Eastlight's Chief Executive wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Eastlight Community Homes’ Chief Executive, Emma Palmer, was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at last night’s Housing Heroes Awards, held in Manchester.

The annual ceremony, which celebrate leaders, innovators and changemakers across the housing sector, culminated in Emma being presented with the trophy reserved for an individual who has not only driven change within their organisation, but across the whole sector.

Event host, Ten O’clock News presenter Huw Edwards, handed Emma the award in recognition of her career in housing, which spans four decades – Emma started out as an 18-year-old management apprentice, and worked her way up to Chief Executive of the country’s largest resident-led association.

Ahead of Emma’s win, Eastlight Chair, Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, said, “Emma is driven and demanding in equal measure. When she speaks you want to listen. She is an ambassador for the whole concept of social housing.”

Last night’s ceremony also incorporated the Women in Housing Awards, which champion the successes of women within the housing sector.

Catherine Turner, a Customer Influence Committee Member and Board Member, was highly commended in the Board/Committee Member of the Year category, in recognition of the impact she has had on Eastlight during the last 12 months.

Eastlight’s staff and residents were shortlisted for a sector-leading six awards at the event, with Rue Garande up for Tenant of the Year; All In, Eastlight’s community programme, shortlisted for Recruitment Campaign of the Year; Housing Manager Katie Behan, shortlisted for Woman of the Future; and our MOT Team, which proactively checks residents’ homes to identify repairs, shortlisted for Team of the Year.

Click here to read about our shortlisted staff and residents.