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New NHF chief executive announced
Kate Henderson has been appointed the new chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF), succeeding David Orr.
The announcement of the current chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) as the next chief executive of the NHF this morning follows a lengthy recruitment process after Mr Orr announced his plans to retire in January.
During her time at the TCPA Ms Henderson has led campaigns on garden cities, affordable housing, poverty and climate change. She has been involved in a number of government panels and independent commissions, including the Lyons Housing Review and the Raynsford Review of Planning.
She is also a visiting professor at the Bartlett School of Planning at University College London, a board member of the International Federation of Housing and Planning and has co-authored various books on planning.
Ms Henderson will take up the post in October.
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Diana Warwick, chair of NHF, said: “We had a very strong field of candidates for this critical role. It was never going to be easy to replace David, but the panel are delighted with the appointment we have made.”
“Our challenge was to find someone who has the confidence and experience to engage at the highest levels in government, as well as the leadership credentials to win the trust of our diverse membership, inspire our team, and ensure the federation is commercially successful and sustainable, now and in the future.”
“We feel we have selected in Kate someone who can do all these things and more. She has proven herself to be a bold and effective leader at the TCPA. She gave us particular confidence in terms of her ability to build trust and rapport with our broad range of stakeholders.”
“We are excited about the fact that she will bring fresh eyes to the role, has strong and relevant networks, and is knowledgeable and passionate about what we do.”
Ms Henderson said: “I am delighted to have been appointed chief executive of the National Housing Federation and am immensely looking forward to working with the team, board, members and stakeholders.
“With housing at the top of the political and public agenda I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with ambitious housing associations across the country to continue the federation’s impressive track record of shaping housing policy and ensuring housing associations are seen as key partners in delivering it.”
Mr Orr has been chief executive of the umbrella body representing housing associations in England since 2005.
Before becoming chief executive of the NHF, he was previously chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and housing association Newlon Housing Trust. Earlier in his career, he also worked for homelessness charity Centrepoint.
In a lengthy interview with Inside Housing last year, Mr Orr said the housing association sector has an “obligation… to make this a moment of change” following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The latter years of his leadership were defined by the decision to strike a voluntary deal with government over the Right to Buy extension.
While this was a controversial move with some, it is widely credited with changing the view of housing associations in government and contributing to a friendlier policy environment for the sector.
Mr Orr received a CBE for his services to housing earlier this month.
