Accent Housing has welcomed three new members to its Board Trainee Programme, helping to develop the next generation of housing leaders.
Effie Asmah, Dr Liz Granger and Zainab Ibrahim joined Accent in February 2026 as part of the programme, delivered in partnership with the Housing Diversity Network. The two-year programme is designed to help people from diverse and non-traditional backgrounds gain board-level experience and strengthen governance across the housing sector.
Developing Future Housing Leaders
Effie Asmah, based in Birmingham, joins the programme with a strong commitment to inclusive leadership and customer-focused decision making. Inspired by watching her sister navigate the challenges of social housing as a single mother, Effie is passionate about ensuring housing decisions are shaped by empathy and lived experience.
Alongside her work in local government, Effie mentors young people and supports wellbeing, equality and opportunities for vulnerable members of her community. Through the programme, she hopes to build her governance experience while helping ensure diverse voices are represented at board level.
Dr Liz Granger, based in Preston, brings extensive leadership experience and a passion for widening opportunities. As Head of Widening Participation and Public Engagement at the University of Lancashire, she has spent more than a decade helping young people from under-represented and low-income backgrounds access education and opportunities.
Coming from a working-class background herself, Liz has seen first-hand the difference that stable, well-managed housing can make to people’s lives. She hopes the programme will help her develop her governance skills while contributing her analytical expertise and community insight.
Zainab Ibrahim, based in London, joins the programme with more than ten years of experience in housing and community services. In her current role managing temporary accommodation and procurement, she works closely with partners to provide safe and secure housing for vulnerable households.
Zainab is also a trained Independent Domestic Violence Advocate and Community Champion. Through the programme, she hopes to strengthen her strategic governance knowledge while bringing frontline experience to board-level discussions.
Supporting diverse leadership
Nigel Wright, Chair of Accent’s Board, said:
“Effie, Liz and Zainab bring a wealth of knowledge alongside their personal and professional experiences. This programme is an important way for us to nurture diverse talent and ensure our board reflects the communities we serve. We look forward to supporting them as they develop their skills and contribute to the strategic decisions that shape Accent’s future.”
Nick Apetroaie, Chief Executive at Accent, added:
“The appointments of Effie, Liz and Zainab demonstrate Accent’s commitment to our values of Caring, Driven, Smart and Inclusive. Through this programme we are investing in leadership that is accountable and strategically minded, while ensuring customers’ voices remain at the heart of our decisions. Together they will help strengthen our board and support our mission to deliver high-quality homes and services.”
About the programme
The Board Trainee Programme, created by the Housing Diversity Network, is a two-year development pathway designed to create a pipeline of future board members from diverse backgrounds and support more inclusive governance across the housing sector.