HBF - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Industry Attraction and Skills
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has appointed Andy George as Director of Industry Attraction and Skills. Andy joins HBF from Barratt Redrow, where he held the position of Head of Talent Management.
Having worked in the home building industry for almost 20 years, Andy has been responsible for developing multiple critical development frameworks and strategies beyond home building, within both the hospitality and supermarket sectors, accumulating a wealth of experience in key HR and development roles.
As a member of the Home Building Skills Partnership expert panel, Chair of the HBF Skills and Supply Chain Engagement group, and previously Chair of the HBF Career Attract Group, Andy has worked alongside HBF to drive collaboration and attraction activity across the home building sector for a number of years.
Job Titles:
- Campaigns and Communications Manager
- Communications and Campaigns Manager
Anissa Morris is the Communications and Campaigns Manager of the Home Builders Federation, supporting strategic communications and media engagement. Previously, she worked at public affairs and communications agency Hanbury Strategy, supporting high-profile clients across tech, telecoms, and other industries. With experience engaging government ministers, developing policy positions, and managing media campaigns, she has worked on issues ranging from AI regulation to employment rights and social investment.
Job Titles:
- Project and Relationship Manager
Job Titles:
- IT & Digital Production Manager
David O鈥橪eary is an Executive Director of the Home Builders Federation and leads on policy matters, research and government relations. He joined HBF in 2013 and became a board member in 2023. He has led on a range of work including the development of policy proposals to address the long-term decline of SMEs in the sector. More recently, David represented HBF in negotiations with the Government on the Building Safety Self-Remediation Pledge which was subsequently signed more than 50 developers and headed up engagement with the Competition and Markets Authority through the course of its 12-month Market Study on Housebuilding during 2023/24. This work included authoring a 75-year history of the home building industry.
Before joining HBF a decade ago he held a range of roles, advising Conservative frontbench politicians on housing and culture policy and spent time in local government where he worked on government relations, business rate reform and housing policy.
David O'Leary is an Executive Director of the Home Builders Federation and leads on policy matters, research and government relations. He joined HBF in 2013 and became a board member in 2023. He has led on a range of work including the development of policy proposals to address the long-term decline of SMEs in the sector.
Job Titles:
- Director of External Affairs
Emma Ramell is Director of External Affairs of the Home Builders Federation. Emma joined HBF in September 2018 and is responsible for the organisation鈥檚 engagement with Parliamentarians and its broader external affairs activity. Most recently, she led on HBF鈥檚 General Election activity including the publication of the report Home building:聽An engine for growth, prosperity and opportunity.
As part of her role, Emma is聽also responsible for HBF鈥檚 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group which recently held its inaugural conference and provides support to the Federation鈥檚 ongoing Mental Health Awareness Campaign.聽
After beginning her career in Parliament, Emma moved into policy and public affairs. She has worked in a variety of sectors including retail, food and drink, health and housing.
Job Titles:
- Communications & Campaigns Officer
Job Titles:
- Director for Cities
- Is Director for Cities
James Stevens is Director for Cities of the Home Builders Federation.
James is responsible for all matters relating to devolution and the combined authorities in England where this relates to housebuilding. James is a town planner by profession and has extensive and detailed experience of local plans across all of England. He has also been involved in the published or emerging spatial development strategies for Greater London, Greater Manchester, the West of England, Liverpool City Region and Oxfordshire. In the last two years James has been leading for the Federation on the matter of nutrient neutrality. He has been working with the membership and external organisations to find possible solutions.
Job Titles:
- Planning Manager
- Planning Manger - Local Plans ( Northern )
- Policy Planner
Joanne Harding is Planning Manager of the Home Builders Federation, with responsibility for representing HBF members across the North of England, seeking to influence the production of planning policy in the area, and working with members and Local Authorities to achieve the most appropriate policies.
Joanne is an experienced policy planner with more than 20 years in the profession. After starting her career in the private sector Joanne had mainly worked within local government, contributing to planning policy for Stafford, Halton, Congleton, and Cheshire East, before joining the HBF.
Joanne is strong supporter of the planning profession and is currently the Honorary Sectary of the RTPI NW region, she has previously served as RTPI NW Chair, a General Assembly member and as a Trustee of the RTPI.
Job Titles:
- External Affairs Manager
- SM捆绑 and External Affairs Manager
Laura is HBF鈥檚 SM捆绑 and External Affairs Manager. She joined in September 2020 and supports the work of the policy team.
Laura studied Politics and History at Newcastle University. Prior to joining HBF, she worked for a public affairs agency working across a range of policy areas including housing, technology and the environment.
Job Titles:
- Planning Manager
- Planning Manager - Local Plans ( London & South )
Mark Behrendt is Planning Manager at the Home Builders Federation, with responsibility for local planning matters across the South-East and Eastern regions. His responsibilities include the review of local plans and the preparation of written representations to these plans, appearance at Examination Hearings and on-going engagement with Local Planning Authorities on evidence base supporting their plans.
Mark has over 20 years鈥� experience in policy research and development at both a national and local level, working at Sefton Borough Council, the Countryside Agency, the LGA, the London Borough of Richmond and, most recently, at Elmbridge Borough Council where he was the Council鈥檚 Planning SM捆绑 Manager.
Job Titles:
- Advisor for Wales
- Planning & SM捆绑 Advisor for Wales
- Planning and SM捆绑 Advisor
Mark Harris is Planning and SM捆绑 Advisor for Wales at the Home Builders Federation. Mark joined in 2014 having spent most of his career working in Wales as a planner in both the public, private sector and a housebuilder. Mark鈥檚 role includes representing HBF members across Wales, working closely with Welsh Government to help influence housing policies and regularly sits on a range of Welsh Government working groups. Also responsible for reviewing local development plans and preparing written representations, appearance at Examination Hearings and on-going engagement with Local Planning Authorities on evidence base supporting their plans.
Mark sits on the RTPI SM捆绑 and Research forum in Wales and is a Board member of United Welsh Housing Association.
Mark Harris is Planning and SMÀ¦°ó Advisor for Wales at the Home Builders Federation. Mark ™s role includes representing HBF members across Wales, working closely with Welsh Government to help influence housing policies and regularly sits on a range of Welsh Government working groups.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Member of the Chief Executive Committee
Neil Jefferson is Chief Executive of the Home Builders Federation, having previously joined the organisation as Managing Director in January 2020. 鈥疘n addition, he is a Board Member of the Future Homes Hub, of which he was a founding director in 2021.聽
Prior to joining HBF, Neil was Chief Operating Officer of new home warranty provider, NHBC. Between 2008 and 2016, he was seconded as Chief Executive of the Zero Carbon Hub, providing leadership in the government's vision for zero carbon homes. He was also Managing Director of the National Centre for Excellence in Housing, which was a joint venture between the NHBC and the Building Research Establishment (BRE).聽
Neil is a Chartered Builder.
Job Titles:
- Planning Manager - Local Plans ( Midlands and South West )
- Regional Planning Manager
Rachel Danemann is Regional Planning Manager of the Home Builders Federation with responsibility for members鈥� planning matters in the Midlands and South-West.
Prior to joining HBF in February 2023, Rachel held the role of Principal Planning SM捆绑 Officer at Harborough District Council. Rachel鈥檚 solid planning experience saw her lead on HBF鈥檚 response to the biodiversity net gain requirements in 2024, engaging with members and government help shape the emerging practice guidance.
Job Titles:
- Technical and Sustainability Director
Job Titles:
- Digital Communications Director
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant / History
Job Titles:
- Project and Contract Manager