The Housing Community Summit 2026

We’re delighted to be hosting a Showcase Stage session at The Housing Community Summit in Liverpool on the first day of the event, Tuesday 8th September 2026, from 13:10 – 13:55.

Sir Norman Lamb will be chairing the panel session titled ‘Better Ageing with Better Tech: Overcoming Barriers to Adoption’ and will be joined by our CEO and Founder, James Batchelor MBE, Christine Candlish, Places for People, Richard Walker, Pickering & Ferens Homes, and Stewart Davison, Elehan Consulting.

The panel session will involve:

• Exploring how technology can help older people live independently for longer, reduce loneliness, and support earlier intervention through better-connected housing and care services
• Examining the opportunities and challenges of adopting digital tools and AI, including trust, privacy, digital inclusion, and ensuring technology enhances rather than replaces human contact.
• Discussing what policy, procurement, leadership and partnership changes are needed to scale proven technologies across social housing and improve outcomes for older people.

Meet the Panel

Sir Norman Lamb served as Member of Parliament for North Norfolk for more than 18 years. During his time in Parliament, he served as Minister of State for Care and Support and later chaired the Science and Technology Select Committee. Since leaving Parliament, he has continued to work on mental health, social care and the protection of older and vulnerable people, including through his work in the NHS and advisory roles with organisations focused on social impact, including Alertacall.

Christine has worked in social housing for over 30 years, and has a particular interest in supported housing, rural affordable housing and community based provision.  As Director of Living Plus, the supported housing arm of Places for People, she leads strategic and operational delivery across a national portfolio of supported housing, retirement living, and extra care services.  Christine believes that good quality, affordable housing is about more than buildings but that it provides the foundation for health, wellbeing and independence.

Christine also has over 20 years experience of school governance.

Richard joined Pickering & Ferens Homes in December 2021 and has a huge amount of experience in housing, having read Housing Studies at University and worked for Local Authorities, ALMOs, Housing Associations and as a freelance consultant in a career spanning almost 30 years.

He leads the operational delivery side of Pickering & Ferens Homes and has overall responsibility for a wide portfolio, including compliance with the Consumer Standards. He is passionate about ensuring residents receive the best services and live in good quality and safe properties, enabling them to ‘age in place’, and believes that listening and acting on residents’ views is a fundamental way of achieving this.

Stewart Davison is a seasoned executive, board member, and thought provoker with nearly 30 years of experience in Proptech and digital transformation within the social housing sector. As the Founder of Elehan Consulting and a past Non-Executive Board Member at Taff Housing and current Vice Chair of Elim Housing Association, Stewart has been at the forefront of driving strategic and operational change in affordable housing through technology.

Stewart is passionate about leveraging technology as a force for positive change, and he has been instrumental in informing, educating, and implementing new technologies to improve the lives of tenants across the UK.

A sought-after speaker and published author, Stewart is known for his deep understanding of the challenges faced by housing providers and his ability to align technology solutions with business requirements. His insights and expertise have made him a trusted advisor to housing associations, technology vendors, and industry stakeholders alike

James Batchelor MBE, CEO and Founder of Alertacall, is a serial entrepreneur and has dedicated the last two decades to using technology and a specially trained, friendly team to help housing providers have better two-way contact with older people. The company’s first-ever customer was James’ own gran, Eveline, and today tens of thousands of customers use Alertacall’s products to keep them safe, connected and informed every day. James has recently been awarded an MBE for Services to Technology for Older People, recognition for his commitment and tireless campaigning to improve the lives of vulnerable people, reducing isolation and loneliness. He is also a big believer in sustainability, and Alertacall has planted tens of thousands of trees in the Lake District, where the company is headquartered.

Click here to book your ticket to The Housing Community Summit, and we hope to see you there!