The deadline to enter Rising Stars 2013 is fast approaching.

CIH head of professional practice Debbie Larner outlines the qualities essential for success.

Rising Stars 2013 What makes a great housing professional? Or, to phrase it in a slightly different way, what qualities does it take to be a Rising Star? At CIH, we see the two things as synonymous – our Rising Stars really do fly the flag for professionalism and demonstrate just what is great about the people who work in our industry.

Take our previous Rising Stars - Carla Keegans in 2011 and Dean Slavin in 2012. What professional qualities did they have that helped them to stand out from the rest? While different in many ways, they were both able to demonstrate drive, ambition, passion, credibility, innovation and ultimately, a desire to make a difference. Oh, and they both had bags of energy – which, as a Rising Star and a housing professional is a must have!


Rising Stars is all about nurturing the talent of future leaders in the sector, but it is also a great way to showcase the qualities of housing professionals across our industry. We know that there is a rich pool of talented people out there doing great things. Entering Rising Stars is a great way to put your head above the parapet, demonstrate your professionalism and potentially get a head start in your career.

As Dean reflected recently: “Winning Rising Stars has enhanced my skills and really raised my profile on a national level. I’ve spoken at various events and conferences and I’m being mentored by a key figure within the industry. It’s also given me the opportunity to experience things at a much younger age than I expected. All in all I’m a more rounded individual and feel that my prospects have been significantly enhanced!"

The deadline for entering Rising Stars is Monday 11 March.

www.cih.org/risingstars

(GK)