A Birmingham housing leader who has dedicated her career to supporting people across the city and wider West Midlands has been named Woman of the Year at a national social housing awards ceremony.
Rachel Chiu, Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at Spring Housing Association, won the Woman of the Year: housing provider with up to 15,000 homes category at the Women in Housing Awards 2026.
The award recognises Rachel’s outstanding contribution to housing, social impact and community support, including her work helping people affected by homelessness, poverty, disability and inequality.
Rachel’s commitment to housing and social justice has been shaped by her lived experience of growing up in a first-generation immigrant household affected by homelessness and disability. She began her career as a social worker and has spent her professional life working alongside people with complex needs, including disabled adults, children and families.
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She later co-founded Spring Housing Association, which supports vulnerable people and communities across Birmingham and the West Midlands and has helped the organisation grow while keeping people’s experiences at the heart of its work.
Rachel’s nomination highlighted the breadth of her impact across organisational leadership, supported housing, tenant voice and public policy. The Women in Housing award judges said: “What stands out is the breadth of Rachel’s impact across organisational leadership, supported housing, tenant voice and wider public policy. She feels like someone whose influence reaches well beyond her own organisation.”
Alongside her work at Spring, Rachel is Chair of MY Trust, an Alms House Charity and registered provider which supports diverse communities across Birmingham and the West Midlands. She has also held grant-making roles with The National Lottery Community Fund, BBC Children in Need and the National Lottery Heritage Fund helping direct funding to projects that support children, families and communities.
Her wider work includes championing tenant voice, refugee support and the rights of people living in supported housing, as well as contributing to national social security policy through her role on the Social Security Advisory Committee, which advises the Department for Work and Pensions.
Janette Beckett, Chief Executive of Spring Housing Association, said: “We are incredibly proud to see Rachel recognised in this way. She brings real vision, care and determination to everything she does, and has made a remarkable difference to the lives of vulnerable people and communities.
“Rachel’s work is rooted in compassion and shaped by her own experiences. She has a real ability to bring people together, get things done and make sure people who are often overlooked have access to the housing and support they need.
“We’re incredibly pleased to see Rachel’s commitment, leadership and lasting impact across Spring, Birmingham, the West Midlands and the wider housing sector recognised.”
Rachel Chiu said: “I’m so honoured to receive this award and am grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout my career.
“Housing is about much more than a roof over someone’s head. It is about dignity, stability, opportunity and making sure people have the support they need to thrive. That belief has shaped everything I have done, from my early work in social care to the work we do every day at Spring.
“This recognition means a great deal to me personally, but it also reflects the commitment of our colleagues, partners and communities who work so hard to improve lives and create fairer outcomes.”
Rachel’s award follows Spring Housing’s wider recognition at this year’s Women in Housing and Housing Heroes Awards, where the organisation and its colleagues were shortlisted across a number of categories.
The Women in Housing Awards took place on Monday 22 June at Manchester Central, as part of Housing 2026.
