requirements. Joshan is keen to develop his understanding of the wider housing sector, strengthen his leadership and communication skills, and learn from professionals across the industry. He is looking forward to contributing a development-side perspective to the Future Network while learning from experiences and perspectives of the wider cohort.   

FRANKIE SCRIVENER

QUANTITY SURVEYOR

BAILY GARNER

Frankie Scrivener is a Quantity Surveyor at Baily Garner, specialising in cost management, procurement and commercial delivery across housing and construction projects. Having joined the practice as an apprentice in 2020, Frankie has rapidly progressed through the profession, developing expertise in cost planning, procurement, contract administration and financial management while leading multidisciplinary project teams and supporting the delivery of complex programmes. Alongside his commercial responsibilities, Frankie is a passionate advocate for innovation and sustainability in the built environment, with a particular interest in how approaches such as Passivhaus can improve building performance, reduce long-term costs and create better outcomes for residents. Currently working towards RICS chartership, he combines strong technical knowledge with a collaborative approach and is committed to helping shape the future of housing delivery through smarter, more sustainable investment decisions. 

LORENA SILVESTRI

SOCIAL VALUE MANAGER

LANGLEY

I am a Social Value Manager at Langley, where I work collaboratively with housing associations, local authorities, charities, social enterprises, training providers, and contractors to deliver meaningful social value outcomes. I am passionate about creating lasting community impact and champion innovative approaches that connect procurement, social value, and community investment to improve opportunities for residents. A key part of my role is building and embedding an internal volunteering culture across the business, encouraging colleagues to actively support local initiatives and community projects. By fostering employee engagement and strengthening connections with local communities, I help create sustainable social impact that extends beyond contractual commitments. I have played a key role in developing initiatives that support skills development, employment pathways, and workforce sustainability, including apprenticeship programmes and the Roofing Academy pilot. Through these projects, I have helped create opportunities for individuals to gain valuable skills, access employment, and build long-term careers within the sector. As an active member of the Institute of Social Value UK and a regular participant in the Women in Social Housing, Young Professionals in Social Value, and Westminster Insights networks, I am committed to collaboration, sharing best practice, and driving positive change across the housing sector. I am passionate about building strong partnerships, fostering an internal culture of volunteering, and supporting local initiatives that create meaningful social impact. I believe that collaboration, innovative thinking, and community engagement are essential to delivering lasting outcomes for residents and leaving a positive social legacy.