Melanie Leech CBE

Chief Executive
BPF

Melanie joined the British Property Federation as Chief Executive in January 2015, following nine years as Director General of the Food and Drink Federation.

Melanie began her working life as a Police Constable in the Metropolitan Police Service. She joined the civil service (HM Customs) in 1988 and subsequently held senior roles in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Cabinet Office. Her role is to champion UK real estate and to promote a long-term, sustainable partnership between governments and the sector to deliver a high quality built environment, creating economic and social value for local communities.

Melanie is a Fellow of the RSA and an external member of the Council of the University of Essex. In 2015 she was awarded a CBE for services to the food and drink industry.

Rob Perrins

Chief Executive
The Berkeley Group

Rob joined Berkeley in 1994 and has been Chief Executive since 2009. Under his management the company has increased its focus on transforming challenging brownfield sites into welcoming places which support a great quality of life.

Rob oversees an industry leading sustainability strategy, including innovative climate action, nature recovery and social value programmes. He has prioritised investment in digital skills and technologies and modern methods of construction; including the development of Berkeley Modular’s precision manufactured housing system.

Rob has been Chari of Trustees of the Berkeley Foundation since its launch in 2011. This independent charity works in partnership with the Berkeley Group to maximise its positive social impacts and help disadvantaged young people achieve their potential.

Rob contributes to the Bank of England’s Real Estate Forum, is a Trustee of national homelessness charity Crisis and is a member of the governing bodies of Aston University and Marlborough College.

Torsten Bell

Chief Executive
Resolution Foundation

Torsten is the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, a think tank that combines analytical rigour with policy prescriptions to improve the living standards of those in Britain on low to middle incomes. He has a background in economic policy, with his current research focuses including inequality, the labour market, tax and benefits, and housing and wealth. Prior to leading the Resolution Foundation, Torsten was Director of Policy for the Labour Party. He has also worked in HM Treasury, as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers during the financial crisis and as a civil servant.

Kate Davies

Chief Executive
Notting Hill Genesis

Kate Davies, Chief Executive, Notting Hill Genesis Kate Davies joined Notting Hill Housing as Chief Executive in 2004. In April 2018, Notting Hill Housing merged with Genesis and Kate is now Chief Executive of a 65,000 home association, with 90% of its stock in London. Kate was previously Chief Executive of Servite Houses and Director of Housing in Brighton and Hove.

She has two degrees and qualifications in housing management (MCIH) and housing association development.

Michael Barrie

Board Director and Head of Fund Management
LGIM Real Assets

Michael is a Board Director for LGIM Real Assets and Head of Fund Management. He is responsible for delivering consistently robust investment performance across the full range of LGIMRA client funds and mandates. Michael is also central to the provision of innovative client solutions, new real estate investment vehicles and market leading property strategies. Michael joined the business in 2005 having previously been a Director at F&C Investment Management. In 2006 he established the highly successful £3.1bn authorised L&G UK Property Fund and remains the Joint Fund Manager. The most recent strategic move has been to lead LGIM Real Assets’ £1.8bn investment into institutional Build-to-Rent residential where both a development partnership and a long term holding structure have been created alongside a market leading team of specialists. This remains a significant growth area for the LGIMRA business. Michael has a degree in Land Economics, a post-graduate diploma in Property Investment, is RICS qualified, FCA approved and is a core member of the LGIM Real Assets Investment Committee.

Ben Page

Chief Executive
Ipsos MORI

Ben Page is Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI. He joined MORI in 1987 after graduating from Oxford University in 1986, and was one of the leaders of its first management buyout in 2000. A frequent writer and speaker on trends, leadership and performance management, he has directed thousands of surveys examining consumer trends and citizen behaviour. From 1987-1992 Ben worked in our private sector business on corporate reputation and consumer research, working for companies like Shell, BAE Systems, Sky TV and IBM. Since 1992 he has worked closely with both Conservative and Labour ministers and senior policy makers across government, leading on work for Downing Street, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office and the Department of Health, as well as a wide range of local authorities and NHS Trusts. He became Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland in 2009. Ben is a Visiting Professor at Kings College London, and a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. He sits on the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) at UKRI. He serves on advisory groups at the Kings Fund, and the Social Market Foundation (SMF), and is a Trustee at the Centre for London and at the Centre for Ageing Better, as well as a patron of Create Streets. He recently served as a commissioner on the Resolution Foundation's Intergenerational Commission. He is a Council member of the CBI for London. Ben was named one of GQ’s 100 Most Connected Men of 2015. He regularly appears on national TV and radio programmes.

Steven Norris

Former MP, Minister and Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party and
Chairman, SOHO Estates

Steve has combined a career in politics with a business career in the fields of property, infrastructure and transportation. He is currently Chairman of Soho Estates, London Resort Company Holdings, This Land Cambridgeshire and Driver Group plc. He is a Non-Executive Director of Excel the East London conference and exhibition centre. He has been a member of the Boards of both Transport for London and the London Development Agency. He is on the Board of Cubic Corporation, the developers and managers of the London Oyster card. He chairs the National Infrastructure Planning Association which works with government to improve the planning regime around major projects and advises a number of clients on major schemes.