Orla Gallagher

Chief executive, Housing Solutions

1 What do you do for fun?

I’m very sociable, so I love spending time with family and friends. Living in West London means I’m lucky to have plenty on my doorstep – live music, comedy nights, museums and all the quirkier bits of London. I also love quieter things too: pottering in my garden and walking my dog, Herbie, in Hyde Park early at the weekend. Seeing London wake up on a summer morning is hard to beat.

2 You have the power to change one thing about the social housing sector: what would it be?

I’d put far more emphasis on the human side of housing – connection, creativity and understanding how people really live in their homes. Safety, compliance and asset management matter enormously, but we mustn’t lose sight of the people behind the process. If we’re going to meet the challenges ahead, we’ll need imagination, judgement and empathy as much as efficiency.

3 What advice would you give to someone starting out in housing?

Get as much breadth of experience as you can. Housing is a wonderfully varied sector, and early on it helps to understand how all the different parts fit together. Stay close to residents, use technology well, and choose organisations that will help you grow.

4 Who’s your favourite author, and why?

I don’t have one single favourite author. I’ve been part of the same book club for more than 15 years, so I’ve read widely and probably enjoy discovering a really good book more than being loyal to one writer. My reading is quite seasonal too – lighter and more escapist in summer, more thoughtful and immersive in winter.

5 What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever experienced?

Walking through London during Covid when the streets were completely empty. It was a hot, sunny afternoon, and yet the city was silent. It was surreal and quite unsettling.

6 What are your three favourite albums?

I’m much more song-led than album-led, so if I could answer with songs, I’d choose Nina Simone’s version of Who Knows Where the Time Goes?, Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac, and My Way. They’re all songs I never really tire of.

7 Proudest achievement?

Without question, my proudest achievement is bringing up my two sons, Euan (22) and Niall (19). I’m incredibly proud of the independent, kind, and funny young men they’ve become.

8 A world without music or a world without literature – and why?

A world without literature. Much as I love books, music feels even more fundamental to me because it connects people instantly and universally. You don’t need a shared language to feel it, and I’ve travelled a lot and seen how quickly music brings people together across cultures.

9 Favourite place in the world?

London on a sunny day, especially the South Bank.

10 You can resurrect anyone from history and talk to them for an hour: who, and why?

Amy Winehouse. An extraordinary talent, taken far too early.

11 Favourite film or TV series?

Derry Girls. It’s clever, hilarious and, having grown up in Ireland, I can really relate to it.

12 Favourite food?

Fish and chips at the seaside.

13 Most embarrassing moment?

Falling off the stage in a dancing competition – I got rather carried away!

14 If you didn’t work in housing, what would you do?

Probably be a teacher.

15 What makes for a good life?

Being present, looking after the people you love, making the most of the here and now, and living life to the full.