Alan Wake Announced as Closing Keynote Speaker for NSG National Conference 2026: A Story of Courage, Challenge and Change
The NSG National Conference 2026 will close with a keynote unlike any other.
We are delighted to welcome Alan Wake, CEO of Manogram, as our closing speaker — bringing delegates a powerful, personal and unforgettable story about resilience, perspective and the importance of challenging assumptions.
Alan’s keynote will take delegates beyond the world of housing and into a deeply human story about facing the unexpected, finding humour in adversity, and using personal experience to create positive change.
A diagnosis that changed everything
In 2025, Alan received the news that he had breast cancer.
For many people, breast cancer is something associated almost exclusively with women, but Alan’s diagnosis highlighted a reality that is often overlooked: men can be affected too. His journey involved confronting not only the physical challenges of treatment, but also the misconceptions, assumptions and lack of awareness surrounding male breast cancer.
Having already supported his wife through her own breast cancer experiences, Alan found himself navigating a situation he never expected to face personally. Rather than allowing the experience to define him, he chose to turn it into something positive: raising awareness, starting conversations and helping others feel less alone.
Introducing Manogram
From that experience came Manogram, a one-man show sharing Alan’s story of breast cancer through honesty, humour and humanity.
The show explores Alan’s experience of diagnosis, treatment, surgery and recovery, while looking at the often-unspoken realities of how men respond to vulnerability, health challenges and emotional situations.
While the subject matter is serious, Alan uses comedy as a way to open conversations that are often difficult to have. His approach is simple: if laughter can help people talk, then laughter can help people understand. Manogram has been praised for bringing a different perspective to the breast cancer conversation, showing that behind every diagnosis is a person, a family and a story.
Why Alan’s story matters
At NSG, we spend much of our time discussing homes, communities, customers and the people we serve.
Alan’s story is a reminder that behind every organisation, every customer journey and every statistic are real people with real experiences.
His keynote will challenge delegates to think differently about:
The assumptions we make about people and their circumstances
How we support colleagues, customers and communities through difficult moments
The importance of empathy, awareness and open conversations
How adversity can create opportunities for positive change
Supporting a great cause
As part of Alan’s appearance at the NSG National Conference, we are proud to support his fundraising efforts.
NSG will be donating £1,000, and we will also match fund delegate donations to help raise even more awareness and support.
You can support Alan’s fundraising campaign here:
Join us for the closing keynote
The NSG National Conference 2026 is about bringing together leaders from across sales, marketing, customer experience, development and affordable home ownership to share ideas, challenge thinking and create meaningful change.
Alan Wake’s closing keynote promises to be a fitting finale — a reminder that leadership is not just about strategy and delivery, but about people, compassion and the stories that connect us.
We cannot wait to welcome Alan to the stage.
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