I joined Albyn Housing Society in 1989 and was heavily involved over the succeeding 25 years in the growth of that business through new-build development as well as many interesting and frequently award-winning refurbishment and conversion projects. Latterly I led the Asset Management and Investment team at Albyn before establishing Lockhart Consulting in 2014. I remain an enthusiastic advocate of the voluntary housing movement in improving access to high quality housing that the movement has afforded and the leading role in design and innovation which the sector has assumed.In my housing association career I took a particular interest in promoting excellent, sustainable design and layout of new housing to create successful living environments; furthering the interests of affordable housing through the Planning system and gained valuable experience and expertise in developing (and being a constructive critic of) renewables in housing, particularly biomass district heating systems.As a freelance consultant, I have provided assistance to HIE on district heating issues and led on procurement, investment and subsidy issues for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and took a particular interest in encouraging the sector to increase its development output including promoting construction innovation. I reviewed and delivered the updated HARIS (the Housing Association Resource for Investment Scheme) business plan for submission to Scottish Government on behalf of the 20 housing associations making up the HARIS Feasibility Working Group. HARIS was a proposed housing association sector vehicle concerned with raising private finance for social housing from institutional investors. Recent consultancy projects have included: (working with Highland Community Resources) a study on the role of housing to support the sustainability of remote, rural communities in Shetland; and a review of procurement policy and practice for a rural housing association and a successful bid to provide consultancy services to a Development Trust in the potential provision of affordable housing.During 2018/19 I spent 10 months as Head of Business Development at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations where my responsibilities as a member of the senior management team included: membership fee review; digital transformation; development of SFHA's commercial income; strategic partnerships and strategic relationship management. I also represented SFHA on the steering panel of the Scottish Government's Offsite Housing Collaboration initiative.