Former CIH Scotland chair Gavin Smith wins election
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has announced Gavin Smith as its next vice president.
Smith, service manager for access and homelessness at Fife Council, was elected by CIH members ahead of fellow candidates Katrina Henshaw, Lee Buss-Blair, Nic Bliss and Richard Kennedy.
The winner’s candidate statement centred on building healthy communities and raising the profile of the housing sector, with a focus on professionalism and the membership voice.
Smith previously served on the CIH Scotland board for more than six years, standing down as chair in 2025.
He will officially become the vice president following the CIH’s annual general meeting in October 2026, succeeding incumbent vice president Evie Copland when she takes over from Julie Haydon as CIH president .
By convention, CIH vice presidents become the membership body’s president the following year.
Smith said: “Housing matters because it shapes people’s lives and the strength of our communities, and I’m proud to have spent my career working to improve services for those who need them most.”
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