Oona Goldsworthy

Chief Executive
United Communities

Oona is Chief Executive of United Communities, a community based housing association, which own and manages approx. 2000 homes across the West of England.

Oona is passionate about the role that housing associations can play in shaping their cities and supporting residents and communities to become more resilient. She held a variety of roles with housing associations and led major regeneration projects for local authorities before joining United Communities.

United Communities is known for its entrepreneurial approach to development and regeneration, which includes commercial joint ventures with developers, a unique ethical market rent funded by a social investment fund, self-build via a  community land trust and large scale mixed tenure regeneration. 

As well as being Chief Executive, Oona is a Board member of  Bristol Hospitality Network for Refugees and national Placeshapers. In 2017 she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship  to research global approach’s to housing millennials.  

Mark Farmer

Founding Director & CEO
Cast Consultancy

Mark has nearly 30 years of experience in the construction and real estate sectors and has become a recognised commentator and thought leader on a variety of issues. He has been at the forefront of emerging UK residential market segments such as Build to Rent and Later Living. He is also playing a leading role in the progressive modernisation of the construction industry. Mark is a member of the RICS, Vice Chairman of the ULI UK Residential Council, a member of the BPF Build to Rent sub-committee and co-chairman of Constructing Excellence. Mark authored the October 2016 UK Government Review of the Construction Labour Market Model entitled ‘Modernise or Die’.

Chris Burton

Regional Managing Director, West
Barratt Developments plc

Chris is a Senior Executive with over 30 years' experience in the Construction industry.  He is responsible for Barratt Developments West Region, where the four Divisional Teams under his control currently deliver around 2400 homes per annum.

He has worked throughout the UK and gained expertise in private and social housing, including urban regeneration and city centre markets.

Karime Hassan

Chief Executive and Growth Director
Exeter City Council

Karime was appointed Chief Executive and Growth Director of Exeter City Council in 2013. He joined Exeter City Council as the Director of Economy and Development in February 2011, following eight years as Corporate Director at East Devon District Council. During his time at East Devon he set up the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point, managed the strategic development proposals for the growth area and established regeneration programmes for Exmouth and Seaton.

Prior to joining East Devon District Council, Karime was Head of Planning Services at Exeter and led on projects such as the award winning Princesshay shopping centre and the relocation of the Met Office.

Liz Dunn

Partner
Burges Salmon (CHAIR)

Liz specialises in development, in particular infrastructure and energy and major redevelopment projects. Her practice areas include advising on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), planning obligations and infrastructure agreements, planning appeals and judicial review, including appearing as a planning inquiry advocate. Recent projects in the region include acting for YTL on the development of the Filton Airfield site, Engine Shed 2 and Temple Square for Skanska, the University of Bristol’s new campus in Temple Quarter and Redcliff Quarter. She also advised Bristol City Council and Wessex Water on their renewables developments in Avonmouth.

Ross Polkinghorne

Partner
Burges Salmon

Ross is the firm's head of real estate development. He leads a team of lawyers who advise developers and the public sector on complex regeneration projects (often in joint venture). Recent projects in the region have included: Locking Parklands, Redcliff Quarter, Filton Airfield, 66 Queen Square, Engine Shed 2 and Temple Square in Bristol, a new garden town in North West Cardiff, the partial takeover of Sutton Harbour Holdings PLC and the University of Bristol’s new temple quarter enterprise campus.