1. What are you speaking about at the Retrofit and Strategic Asset Management conference?

I will be speaking about my experience in asset management and, specifically, the definition of an “asset”. For a long time, this was about the bricks and mortar of buildings and strategies produced by organisations around these. This continues to evolve. We are looking at this at Notting Hill Genesis as part of our Better Together corporate strategy, bringing together the key drivers of Better Connections, Better Homes and Better Places, with residents at the centre.  

The question I will be debating at the conference is: as the sector and technologies evolve, how do we go even further? How holistic do asset management strategies now need to be? Do we now say that an “asset” by definition is in fact a sum of 1. the building (old versus new), 2. the stakeholders (e.g. residents), 3. the data and systems (e.g. the Golden Thread) and 4. the people (e.g. staff and training). If so, how can this “master asset” be achieved and what would this look like?

2. Tell us about your experience in this area and what can the sector learn from you?

I am currently head of asset management at Notting Hill Genesis and have 25 years in the sector in property services managing assets. This has been across several roles and different sized housing associations and a local authority. I have worked across it all: on the front line in homelessness services; managing tenancies as a housing officer; managing responsive repairs, relets, surveying, compliance, building safety, asset data and working in both asset and strategic asset management teams. Through this range of experience, I have been fortunate to have had first-hand insights and a vision of what a connected property service function and “master asset” could look like.

3. What are the biggest challenges you would like to see discussed at the conference and why?

The “how” is the biggest challenge, if at all this “master asset” can be achieved. If the sector is collating data, what is it for and what can it enable? Can it keep pace? How flexible can it be? Is there an overarching plan to connect everything? For example, is there planning for data and systems to enable learning records against job titles or accreditations against contractors to ensure that the correct person raises the job to the correct contractor? Then ensuring the correct communication with respective stakeholders. It is a very big piece and delves into other strands about whether organisations should adopt different strategies for older versus newer stock.

Asif is speaking as part of a panel discussion on “Improving data quality: it’s time for a more holistic view” alongside Tessa Barraclough, interim director of asset strategy and delivery at Riverside and Russell Smith, managing director at Parity Projects and chaired by Jacqui Bateson, managing director at HACT. Book your ticket now.