Opening the conference, this panel aims to address the core of the matter – what is the challenge to retrofitting? From the 2050 net-zero target, to the different building safety changes and regulations coming our way, it's fair to say, there's lots to start "unveiling" in this session.

Chair: Martin Hilditch, editor, Inside Housing

• Brian Berry, chief executive, Federation of Master Builders
• Sue Riddlestone OBE, chief executive and co-founder, Bioregional
• Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor for environment and energy, Mayor of London

Keynote address from Lord Callanan, minister for business, energy & corporate responsibility

Building Safety has been at the forefront and centre of our minds for the past years, with many changes being implemented. Achieving net-zero is becoming a further focal point as the next challenge for the sector to accomplish. With this in mind, how do we optimally combine building safety, net zero and traditional asset management in a new holistic approach?

Chair: Martin Hilditch, editor, Inside Housing

• Rob Lane, group commercial director, Clarion
• Tim Vincent, head of technical, Rockwool
• Joanne Wheeler, senior sustainability advisor, UK Green Building Council

In our current world, the sector faces the challenge of balancing long-term business plans to upgrade their stock, but knowing the technological world develops at the blink of an eye. In this session we will hear from innovative technologies, within the sector and those which will inevitably have an impact on the sector, who will provide an insight into what the world may look like down the road.

Chair: Ian Wright, chief executive officer, Disruptive Innovators Network

• Stewart Little, chief executive, Irt Surveys
• Professor Zoe Robinson, co-director, Keele Institute for Sustainable Futures
• Philip Sellwood, non-executive director, charity trustee and UK Government representative on energy efficiency
• Amy Smith, partnership director, Wates Group

Undoubtedly, there is a massive task ahead of us and the sector needs to work collaboratively to be able to lead the country on reaching net zero in the next 30 years. Kicking off the discussion, Charlie Baker from Red Cooperative will show us proof that it is possible to deliver near zero carbon at no cost to the public, and even extinguish fuel poverty. Join to hear how this could be, and lets use this opportunity to brainstorm if it is so, how are we going to execute this.

It has been speculated, for a while, that Brexit would consequentially lead to a substantial loss of workforce who could carry out these ambitious plans. What was not in anyone’s mind, was for this to be combined with the huge levels of job redundancies made across the country due to the pandemic. Given this new scenario we are navigating, can the sector close the skills gap and be at the frontline in creating new jobs to reboot our economy?

• Tim Freeman, managing director, Energy Specifics
• Jon Lord, chief executive, Bolton at Home
• Wyn Prichard, director of construction skills and business strategy, NPTC Group

Given the magnitude in scale of what is required, now more than ever, we need all hands-on deck. To do this, there must be an understanding of what each crucial part of the big puzzle must bring to the table to accomplish the goals set. In this session we aim to debate and discuss, in honesty, how organisations can find unity within, to get all parts joined as one.

Chair: Maggie Punyer, board member, Connexus and chair, CHIC

• Richard Blakey, executive director of finance and resources, Settle Housing Association
• Paddy Gray, vice chair, Glasgow Housing Association and board member, Wheatley Group Board
• Joanna Hills, director of assets & services, Raven Housing Trust
• Dick Mortimer, executive director development, Peabody