In the evolving world of housing and property management, digital innovation is no longer optional — it’s essential. At this year’s TEC Housing Conference 2025, Drew Moore and Tracey Howatt from Bield Housing will present a forward-looking session exploring how digital tools are changing the game across new builds, retrofit projects, and beyond.

SFHA TECH HOUSING CONFERENCE
22 October 2025

Why this session can’t be missed

Whether you’re working on a brand-new development or upgrading existing infrastructure, the digital solutions available today are powerful tools for improving performance. Drew and Tracey will demonstrate how both paths — new builds and retrofits — can benefit from unified, smart systems that boost energy efficiency, streamline asset management, and enrich tenant wellbeing.

It’s one thing to adopt a smart thermostat or an IoT sensor here and there; it’s quite another to build an interconnected, future-ready network across your entire housing stock. The session will show how smart tech can help teams work in harmony, breaking down information silos and opening the door to a fully integrated digital future.

Going digital is more than a technical upgrade. It’s about delivering better outcomes for tenants (comfort, health, control), optimising operational costs (energy, maintenance), and helping organisations meet sustainability goals. Drew and Tracey will unpack real-world cases where these benefits converge.

Who’s speaking?

Drew Moore is Director of Assets at Bield and leads the organisation’s £225 million, ten-year Strategic Asset Management Strategy, aimed at supporting healthy ageing at home. Since joining in 2023, he has spearheaded investment in new-builds, brought unused properties back into use, and significantly improved energy efficiency and service delivery across Bield’s housing stock. A Member of both the Chartered Institute of Building and the Institute of Asset Management, Drew is also a Board Member and Chair of a mid-market rent subsidiary within another housing association. He is passionate about rethinking housing for older people, combining innovation with practical action to deliver homes and services that promote independent living.

Tracey Howatt is Chief Operating Officer at Bield Housing and brings over 30 years of experience to her role, with a deep commitment to improving the lives of older people. Starting as a trainee, she has held numerous leadership positions, including Director of Customer Experience, before becoming COO. Tracey is responsible for overseeing operational services and deputising for the Chief Executive. She has been instrumental in shaping Bield’s Independent Living Approach and driving improvements in service delivery, always placing the needs and voices of tenants at the centre. With oversight of services supporting over 5,000 tenants across 170 developments, Tracey champions co-designed services, sustainability, and the thoughtful use of digital innovation.

What you’ll learn

Attendees can expect to walk away with concrete examples of digital tools in action — in both new builds and retrofit settings. You’ll get a clearer picture of how data can drive smarter decisions around maintenance, energy use, and tenant services. The session will also explore how to align teams and workflows across disciplines so that digital initiatives don’t stay stuck in silos. Finally, they’ll offer inspiration for your next steps toward a fully integrated digital future — what to pilot, how to scale, and where to invest.

Why Bield’s perspective matters

As a respected housing provider, Bield is uniquely positioned at the intersection of service, care, and the built environment. Drew Moore and Tracey Howatt bring both technical insight and practical experience from within such a context. Their work shows how technology can be adapted to real-world constraints — budgets, occupant needs, legacy infrastructure — and still drive transformation.

Join us at TEC Housing 2025

If you’re involved in housing, property management, sustainability, or smart buildings, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Drew and Tracey will help you see how digital tools are no longer a future nice-to-have — they’re the foundation for more efficient, responsive, resilient housing.

See full programme and book here