It’s a particularly grim and overcast day in the City of London and new Housing Forum boss Alex Notay is in her office talking about her frustration over the housing crisis.

“We have had a housing crisis in this country for 50 years, there’s a reason we called the report Beyond the Permacrisis,” she says, referring to the publication by the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission, of which Notay was the principal author.

“And so, we need to do something different,” she adds with a twinkle in her eye.

When it comes to gathering fresh thinking about the housing crisis and regeneration – the latter is a “personal passion” for Notay – there are few leaders better placed to contribute right now than the Somerset-born placemaking enthusiast. She has experience of working in government, for think-tanks (including the Urban Land Institute) and in finance, through roles such as placemaking and investment director at Places for People’s fund management arm Thriving Investments.

She has also held a multitude of non-executive roles and written 30 books on the property market. Last month she was  announced as a member of the advisory panel for Regen Connect – our year-long project exploring how investment in infrastructure, housing and placemaking is shaping the future of our regions.