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 UKREiiF Advisory Group – Lord Richard Harrington, Chair Lord Richard Harrington serves as the Chair of The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) Advisory Group. He has a notable background in both the real estate sector and politics, having previously been a Conservative MP for Watford from 2010 to 2019. During his political career, he held several ministerial roles, including Minister for Refugees and Business Minister. He was made a Life Peer in 2022. 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. 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. Prologis – Jason Longhurst, Head of UK Sustainable Investment and Partnerships 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. UK PropTech Association – Sammy Pahal, Managing Director Sammy Pahal is the Managing Director of the UK PropTech Association (UKPA), a role she has held since the organization’s inception in 2017. Under her leadership, UKPA has focused on driving digital transformation within the UK property sector, advocating for the integration of technology in real estate practices. Invest Newcastle – 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. Royal Town Planning Institute – Victoria Hills, Chief Executive Victoria has over 22 years in senior roles in planning, transport, organisational leadership and development. She latterly led the UK’s largest regeneration project at Old Oak. Using the convening role of the Institute, she makes the case for resourcing planning and advocating the important role of putting planning at the heart of government delivery for the quality places. She is driving forward delivery of the RTPI’s Corporate Strategy, focussing on raising the profile of planning, elevating the value of professionalism, and promoting a diverse and inclusive profession to ensure genuine representation of the society in which we work. Victoria currently sits on the Advisory Group to the Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Commission. City Development Leeds City Council – Angela Barnicle, Director 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. Public Practice – Pooja Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer Pooja Agrawal is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Public Practice, a not-for-profit organization established in 2017 to enhance built environment expertise within local government planning systems. She is an architect and planner with a background in public service, having worked at Homes England and the Greater London Authority (GLA) before founding Public Practice with Finn Williams 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. Opportunity London – Isabel Alonzo, Strategic Partnerships Manager Isabel works as Strategic Partnerships Manager at NLA, primarily assisting with relationships across the public sector and the Opportunity London project. She joined NLA at the onset of 2023. Isabel attended the University of Texas at Austin and Royal College of Art where she studied urban planning and design history. Prior to NLA, she worked across the museum sector and art education. 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. AREF – Paul Richards, CEO Paul is the CEO of AREF. Before joining AREF in 2020, Paul was Head of the European Real Estate Boutique within Mercer’s investment consulting business for almost 10 years, previously he was Head of Indirect Real Estate Investment and Global Managed Accounts at LaSalle Investment Management, where he was responsible for managing global portfolios of unlisted real estate funds for clients from Europe and Asia Pacific. The 55 Group – Ryan Dall, Chief Marketing Officer UKREiiF – Nathan Spencer, Director Nathan Spencer is a Managing Director at The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) and has been instrumental in connecting investors, developers, and regeneration specialists to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth. He is an enthusiastic participant and Steering Group Member of YPSV where he has facilitated networking among young professionals to enhance social value across various sectors. Additionally, his role as a Committee Member at Building Equality reflects his commitment to promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion within the construction, engineering, and built environment industries. Based in Leeds, Nathan is passionate about fostering inclusive and impactful community engagement.
