duration

Location
Virtual

Comms Fest is back for 2026 – and it’s bigger, bolder and more relevant than ever.

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    As communications professionals working in social housing, how often do we truly get the space to pause, reflect and plan? In roles that move at relentless speed, staying ahead of best practice isn’t a luxury – it’s essential.

    Comms Fest 2026 is your opportunity to step off the treadmill and recharge. Across March, we’ll be hosting a programme of inspiring, practical sessions designed to help you learn, reflect and refresh – just a few hours each week that could transform the way you work.

     

    Choose our best-value eight-session pass and
    join the full     Comms Fest programme across March –
    eight expert-led virtual sessions for the price of six.
    The pass is fully flexible, so you can share it across your team and send
    different colleagues to the sessions most relevant to them.*

     

    What’s in store?

    The impact of AI on communications and its future role in housing comms and the wider sector will be a running theme throughout the month. Come and immerse yourself in the conversation, in these expert-led sessions:

    • Hannah Fearn – The future of social media for housing providers
    • Amanda Coleman – The key communications threats and risks in 2026
    • Roshan Roberts – Communicating with people from diverse backgrounds
    • Jeni Harvey – Building strong, effective relationships with the media
    • Tom Palmer – Why authentic communications matter – and how to get it right
    • Jane Eyles and Rob Gershon – Communicating with residents in a complex world.

    Plus, insights from leading voices in housing communications, including:

    • Mario Ambrosi, Director of Communications and Marketing, Anchor
    • Bobbie Hough, Managing Director, Hough Bellis Communications.

    Why Comms Fest?

    Comms Fest 2026 is essential for communications professionals working in social housing who want to:

    • Connect with peers facing the same challenges
    • Share and learn from best practice across the sector
    • Invest in their own development – and their team’s future.

    Make time to step back. Get inspired. And move forward with confidence.

    *After booking, the main booker will receive a short form to confirm which team member will attend each session.

  • Our speakers

    Hannah Fearn, Freelance Journalist
    Hannah is a reporter, writer and columnist covering politics, social affairs and a wide range of other issues. She is the former comment editor of the Independent and previously worked for The Guardian, Times Higher Education and Inside Housing.

    Amanda Coleman, Crisis Communication Consultant, Amanda Coleman Communication Ltd
    Amanda Coleman is a crisis communication specialist and the Director and Founder of Amanda Coleman Communication Ltd, a UK-based consultancy supporting organisations to prepare for, manage and recover from crisis and reputational challenges. She has over 25 years’ experience in emergency and crisis communications across the public and private sectors.

    Amanda is the author of Crisis Communication Strategies (2020; second edition published March 2023), Everyday Communication Strategies (2022) and Strategic Reputation Management (2024). In 2017, she led the law enforcement communications response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

    A former journalist, Amanda is a Chartered PR Practitioner and a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communication Association. She is Chair of the UK Emergency Planning Society’s Communication Professional Working Group, an advisor to the Resilience Advisors Network and a Senior Associate of the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communication.

    Jeni Harvey, Director of Marketing and Communications, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
    Jeni is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and vice-chair of LGComms, the organisation that champions excellence in public sector communications.

    With more than two decades’ experience across communications, marketing and journalism, Jeni started her career with newspapers in Greater Manchester before moving to the Yorkshire Post, where she spent five years as a senior reporter. Since making the transition into communications a decade ago, Jeni has worked in strategic leadership roles across the full spectrum of public sector organisations, including councils, policing and regional government.

    She has also led PR and journalism courses at the University of Sheffield and is currently a Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) trainer with the BBC.

    Tom Palmer, Director, Ocean City Media
    Tom founded OCM with fellow BBC editor Samantha Smith and filmmaker Chris Quevatre in April 2021.

    He has spent the last decade leading successful digital strategies for the BBC and delivering significant audience growth through website and social media platforms.

    As well as working for BBC South West, Tom has also worked for BBC World languages, supporting digital teams in Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia.

    Prior to joining the BBC Tom worked mainly in print journalism, starting at the Plymouth Herald before stints at the Press Association and Yorkshire Post and has been a defence reporter, political editor and news editor.

    Tom’s corporate experience includes leading a digital media team to bring investment to Leeds and working with some of the biggest marketers and brands in the UK.

    Jane Eyles, HQN Associate
    Jane is an HQN Associate and has been a social housing resident, board member and consultant specialising in resident engagement since 1990. This means she is able to bring multiple perspectives into housing.

    She has held senior positions such as Head of Housing for Brighton Housing Trust, Head of Engagement for LB Camden, Genesis and Hexagon and Tpas SE Regional Manager as well as 20 years consultancy including the development of resident led scrutiny.

    Rob Gershon, social housing tenant and activist
    Rob is a social housing tenant and activist who brings a clear, resident-led perspective to how landlords communicate and build trust. After being affected by the Welfare Reform Act (2012), Rob began blogging about welfare reform and went on to write widely on housing issues and policy.

    He has been active in the SHOUT campaign, previously served as Lead Associate for HQN’s Residents’ Network and worked with tenants and the housing ministry on developing a stronger national tenant voice. Rob was also one of the commissioners on Shelter’s Vision for Social Housing following Grenfell and has since supported wider work with organisations including Grenfell United, Shelter and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on reform and on changing how we talk about social housing.

    Rob continues to contribute to sector debate, including through HQN and the Residents’ Network.

    Bobbie Hough, Managing Director, Hough Bellis Communications
    Bobbie is the lead HQN Associate for the Estates Services Hub and the Housing Management Network as well as an expert in strategic planning and crisis communications.

    Bobbie is also Managing Director of Hough Bellis Communications, where he has worked with some of the UK’s most recognised brands overseeing successful mergers, high-profile media campaigns and managing crisis scenarios. He works with companies to help align communications and business strategies.

    Mario Ambrosi, Director of Communications and Marketing, Anchor
    Mario is Director of Communications and Marketing at Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. He leads Anchor’s communications, marketing, brand and engagement activity, supporting the organisation’s purpose to improve the lives of older people through high-quality housing, care and services.

    Mario has extensive experience in strategic communications, reputation management and stakeholder engagement across the housing, care and public sectors. His work focuses on building trust, shaping public narratives and ensuring organisations communicate clearly and credibly with residents, colleagues, partners and policymakers.

    With a strong background in leading teams through organisational change and external scrutiny, Mario brings a practical, values-led perspective on communications leadership in complex and highly regulated environments.

    Roshan Roberts, Radio Producer and Broadcast Journalist
    Roshan Roberts is an award-winning radio producer and broadcast journalist, best known as the co-founder of Dope Black Women. Roshan is an experienced speaker and advocate for Black feminism, mental health and intersectionality. Passionate about diversity, empowerment and equality, Roshan speaks on the challenges faced by Black individuals in the workplace and in society, addressing issues of race, gender and identity.

    Her speaking engagements focus on empowering underrepresented communities, with a specific emphasis on mental health, sexual well-being and gender/race issues.
  • Cancellations and substitutions

    If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

    Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

    If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

    Cancellations must be made in writing and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.

  • Price and booking

    Bookings are closed for this event.

    If you experience any issues when submitting your booking, please email [email protected] with the name and date of the session along with the delegate name(s), email address(es) and job title(s) and we'll process the booking for you.

Dates



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