Niki Kyriacou

Sector Lead - BTR
NHBC

Niki is Sector Lead at NHBC focusing on client management of activity, with a focus on the BTR market. 

Niki was previously at leading property trade publication Property Week, specialising in partnerships, campaign strategy and cross-platform solutions and has over 20 years’ experience. She has a strong focus on the residential property sector, having driven the development of prestigious, large-scale events like RESI and the RESI Awards. 

Other career highlights during that time included launching and delivering high-profile initiatives like RESI Trailblazers - championing rising stars; and Joint Victories - celebrating the best of public-private partnerships.

Marcus Dixon

Director of UK Residential
JLL

Marcus Dixon is Head of UK Living & Residential Research at JLL, bringing over 20 years of experience in the sector. He specialises in market analysis, strategic planning, and advising on residential and living investment opportunities. Marcus' insightful research and data-driven approach have made him a trusted advisor for clients navigating the complexities of the UK market. With a profound understanding of market trends and dynamics, he frequently speaks at industry conferences and contributes to key publications. 

Damien Sharkey

Managing Director
HUB

Damien Sharkey is HUB’s Managing Director. Damien is keenly involved in all aspects of the HUB business, leading the development process of its current £2.7bn pipeline from acquisition and funding through design, consultation, planning, procurement, and delivery to completion. An architect by background, Damien completed his post-graduate diploma in architecture at the University of Westminster before beginning his career at Robin Partington Architects, now known as Apt. Having moved into development, Damien remains passionate about design and ensures maximum value through thoughtful design, technical accuracy, and efficient delivery for all of HUB’s portfolio. His agile thinking and proclivity for problem solving allow him to develop the HUB direction, structure deals and lead a fantastic team.

Katherine Russell

Director of Build to Rent
John Lewis Partnership

Katherine graduated from Reading University with a degree in Land Management and spent her initial years at Fuller Peiser, Atisreal & BNP Paribas.

She then moved into the world of retail property, at John Lewis as Property Manager followed by Asset Management and moving into the Head of John Lewis Property in 2016.

In July 2017, she became Group Head of Real Estate, Planning, Policy and Commercial for the John Lewis Partnership, responsible for the strategic delivery of all Real Estate activity in both John Lewis and Waitrose across all asset classes (Retail, Distribution, Office, Residential and Leisure). In addition her role also ensures the commercial delivery of all capital projects, compliance with statutory policy and driving a sustainability strategy for the Property & Development function. Katherine has also been a Trustee and Director of a non profit organisation, setting the strategic direction and overseeing operational delivery.

Cath Webster

Chief Executive Officer
Thriving Investments

Cath joined in January 2023 to lead on increasing funds under management alongside the delivery of social impact, augmenting the existing fund management platform across high-quality affordable housing, private-rented residential and urban regeneration strategies. She was previously Executive Director for Strategy and Investment at property development and investment specialist Quintain. Cath has 30 years of real estate experience across private equity, fund management and investment banking. She has an MBA from INSEAD and is a Member of the BPF’s Living Council, a Member of the RICS and Trustee (and former Co-Chair) for the Creative Land Trust.

Tom Copley

Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development
Greater London Authority

Tom Copley became Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development in March 2020 and oversees the Mayor’s two affordable homes programmes, including ‘Building Council Homes for Londoners’ – the first-ever City Hall initiative dedicated to council homebuilding.

Tom also oversees the Mayor’s work to improve the private rented sector, support the delivery of community-led housing, commission services to support rough sleepers, and on building safety.

He sits on the board of Barking Riverside Ltd, a joint venture between the GLA and L&Q housing association which is delivering 10,800 homes along with new transport and other infrastructure in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Before becoming a Deputy Mayor, Tom was a London Assembly London-wide List Member for eight years, serving as Chair of the Assembly’s housing committee and as Labour Group housing spokesperson. He also served on Lewisham Council, representing Sydenham.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Tom worked for Hope not hate - an anti-fascist, anti-racist charity that works with communities to fight racism and hatred.

He is a trustee of New Diorama Theatre in Camden.

Nik Dyer

Development Director
Halcyon Development Partners

Nik is Development Director at Halcyon Development Partners, a specialist leader in the expanding Co-Living sector. With 15 years’ experience across all living sectors within the UK and Ireland, he has spent the last 7 years at the centre of the Co-Living movement at The Collective and subsequently Halcyon. Nik’s expertise spans the whole development lifecycle, having delivered the FOLK Co-Living portfolio for DTZ Investors from acquisition, planning, and construction through to operation, widely considered the benchmark for Co-Living best-practice in London, and one of the key influences for the GLAs London Plan Shared Living SPG on Purpose Built Large Scale Shared Living. More recently, he leads the development process for their expanding next generation 1,700 unit London portfolio which includes the first Co-Living plot within the Related Argent Brent Cross Town Masterplan.