Home in Place’s Group Chief Strategic Engagement Officer, Professor David Adamson OBE, has won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Australian Housing Institute’s 2022 Australasian Brighter Futures Awards announced on June 8. Three other staff members were also recognised as being national leaders in their field after receiving jurisdictional awards in 2021.

International Business Development Manager, Dr Bernadette Pinnell, was runner up in the Executive Excellence Award after winning the New Zealand Award last year. Together Home Coordinator Carrie Bock was runner up in the Future Leader Award after winning the NSW Award last year. Executive Manager of Social and Environmental Sustainability, Jandy McCandless, won the NSW Inspirational Team Member of the Year Award and received a notable mention in the Australasian awards.

Home in Place’s Group Managing Director Greg Budworth said that to have four staff recognised for excellence across all of Australasia is an incredible and pleasing achievement.

“It is a credit to Dave, Bernadette, Carrie and Jandy who are so passionate about everyone having appropriate and affordable shelter and being engaged in sustainable communities,” Mr Budworth said.

“Housing is fundamental to a brighter future for our tenants and the broader community,” he said.

“We invest in attracting and developing great people, not to win awards but to deliver the best services to tenants, partners and funders.”

“Our four staff members recognised in these awards have amazing colleagues around them too – and I know they see their accolades as a team effort.”

Mr Budworth said Professor Adamson has contributed much to the social housing sector and to broader efforts to tackle poverty and to create more sustainable development – nationally and internationally.”

Prior to coming to Australia, Professor Adamson co-developed the Deep Place Method to help improve regeneration of some of the poorest communities in Europe. That model has now been used in Australia and the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. He developed the Toward a National Housing Strategy to unite various housing bodies and experts to call for more Federal Government action on social and affordable housing. This strategy helped to initiate the broader Everybody’s Home campaign – which Prof Adamson has supported in various roles.

“David is a collaborator, working tirelessly behind the scenes for the greater good, rather than personal recognition.”

“His ability to bring people together is evidenced by his work to promote how the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Habitat New Urban Agenda can improve housing outcomes and broader social justice outcomes for people.”

“He is a highly valued member of our executive team. I have thrown him many challenging projects, on which he has always delivered.”

Since 2004, the Brighter Futures Awards have recognised individuals, teams and projects that have made a significant and lasting difference to tenants or service users, to their community, their colleagues and profession.

The Australian Housing Institute educates, empowers and inspires people to unite and support the social, affordable and community housing sector across Australia and New Zealand.