Advisory Groups To ensure we maximise the potential of UKREiiF we have an active Advisory Group which works together to share feedback, enable us to reach new milestones and create ideas to enhance the event further. UKREiiF Advisory Group All Party Parliamentary Group for Regeneration and Development – Gagan Mohindra MP, Chief Whip for Department for Levelling Up Gagan Mohindra’s role as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Regeneration and Development underscores his commitment to sustainable growth. Representing South West Hertfordshire, he brings a unique perspective to the Advisory Group, ensuring that the event resonates with policymakers and industry leaders alike. Thames Estuary Growth Board – Kate Willard OBE, Chair Kate Willard OBE serves as the Thames Estuary Envoy. Appointed by the government and chairing the Thames Estuary Growth Board, she’s the driving force behind the Thames Estuary’s ambitious plans. Kate also holds a senior advisory position at Stobart Group and consults on a range of infrastructure and growth projects. With international experience in regeneration, she’s been instrumental in various transnational projects focusing on employment, social cohesion, and regional development. West Midlands Growth Company – Neil Rami, Chief Executive Neil’s role at the West Midlands Growth Company has been pivotal in driving growth and investment in the region. His expertise in regional development and his commitment to sustainable practices will provide a unique perspective to the Advisory Group, ensuring the event reflects the needs and aspirations of regions across the UK. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Dr Aileen Jones, Executive Director for Investment and Delivery Dr Jones has been with the Authority in 2018, initially serving as Head of Evidence, Research and Intelligence before advancing to Assistant Director of Policy and Strategic Commissioning in 2019. Prior to joining the Authority, Dr. Jones had a diverse career that spanned both the public and private sectors. Her experience includes significant roles such as Head of UK Public Policy for HSBC and Deputy Director of the Heseltine Institute at the University of Liverpool. She also has a notable history in public policy, working in Westminster as a Committee Specialist for select committee inquiries and holding positions at the Financial Services Authority, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the General Medical Council. West Yorkshire Combined Authority – Ben Still, Managing Director As host region, leadership from across West Yorkshire is key to delivering a successful event and Ben acts as the main conduit into each of the five constituent local authorities to ensure the area maximises the impact of over 10,000 delegates arriving into Leeds, Kirklees, Wakefield, Bradford and Calderdale. The Combined Authority play a huge part in creating a world class experience for UKREiiF participants and he joins the advisory group to help co-ordinate issues such as city welcome and operations. Manchester City Council – Joanne Roney OBE, Chief Executive Joanne’s leadership at Manchester City Council has been pivotal in the city’s regeneration and growth. Her vast experience in urban development and her commitment to sustainable practices make her an essential member of the Advisory Group. Under her guidance, Manchester has become a beacon of innovation and sustainability. Legal & General – Pete Gladwell, Group Social Impact & Investment Director Pete is at the forefront of Legal and General’s social impact initiatives. With a keen focus on sustainable investments, he’s been instrumental in driving positive change within the industry. His expertise will be invaluable in shaping the UKREiiF event to reflect the latest trends and best practices in sustainable development. British Property Federation – Melanie Leech CBE, Chief Executive As the Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, Melanie leads the organization in representing the UK property industry. Her role involves advocating for the sector, shaping policy, and fostering sustainable growth. With a background in public service and industry advocacy, Melanie is known for her strategic approach to addressing key challenges in the property sector. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives that balance economic development with environmental and social considerations. UKBCSD – Jason Longhurst, Chair Working across two roles – Chair of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Development and UK Head of Sustainable Investments and Partnerships at Prologis, Jason has established himself as one of the UK’s foremost campaigners for creating greener, smarter places through built environment interventions. Having previously stewarded Place Director positions at both Central Bedfordshire Council and Bradford Council, he has been a supporter of UKREiiF since inception, bringing with him a host of policy makers, sector experts and blue-chip leaders. As part of the advisory board he will work with the content team to ensure cutting edge topics remain at the forefront of the event. Invest Newcastle – Chair: Jen Hartley, Director Jen Hartley’s role at Invest Newcastle is centred around promoting the city as a prime destination for investment. Her knowledge of the local landscape and her connections within the industry will be instrumental in shaping the event’s content and outreach. Socius – Liam Ronan-Chlond, Head of Engagement and Social Value Liam’s work at Socius revolves around engagement and creating tangible social value. His insights into community engagement and stakeholder management will be crucial in ensuring the UKREiiF event is both inclusive and impactful. Lendlease – Bek Seeley, Founder @ Place Partners UK Bek’s leadership at Lendlease has seen numerous successful projects come to fruition across Europe. Her expertise in development, combined with a commitment to sustainability, will provide valuable insights into the planning and execution of the UKREiiF event. Built Environment Networking – Nathan Spencer, Marketing Director Nathan, alongside his role at event organise Built Environment Networking, is the Marketing Director for UKREiiF and will be in charge of activating the events promotional strategy and driving awareness for the work the Advisory Group are doing. He is also passionate about what UKREiiF is aiming to achieve – leading on several EDI initiatives both internally and externally and he’ll add his experience to the Sub-Group. Prior to his role at BEN he worked for a number of years at Pentland Brands, the family-owned business which owns brands such as Mitre, Canterbury, Speedo and Berghaus. Here he headed up Mitre’s digital channels and worked alongside Disney and the English Football League on major award-winning product launches. Constructing Rainbows – Sharon Slinger, Director Sharon’s work at Constructing Rainbows is a testament to her commitment to diversity and inclusion within the construction industry. Her insights will ensure that the UKREiiF event reflects the industry’s evolving landscape and the importance of inclusive practices. Built Environment Networking – Keith Griffiths, Managing Director A Chartered Quantity Surveyor by profession, and most recently was a Partner at Gleeds Chartered Cost and Project Managers for 11 years, Keith has a lot of experience and knowledge within the construction sector. In 2011 Keith set up Built Environment Networking – the organisers behind UKREiiF – and has been working to deliver events both physically and virtually since. Running over 150 events annually the business has built up a reputation for delivering high-quality events focused on driving economic growth, enabling facilitation and new business conversations, and connecting new people together. His experience of running events will be crucial to the Advisory Group to help inform the group on the operational side of the event. Leeds City Council – Angela Barnicle, Chief Officer for Asset Management and Regeneration Angela’s work at Leeds City Council focuses on asset management and regeneration. Her deep understanding of urban development and her experience in managing city assets will be crucial in shaping the content and direction of the UKREiiF event. JLL – Tom McWilliams, Head of North East & Regional Development Tom’s leadership at JLL has seen the company’s growth and expansion in the North East and other regions. His insights into regional development and the property market will be invaluable in ensuring the UKREiiF event remains at the cutting edge of industry trends. BPIC Network – Amos Simbo, Founder Amos Simbo is the founder of Winway Consultants a building services contractor as well as BPIC Network (Black Professionals in Construction). BPIC Network is a built environment inclusion business that works in partnership with organisations to improve the ethnic minority representation and retention. Whilst his business Winway Consultants is an MEP (Mechanical Electrical and Public Health) commercial fitout design and management consultant, working with clients as well as main contractors to design and manage fitout projects.
