Richard Cowell MRTPI

Assistant Director, Development
Birmingham City Council

Richard joined Birmingham City Council’s Planning and Regeneration Department in 2008. He currently heads up a number of multi–disciplinary teams leading on a range of development, planning and regeneration initiatives, with a primary focus on the city centre.

One of his first projects with the department was the production of the City’s strategic city centre masterplan, the Big City Plan, which was launched in September 2010. The Big City Plan is one of the most ambitious and far-reaching city development projects in the UK and is seeing billions of pounds of investment in both infrastructure and major new development schemes.

Following the launch of the Big City Plan Richard led the work to secure the city centre Enterprise Zone and the publication of the first Enterprise Zone Investment Plan (2012). This investment is enabling an extension of the Midland Metro Tram network, public realm improvements and key development schemes to proceed.

As the City continues to experience a major economic renaissance the focus for Richard remains the implementation of the strategic vision of the Big City Plan and key initiatives to drive growth across Birmingham. This includes Birmingham Smithfield, which will see the redevelopment of a 14ha site in the heart of the city centre; and the Curzon HS2 Growth Strategy, which has secured an extension of the Enterprise Zone and over £700 million of infrastructure investment targeted at maximising growth around the city centre High Speed 2 (HS2) terminus station. 

Andrew Kerr

Chief Executive
City of Edinburgh Council

Andrew Kerr took up post as Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council on 27 July 2015.  He was previously Chief Executive of Cornwall, Wiltshire and North Tyneside councils, and Chief Operating Officer in Cardiff.  A former international athlete, Andrew’s professional background is in Leisure and Sport and he was Director of Leisure and Culture at Birmingham Council (2000/2004) and Head of Participation at Sports Council for Wales for six years.  Known for his work on Social capital, with an interest in developing communities, a reputation for his approach to change management and large scale joint ventures for economic benefit, he is one of the most experienced local government leaders working today.

Eamonn Boylan

Chief Executive
Stockport Council

Eamonn was appointed Chief Executive at Stockport Council in January 2010. Eamonn was previously Deputy Chief Executive at the Homes and Communities Agency (2008-2010), Deputy Chief Executive of Manchester City Council (2002-2008), Director of Housing and Community Services at Manchester (1999-2002) and Director of Housing and Operational Services at Sheffield (1997-1999).

He played a key role in the development of the Housing Market Renewal Programme, the Northern Way Growth Strategy and, has worked with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on the emerging Devolution Agenda.

Eamonn takes the lead role on Investment and on Planning and Housing for the Combined Authority and is leading a programme of fundamental change in Stockport focused on Sustainable Growth and Reform of Public Services. 

Tony Brown

Chief Investment Officer
M&G Real Estate

Tony leads M&G Real Estate's fund managers and investment teams across the global fund range. He has over 25 years of real estate investment experience across the UK, Continental Europe and Asia. Prior to joining M&G Real Estate in January 2014, he was Managing Director of Lend Lease Investment Management, EMEA, where he was responsible for a business managing £2bn of real estate and £2.5bn of infrastructure funds on behalf of over 50 institutional clients. During his time at Lend Lease, Tony oversaw the launch of the Lend Lease UK Infrastructure Fund, while the Lend Lease Retail Partnership received the 5-Year, Risk-Adjusted, Relative Return Award2 from the Association of Real Estate Funds in 2012 and was runner up in 2013.

Previously, Tony was fund director at Schroder Investment Management, where he worked for 14 years. He was responsible for the Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust, the largest balanced PUT in the UK, with investment in circa £10bn of assets. From taking over responsibility in 2002 Tony led the fund to top quartile performance from 2004 onwards, until his departure to Lend Lease in 2007.

Tony was also responsible for the launch in 1999 and subsequent management of the Schroder Emerging Retail PUT which won the Estates Gazette award in 2003 for the best UK fund performance over the previous 3 years.

Tony started his career with Cushman and Wakefield where he worked for 3 years as a graduate surveyor in their London office.

Fiona Fletcher-Smith

Chief Executive
L&Q

Fiona was appointed as L&Q’s Chief Executive in September 2020. A chartered surveyor, with almost 30 years of experience in the housing sector, Fiona has worked in a variety of voluntary and public sector roles including advising homeless people in Dublin, housing management, development and regeneration, strategy and policy development.

Fiona was previously L&Q’s Director of Development and Sales, spearheading a £5.1 billion development programme. Whilst in this role, Fiona led our development and strategic land programmes, including landmark projects such as the 10,800-home Barking Riverside development. She also oversaw the group’s expansion beyond the South East and delivered change programmes to improve both the efficiency and diversity of our Development and Sales function.

Prior to joining L&Q, Fiona was Executive Director for Development, Enterprise and Environment at the Greater London Authority (GLA). As part of their senior management team, Fiona was responsible for overseeing the delivery and implementation of key strategies such as the London Plan and overseeing the operation of the Mayor’s powers in relation to significant planning applications in the capital.

Fiona is the current chair of trustees at the Centre for London, helping the capital’s think tank to meet their charitable objectives.

Nigel Hugill

Chief Executive
Urban&Civic plc

Nigel Hugill was founding Executive Chairman of Urban&Civic Limited. He has held numerous senior positions within the property and regeneration industry over a career spanning 30 years, including serving as special policy adviser to Lord Kerslake at the HCA. He was chief executive officer of Chelsfield plc from 1992 to 2005 and executive chairman of Lend Lease Europe from 2005 to 2008, having joined the company through the joint acquisition of the residential developer Crosby.

Nigel is also chairman of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the respected urban think tank Centre for Cities.  He also chairs the Estates Strategy Committee of the London School of Economics.