JULIE ABBEY-TAYLOR
Stowmarket,Suffolk
Summary
Passionate advocate for affordable housing with 40 years experience and a focus on innovative solutions and strategic partnerships. Expertise in project management and strategic planning within the affordable housing sector. Strong skills in stakeholder engagement and team leadership, driving continuous improvement initiatives. Proven success in budget oversight, risk assessment, and housing development appraisals.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
Head of Investment & Delivery
Dacorum Borough Council
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
07.2023 - Current
- Directed £80m investment programme for new Council social rented housing projects.
- Led team of Housing Development project managers to deliver affordable housing on budget and schedule.
- Analysed problems critically, evaluating solutions to select optimal decisions and apply lessons learnt to future projects.
- Oversaw daily operations to maintain high productivity levels.
- Strategic input to Council's Housing Business Plan.
- Established positive stakeholder relationship with Homes England to maximise funding opportunities.
- Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
Trustee
Lavenham Community Land Trust
Lavenham, Suffolk
05.2021 - Current
- Oversaw professional housing operations for Community Land Trust (CLT) activities.
- Conducted housing development assessments to identify new site opportunities.
- Exhibited respect and friendliness, fostering a collaborative environment.
- Identified key stakeholders and potential funders to progress CLT business plans.
Non-Executive Board Trustee
Community Land Trust Network
National
05.2021 - 11.2024
- Influenced positive organisational change with effective leadership techniques.
- Fostered collaborative working environment to enhance team performance.
- Facilitated board-level discussions to align corporate strategy with emphasis on securing longer term funding streams.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement by championing innovation and implementing best practices organisation-wide.
Area Director
Rentplus UK
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
08.2020 - 07.2023
- Directed new business initiatives for housing schemes across East of England.
- Conducted scheme appraisals and prepared reports for Board approval.
- Cultivated strong relationships with Local Authorities and House builders to drive business growth.
- Coordinated successful marketing campaigns, significantly contributing to market expansion.
- Applied expertise in team leadership to address productivity and performance issues, motivating staff to achieve KPIs.
Steering Group Member for Eastern Region
Housing Learning & Improvement Network (LIN)
, East of England
11.2015 - 01.2022
- The Housing LIN is the leading knowledge hub for a growing network of Housing, Health & Social care professionals in England involved in planning , commissioning, designing, funding, building & managing housing with care for older people.
- Worked with other steering group members to organise professional learning events for members and guest attendees from Local Authorities and Housing Associations.
Strategic Housing Manager
Babergh & Mid Suffolk Councils
Ipswich, Suffolk
04.2016 - 08.2020
- Responsible for overseeing delivery of affordable housing for 2 Councils through the planning process.
- Key influencer to ensure development provided right mix of housing across all tenures in the right place to meet housing needs.
- Specialist expertise in Older Persons accommodation and rural housing.
- Lead officer for development of Community-led housing initiatives.
- Advanced expertise on S106 agreements, housing strategy & policy.
Corporate Manager - Strategic Housing
Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils
Needham Market, Suffolk
05.2012 - 04.2016
- Led on the development of the Council's new affordable homes development pipeline for the first time in 30 years.
- Site appraisals and worked up feasibility studies with consultant teams, planning pre-app work and took schemes through planning process.
- Led establishment of relationship with Homes England to maximise grant funding.
- Responsible for proactively working with developers and housing associations to secure and deliver affordable housing.
- Enforced safety regulations to reduce workplace accidents.
Vice Chair of School Governors
Suffolk County Council
Stowmarket, Suffolk
06.2009 - 04.2015
- Vice Chair of Finance & Resources Committee for 3 years with budget responsibility and oversight to secure a positive budget position for the school.
- Oversight and strategic input to staffing structure and physical assets within the school.
- Recruitment input into senior staff leadership team.
- Chaired high-level meetings, resulting in strategic alignment across the school's leadership team.
Education
Professional Qualification for CIH - Housing
Anglia Ruskin University
Chelmsford, Essex 09/1985 - 06/1988
Bachelor of Arts - Geography
Staffordshire University
Stafford, StaffordshireDiploma in Management Studies - Management studies Diploma
Suffolk Development Management Centre
Ipswich, Suffolk 09/1991 - 06/1993
NVQ Level 5 - Leadership & Management
ILM
IpswichSkills
- Project management and strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement and relationship building
- Budget oversight and risk assessment
- Team leadership and development
- Continuous improvement initiatives
- Housing development and scheme appraisals
Timeline
Head of Investment & Delivery
Dacorum Borough Council
07.2023 - Current
Trustee
Lavenham Community Land Trust
05.2021 - Current
Non-Executive Board Trustee
Community Land Trust Network
05.2021 - 11.2024
Area Director
Rentplus UK
08.2020 - 07.2023
Strategic Housing Manager
Babergh & Mid Suffolk Councils
04.2016 - 08.2020
Steering Group Member for Eastern Region
Housing Learning & Improvement Network (LIN)
11.2015 - 01.2022
Corporate Manager - Strategic Housing
Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils
05.2012 - 04.2016
Vice Chair of School Governors
Suffolk County Council
06.2009 - 04.2015
Professional Qualification for CIH - Housing
Anglia Ruskin University
09/1985 - 06/1988
Bachelor of Arts - Geography
Staffordshire University
Diploma in Management Studies - Management studies Diploma
Suffolk Development Management Centre
09/1991 - 06/1993
NVQ Level 5 - Leadership & Management
ILM
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