Nick joined Accent with experience of the housing sector, encompassing over 15 years of leadership experience across both public and private entities.

During his time at Habinteg, he has helped the organisation transform its tenant engagement approach, built a strong customer centric culture, accelerated investment in current homes as well as restarting Habinteg’s development programme, and increased Habinteg’s impact at local and national level on the accessibility and inclusivity agenda.

Previously, Nick held leadership roles at Viridian, Optivo and RNIB where he spearheaded transformative initiatives that significantly enhanced customer experience and organisational culture.

Ange Cahill is our Lead Organisational Development & Training Business Partner at Accent and an award-winning Organisational Development professional with over 30 years of experience. Still relatively new to the housing sector, Ange brings a fresh perspective shaped by a long and successful career in Financial Services, where she analysed, authored, led and implemented a wide range of regulatory competency standards, leadership programmes and technical learning projects (including one in Spain - muy bien!)

Since joining Accent, Ange has thrown herself into the work with passion, purpose, and curiosity — and is thoroughly enjoying the impact she is able to make. She's already been instrumental in landing a number of key initiatives including Accents' Competency Framework, driving our BeAccent Culture and presiding over our Leadership Academy culminating in a team win of two prestigious awards at the Yorkshire Excellence in HR Awards 2025.

Driven, insightful, and committed to developing Accent colleagues, you'll find Ange championing excellence wherever she goes.

Jenny has been Chief Executive of Tpas since 2014. She started in 2002 as Membership Manager which began her continued passion and committment to the Tpas membership family. Before joining Tpas Jenny worked for the Post Office in branch management and HR roles and worked for Scottish and Newcastle Retail based in Leeds in stock control management.

Outside of Tpas Jenny loves her book club, helping out at her local park and is head over heels in love with her cocker spaniels Coco and Amber.

Kate is our Director of Strategy, Governance and Assurance. She joined Accent in June 2024 after working in a number of corporate and service-delivery roles in social housing and local government.

She is a qualified Chartered Governance Professional, which still feels a bit scary sometimes (even to her!). Kate is passionate about making governance, risk and assurance practical, enabling and values-
driven, and about linking this clearly with how we improve outcomes for customers and colleagues.

She is part of our Senior Leadership Team at Accent, and is keen to demystify and simplify regulation and governance so that it just becomes part of what we do every day. 

Kate lives with her family in the North East of England, close to Newcastle, where one of her highlights of the year has been a roof-top tour of St James’ Park (which she is keen to say does not necessarily reflect her football colours!). She is also a trained coach and mentor.

An experienced coach, facilitator and business leader, Natalie has worked with international corporate brands, leadership teams and business owners to help organisations gain clarity on their vision, strengthen engagement and improve performance.

Working across businesses ranging from post-investment start-ups to established organisations, Natalie specialises in helping teams align around a shared purpose and create cultures where people take ownership, accountability and pride in their contribution. With extensive experience in both consultancy and in-house roles, including serving as Head of Customer Success for a Learning and Development and Performance Management software platform, Natalie is passionate about helping organisations create environments where colleagues are empowered to "work like they own it."

Originally beginning a career as an actor and theatre producer, Natalie spent six years producing plays and musicals in London and on UK tours. Although no longer working in the theatre industry, the skills developed through performance, communication and storytelling continue to influence their approach to leadership, coaching and facilitation today.

In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure business world, organisations can struggle to maintain peak performance, effective teamwork, and resilience under pressure. Leaders often grapple with decision-making in times of uncertainty, while teams can falter when communication and trust break down. Mandy Hickson brings unmatched expertise from one of the most critical environments imaginable, the cockpit of a fast jet. As one of the first female fighter pilots in the RAF, Mandy operated in a male-dominated world, making split-second decisions at supersonic speeds, leading teams under intense pressure, and delivering results when the stakes couldn’t be higher.   Her unique journey has been featured in her bestselling book “An Officer, Not a Gentleman”, and she, alongside husband Craig Hickson, delve into their joint experiences in “An Officer And Her Gentleman”. She now inspires audiences worldwide as a professional speaker, working with organisations to translate lessons from the skies to the corporate world. By booking Mandy Hickson as your keynote speaker, your organisation will gain invaluable insights into building high performing teams, making confident decisions under pressure, and fostering an environment of trust, communication, and resilience.   Mandy’s engaging storytelling, practical strategies, and ability to connect with audiences on a personal level will leave your team inspired and equipped to face challenges head-on. Whether it’s about leading with courage, adapting to change, or embracing diversity, Mandy delivers powerful messages that resonate long after the event. 

Nick joined Accent with experience of the housing sector, encompassing over 15 years of leadership experience across both public and private entities.

During his time at Habinteg, he has helped the organisation transform its tenant engagement approach, built a strong customer centric culture, accelerated investment in current homes as well as restarting Habinteg’s development programme, and increased Habinteg’s impact at local and national level on the accessibility and inclusivity agenda.

Previously, Nick held leadership roles at Viridian, Optivo and RNIB where he spearheaded transformative initiatives that significantly enhanced customer experience and organisational culture.

Dean Anderson is our Executive Director of Customer Experience. He has worked in housing for over 20 years, including six years in senior leadership roles.

Dean has a wide range of experience and is focused on making sure customers are at the heart of everything we do. He works to make sure our services are consistent, high quality and shaped by customer feedback.

He is passionate about providing safe, warm and affordable homes, and helping communities to thrive. He also has strong experience in improving customer and digital services, making them easier to use and more effective.

Dean is responsible for housing management, customer services, customer engagement and complaints. He is also the senior manager responsible for complaints.

Conan has over 28 years’ experience in the social housing sector with specific expertise in Asset & Property Management having worked in senior roles around the country.

Motivated by lived experience in social housing, Conan attended college and university in Leeds while serving a five-year building surveyor apprenticeship at Harrogate borough council. He spent the following ten years with Home Group, another national landlord before taking up his first Director role with NorthStar Housing in 2013. Since then he has held Director roles with Gentoo, Your Housing Group before his current role as Asset Director at A2Dominion, a 38,000 home G15 organisation.

In addition, Conan is an independent committee member at Yorkshire Housing, Board Member with English Rural Housing & Board Trustee for Beamish Museum. Outside of work he enjoys watching sport, cooking and spending time with his wife and children.

Debbie Hinbest, Chartered FCIPD, is an experienced senior HR leader and currently serves as Executive Director of People, Culture and Transformation. She brings deep expertise in people strategy, organisational design, leadership development, and cultural transformation across housing, education, and commercial sectors.

Debbie has a strong track record of delivering impactful change, enhancing engagement, and building high-performing, inclusive cultures. She is passionate about the housing sector and is driven by a desire to make a real difference both in the workplace and in the lives of customers.

Her work is underpinned by a commitment to creating positive, meaningful experiences for colleagues and communities alike.