We would like to thank Bronwen Rapley for her fantastic achievements in her role as Chair of Homes for the North as she steps down to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Bronwen has served as Chair since 2024, and during her tenure she significantly raised the national profile of the alliance. She helped ensure that the voice of the North was clearly heard in debates on unlocking more, and better, homes across the region, strengthening our contribution to national housing policy and advocacy. Throughout her distinguished career, Bronwen has been a passionate advocate for affordable housing and community empowerment.
After 25 years in the housing sector, Bronwen is now entering a new chapter and enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Her career includes a number of significant roles, including a decade as Chief Executive of Onward Homes, leading regulatory enforcement at the Regulator of Social Housing, and serving as Deputy Chair of the National Housing Federation. We are enormously grateful for the leadership, insight and commitment she has brought to H4N.
Bronwen has now handed the baton to Paul Fiddaman, who takes on the role of Chair. Paul brings a wealth of experience to the position, currently serving as Chief Executive of Karbon Homes and as a founding member of Homes for the North. He builds on the strong foundations laid by Bronwen and will lead the alliance through its next phase.
Working alongside him, Rachael Dennis, Chief Executive of Incommunities, will serve as Vice Chair. With over 20 years of leadership experience in social housing, she brings a strong commitment to driving positive change across diverse communities.
This transition comes at a time of greater policy certainty for the housing sector, creating real opportunities to address the housing crisis. These changes give the sector renewed momentum to build new homes while continuing to invest in existing communities.
However, the North continues to face distinct and persistent challenges that require focused attention. A rapidly shifting political context, the need to remain agile and responsive, and the growing importance of data-led, evidence-driven policy recommendations mean that H4N’s role has never been more critical. As we move forward, we remain committed to advocating for solutions that recognise the unique circumstances and opportunities across the region.
We thank Bronwen for her exceptional leadership and look forward to working with Paul as Homes for the North enters its next chapter.
