Entitled “The Next Big Thing”, this year’s event is structured around four themes, namely: Resilience, Purpose, Health and Innovation and will include contributions from a wide spectrum of speakers, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors.

Key contributors on day one will include former Downing Street Press Secretary and Labour Party Director of Communications Alastair Campbell; Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities Angela Constance MSP; Minister for Local Government and Housing Kevin Stewart MSP; and former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Sir Harry Burns.

Day two will feature contributions from the likes of Shelter chief executive Polly Neate; activist, commentator and author of Poverty Safari, Darren McGarvey; Health Scotland CEO Gerry McLaughlin; and Scottish Housing Regulator chief executive Michael Cameron – and will conclude with an address from CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat and a debate about land supply.

Running alongside the main Conference Programme will be a busy programme of fringe events taking place in the conference exhibition area and offering a broad range of short sessions specifically designed to inform and inspire frontline housing practitioners – as well as a dedicated asset management fringe programme hosted by specialist contractors McDermott Group and covering topics ranging from sustainable architecture to district heating and from energy efficiency to procurement.

CIH Scotland Director Annie Mauger said: “As the professional body for housing in Scotland and with more than 2,000 members across the country, we are delighted to be hosting this year’s Housing Festival in Edinburgh. I am personally very excited about the programme we have assembled and the wide range of contributors we have been able to bring together.

“In volatile and uncertain times and an increasingly challenging environment for Scottish housing, this year’s conference will consider the big issues facing the sector. We’ll be addressing the long term impact of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the big challenges of welfare reform and digital technology and introducing a whole new parallel health conference focusing on the vital role of housing in prevention and wellbeing.”

Ms Mauger concluded: “Once again, this year’s Housing Festival is going to be a not-to-be-missed event for housing professionals and for anyone with an interest in Scottish housing policy and I look forward to listening to the debate.”