Waheed Nazir

Chairman
Arden Cross

Waheed has over 20 years of experience in planning, development and regeneration. He has held senior positions at Birmingham City Council, and more recently was appointed as the Non-Executive Chairman of Arden Cross Limited. He also advises public and private sector clients on regeneration and development projects across the UK. He is a visiting Professor at Birmingham City University and in 2017 was awarded an honorary Doctorate by Aston University. In October 2020, Waheed was awarded a Fellowship from the Academy of Social Sciences and in November 2020 was announced as the Property Personality of the Year for the Midlands. In 2019, he wrote and edited a book titled Regenerating Cities, which explores how leadership, vision and partnership working has shaped the development of UK cities over the last 30 years. Through this book he brought together some of the UK’s leading figures in the development sector, each providing their own unique and personal insight into their journeys and roles in leading some of the country’s biggest projects, including London 2012, the development of King’s Cross, estate renewal in London, and the rise of Manchester and Birmingham. He is passionate about helping young people grow and develop to unlock their potential. This has included establishing a number of programmes to provide mentoring, bursary initiatives, internships and graduate programmes in the built environment profession.

Ross Blair

Managing Director
Hines UK

Richard Akers

Executive Director
Land Securities plc

Anne-Marie Simpson

Head of Midlands & Central
Homes & Communities Agency

Anne-Marie is the HCA Head of Midlands Central area.Involved in a number of Midlands and national initiatives, she leads the team responsible for delivery of HCA programmes across the West Midlands. Working with private sector developers, house builders, housing associations, local authorities and LEP’s she takes a strategic view of activity to help achieve the aspirations for Midlands Engine for Growth. Ensuring HCA assets and programmes support housing and growth, aligning land and investment to help ensure maximum impact she leads the local team in support of delivery of locally identified growth priorities. She is an active member of the Midlands Urban Land Institute Committee which works collaboratively to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities.

Anne-Marie’s team are responsible for delivery across the Midlands, working closely with local authority partners and LEPs to align investment and support delivery of local growth programmes. Anne-Marie led for HCA on discussions with Birmingham City Council and Greater Birmingham Solihull LEP in respect of the City Deal agreed in July 2012. She worked closely with BCC, DCLG and Cabinet Office to help devise a partnership approach to align public sector assets and investment to unlock growth and help address the significant housing need that Birmingham has identified.  Currently working with Birmingham CC and Solihull MBC to maximise the regeneration benefits of HS2, Anne-Marie is focussed on a comprehensive approach to housing and economic growth in a place based approach. 

She is a member of the Midlands senior management team and is part of the HCA national leadership network.  Prior to joining the HCA, she worked in both local government and for a number of urban regeneration vehicles over 20 years.