Our speakers

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Dr Chadden Hunter, wildlife documentary producer & director

Our keynote speaker, Dr Chadden Hunter, is a producer and director who has worked on some of the best-known natural history series including Frozen Planet and Planet Earth. He has dodged armed bandits and survived brain-parasites and filmed everything from indigenous tribes in Africa to snow leopards in Pakistan.

Growing up in Queensland Australia, Chadden studied conservation and marine biology on the Great Barrier Reef. He completed a PhD on gelada baboons in Ethiopia before working in film-making for National Geographic, PBS, and the Discovery Channel in the US.

Starting a long association with David Attenborough and the BBC, Chadden worked on The Life of Mammals before joining the teams on Planet Earth (where he became known as 'the guy covered in bat poop') and Natural World. He took on producer and director duties on Frozen Planet, during which, whilst filming arctic wolves, he learned -40C was cold enough to freeze his eyes shut. He then went on to work on Wild Arabia and Planet Earth II.

Chadden has also spent a large part of his life diving in oceans around the world as a Divemaster and with underwater film crews. He has worked alongside marine conservationists tackling plastics in the seas everywhere from South East Asia and the Caribbean to underneath the Antarctic ice cap.

With insights, engaging and often amusing stories, and stunning images and never-before-seen footage, Chadden looks at lessons in creative thinking, problem-solving and working in a team. He explains the huge logistical and creative challenges that producing these spectacular series involve. He also reveals how incredible shots are captured (often a combination of cutting edge technology, calculated risk, careful planning and a lot of both patience and luck) and what goes on behind the scenes of these internationally successful series that educate, entertain and inspire.

Don't miss Chadden's presentation at our customer partnership event.

Naheed Ejaz is the chair of the Customer Partnership Board.

The Customer Partnership Board (CPB) brings together Silva customers across our properties, and has a significant influence over our decision-making.

The CPB has two key roles:

• To work closely with our leadership on the key issues that affect our strategic direction
• To direct our approach towards customer engagement and to inform decisions that affect our customers, their homes and communities.

Naheed is a strong advocate for raising the voices of marginalised social groups, she has an MA in political science and an in-depth understanding of diabilities within the local area.

Naheed has lived in Bracknell for over 34 years, where she raised her five children, and is now a Silva Homes customer. Having worked with special needs children for over 12 years, she now manages a special needs transport business.

Currently Naheed is working with a group for disadvantaged adults, equipping them with personal and business skills to extend the opportunities available to them.

Don't miss Naheed's update from our customer partnership board.

Alan was appointed as Silva's chief executive in April 2018. He set up his own successful consultancy business in 2007, working for over a decade mostly with housing sector clients but also some in the education and health sectors. Prior to that, he was group chief executive of Curo Group in Bath for 10 years. He worked closely with the association on a number of consultancy assignments from 2016 to 2018 including the development of its growth strategy and new strategic plan.

Don't miss Alan's introduction at our customer partnership event.