The director of Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, and Bank of Hawaii's chief economist will be the featured speakers next month at a forum on the housing market's role in the broader economic slowdown.

The Feb. 13 event is titled, "Building Homes and Communities in a Time of Change."

Harvard's Nicolas Retsinas will share his views on what it will take to get the housing market back on track. Retsinas was a member of Barack Obama's transition Team, and served in the Department of Housing and Urban Development as assistant secretary for housing, and federal housing commissioner.

Bank of Hawaii's Paul Brewbaker will discuss how the private and public sectors can work to create more affordable housing. Brewbaker also is a director of the Hawaii Economic Association, a member of the American Economic Association, and a chairman of the Hawaii Council on Revenues.

The event is set for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Reservations can be made at www.ersvp.com/r/bohfeb13.