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Accord deputy chief executive Alan Yates  has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with an OBE for services to housing.

The citation salutes dedication and ongoing work in the housing industry – with specific reference to his commitment to providing affordable homes.

After starting his career in the building and construction industry, Yates then moved into the affordable housing sector and is now the Deputy Chief Executive at Accord Housing, where he is also responsible for the organisation’s commercial team, including all new and existing housing developments.

“I am delighted to have received this honour and I hope that it inspires others in the housing sector to innovate, in order to provide better homes and services to our customers.

“Building good quality, affordable houses that people can call their home is really important to me, and doing this by using sustainable building and construction methods is something I am very passionate about,” he said.

Also in the list is Steve Douglas, Co-Chief Executive of Altair and former CEO of the Housing Corporation. He receives an OBE for services to housing.

Anne Cook, Head of the Social Housing Services Team in the Scottish Government has been recognised for her services to social housing, with an OBE.

Also awarded an OBE was Arvinda Gohil, CEO of Community Links, for services to housing for vulnerable people.

Qadeer Kiani, who was shortlisted for Lifetime Achievement at the 24housing Diversity in Housing awards, was awarded an OBE for his services to migrants and refugees. His role as Chair of Arhag Housing Association played a significant role in this.

For the last five years he has driven the transformation of housing association from a landlord to its core BME clients to a dynamic enabler of a raft of other services for migrants and refugees (M&R) in London and nationally.

Accepting the award, Qadeer said: “It is a great honour to be recognised with this award.

“I see this in large part as a recognition of all the hard work by many that has gone into moving Arhag to where we are now.”

Arhag chief executive Cedric Boston added: “We are very pleased for Qadeer who is a very worthy recipient of this award.

“He has driven forward our project to become a go-to organisation for migrants and refugees and we will soon open our new centre offering a range of services like, health, employment and legal advice, as well as housing.”

For services to the homeless, Petra Salva, Director of Rough Sleeper, Ex-offenders and Migrant Services at St. Mungo’s was also celebrated with an OBE in this year’s list.

Also for services to the homeless, Matthew Downie Director of Policy and External Affairs at Crisis and Teresa Fillings, Lead Worker at Thames Reach, were awarded OBEs.

On a more region specific level, Kay Penkethman was awarded an OBE for services to the homeless in Liverpool.

Joan Goodwin, who is a member of the Housing Liaison Board at Yardley Wood, was awarded an OBE for services to tenants and leaseholders in Birmingham.

And Maureen Wilkinson, who is Chair of the Magenta Living Wirral Residents Umbrella Association, was awarded an OBE for her services to housing.