When Geraldine Howley set foot in the Bradford Council offices to take up a temporary receptionist role in the housing and environmental health department in the late 70s, she was the only woman on the team. “It was quite a lot to overcome, because at that time the men in the office didn’t really understand that a female could do that job,” she says.She was also duly informed by other women in the office that “‘The women make coffee for the men here, so you’re getting on the rota.” 

Despite the early obstacles she faced, Howley’s passion for social housing and determination led to her building a successful career in housing management before becoming chief executive of Bradford-based housing association Incommunities, a position she held for 18 years until 2021. Throughout her career and beyond, Howley has dedicated herself to ensuring the professional body she has always been part of, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), leaves a lasting legacy.