The housing sector is built on people who care deeply about the communities they serve. But behind every leadership role is a journey, often shaped by unexpected opportunities, challenges, and a willingness to say yes to new experiences.

In Episode 15 of the People in Housing Podcast, we’re joined by Emma Richman, Assistant Director at Altair, who shares reflections from nearly 30 years in the sector. From starting out in property and surveying roles to becoming a senior leader and national advocate for women in property, Emma’s career highlights the power of resilience, collaboration and purpose.

A career that began by chance

Like many housing professionals, Emma didn’t originally set out to work in the sector.

After studying architecture at University College London’s Bartlett School of Architecture, she returned to Manchester and began working with a housing association called Northern Counties, now part of Guinness.

Her introduction to the sector was far from quiet. Emma joined around the time of the 1996 Manchester bomb, when social housing in the city centre, including homes above the Arndale Centre, were directly affected. Supporting residents through that crisis became an early lesson in the importance of housing professionals during difficult moments.

It was a challenging start, but one that cemented her commitment to the sector.

From surveying to leadership

Emma’s early career focused heavily on the technical side of housing, including leaseholder services and building surveying. Northern Counties supported her to study a building surveying degree at Salford University while working, a formative experience that gave her a deep understanding of housing from the ground up.

Reflecting on those early years, Emma notes how much the sector has changed.

When she started, technology looked very different, bulky mobile phones, fax machines and far less digital infrastructure. Today, housing organisations are navigating new challenges including data, digital systems and emerging technologies like AI.

Despite those changes, the core mission remains the same: supporting people and communities through safe, stable homes.

Breaking barriers as a woman in property

Emma was one of only four women on her building surveying degree course, and like many women working in property at the time, she faced challenges around credibility and perception.

In some cases, her professional decisions were questioned more heavily than others, even to the point where she felt she had to prove her qualifications.

While the sector has made progress since then, Emma reflects that resilience, hard work and confidence were key to building her career.

Today, she’s passionate about helping the next generation of women entering property and construction roles feel supported and empowered.

Development, leadership and balancing family life

Emma later moved into development roles, delivering award-winning housing schemes including a notable project in Stockport. But as her career progressed and her family grew, the realities of balancing leadership responsibilities with parenting became very real.

At one stage, Emma recalls working long hours while raising a young child, often juggling work commitments with school runs, swimming lessons and childcare.

Looking back, she recognises how much workplace flexibility has improved since those early years.

Opportunities like hybrid working and flexible hours have helped many professionals, particularly parents, remain in the sector while managing family life.

Governance, boards and giving back

Alongside her executive career, Emma has spent many years serving on boards and governance roles across the housing and charity sectors.

She currently serves as a Non-Executive Board Member at First Choice Homes Oldham, where she chairs the Customer and Communities Committee. The committee focuses on ensuring customer voices are heard at board level, providing oversight on issues such as safeguarding and community engagement.

Emma also plays a key role with Pankhurst Manchester Women’s Aid, where she serves as Vice Chair.

The organisation operates multiple refuges across Manchester supporting women experiencing domestic abuse, while also preserving the historic home of Emmeline Pankhurst, where the suffragette movement was founded.

Emma’s involvement began when she helped support a development project linked to the museum, but it quickly grew into a much deeper commitment to the charity’s work and mission.

Championing Women in Property

One of Emma’s most significant external roles has been her long-standing involvement with Women in Property; an organisation she has been part of for nearly 15 years.

After serving as Chair of the Northwest branch, Emma went on to become National Chair, the first from a social housing background.

Women in Property supports women across the built environment through networking, mentoring and outreach programmes aimed at encouraging young people into property careers.

The organisation’s student awards programme, mentoring initiatives and school engagement work all aim to broaden access into the industry, particularly for young women who may not have previously considered property or construction careers.

Emma is particularly passionate about expanding those opportunities beyond traditional university routes, including apprenticeships and vocational pathways.

The importance of boards and diverse leadership

Emma also encourages housing professionals to consider joining boards or trustee roles as part of their career development.

For those starting out, smaller charity boards can provide valuable governance experience, helping professionals build confidence while contributing to meaningful causes.

Emma emphasises that diversity on boards is essential, not just in terms of gender, but across age, experience, background and lived experience.

Her advice is simple: don’t assume you’re not qualified to contribute.

Boards benefit from a wide range of perspectives, and many organisations are actively seeking new voices.

Advice for the next generation

Looking back on her career, Emma says the biggest lesson she would give her younger self is to trust her abilities more.

Like many professionals, she experienced moments of imposter syndrome early in her career. But saying yes to opportunities, and surrounding herself with supportive colleagues and networks, helped build the confidence needed to progress.

Her message to those entering the sector today is clear:

Be open to opportunities

Build strong networks and find your community

Volunteer and get involved where possible

And most importantly, believe in your own potential

Why housing still matters

Emma acknowledges that the housing sector is facing significant challenges today, including ageing housing stock, regulatory pressure, damp and mould issues and rising demand for services.

But despite those pressures, she remains passionate about the sector’s purpose.

Housing professionals play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable people and communities. The work can be demanding, but it is also deeply meaningful.

As Emma puts it, the sector needs talented, resilient people now more than ever, and the opportunities to make a difference remain vast.

A sector built on purpose

Emma’s journey reflects the many pathways that can lead into housing, and the impact individuals can make over time.

From surveying and development to governance, advocacy and leadership, her career highlights the breadth of opportunities within the sector, and the importance of giving back along the way.

If you’d like to listen to or watch the full episode of the People in Housing Podcast, you can find it on our Spotify and YouTube channels.