David Bishop

Deputy Chief Executive & Corporate Director of Development
Nottingham City Council

James Howarth

Founding Director
Sterling Property Ventures Ltd

James Howarth has over 18 years' experience in land and property, specialising in the planning, remediation and delivery of complex development sites, through careful asset selection and re-positioning.  James co-founded Abstract Land Limited in 2004, which has been responsible for various developments such as Colmore Plaza, Birmingham and various land assembly deals in the south east.

Sterling Property Ventures was established in 2013 and projects include 55 Colmore Row with Kames Capital, Lumina with M&G Real Estate and the development of Great Charles Square in joint venture with Birmingham City Council.  

Prior to this, he worked extensively in the West Midlands and is known for the development of 5 St Philips Place and for Spectrum in Birmingham. In addition to the acquisition and subsequent funding and development of the former IMI Headquarters, Birmingham (90 Acres) and the former TRW Headquarters in Solihull (55 Acres).

Councillor John Clancy

Leader
Birmingham City Council

He is the West Midlands Combined Authority portfolio lead member for economic growth – delivery of Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), access to finance for business, Collective Investment Fund (CIF), WMCA growth company, international trade and exports, digital strategy and the arts and cultural activity. John has spearheaded trade missions to China and Qatar, bringing in global capital to ensure Birmingham is a key player in the UK’s post-Brexit economy.

With an overarching emphasis on inclusive growth, the focus is on four key priorities: children, housing, jobs and skills and health. He believes Birmingham and the wider region have entered a golden decade, a period that will culminate in the arrival of High Speed Two in 2026, and is determined to ensure the benefits of economic growth are felt right across the city and in all communities.

John acknowledges that the city council is just one player in the quest for inclusive economic growth  and is keen to work with partners across the city to develop a shared longer-term vision for Birmingham.

Leigh Thomas

Managing Director
Kier Property

Rob Groves

Regional Director
Argent

Rob Groves, is the Regional Director of Argent and has over 30 years of planning, design, construction and commercial experience. Prior to joining Argent in 2007 he was an Equity Partner at a large multi-disciplinary consulting engineer practice. His development experience includes mixed use, residential, commercial, industrial schemes as well as major public sector infrastructure.

Rob has led schemes from feasibility through to planning, compulsory purchase, which includes expert witness work, detailed design, funding both private and public sector, construction and commercial legals and lettings.

He is head of Argents’ Birmingham office and is leading the Paradise project in Birmingham, which is a joint venture with Birmingham City Council for a new commercial led mixed use development of 2 million sq/ft in the City centre, which is one of the biggest city centre projects in the regions. The project was one of the first in England to secure Enterprise Zone funding, delivering major site wide infrastructure changes to the city centre, the first phase of which is close to completion.

Rob is also the chair of the Midlands British Council of Offices.