Olivia Harris

Chief Executive
Dolphin Living

Olivia Harris was appointed as Chief Executive of Dolphin Living in April 2017. Previously, Olivia was Finance Director at Dolphin, providing financial and commercial oversight on a wide range of property and related projects, including debt and fund raising. Olivia is a Chartered Accountant and has worked for more than 15 years in the property industry.

Ben Denton

Chief Executive
L&G Affordable Homes

Ben is Chief Executive of Legal & General Affordable Homes and joined at the inception of the business in August 2018.

Ben has over 30 years of experience across housing design and development, regeneration and real estate. Ben joined Legal & General Affordable Homes from Sovereign Housing Association, the 6th largest housing association in the UK where he was Executive Director of Property and Development, responsible for sales and a development programme of 1,300 homes a year. Previous positions include Group Director of Strategy and Business Development at house builder Keepmoat, Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing at Westminster City Council, Director of Investment at First Base and was a Director and Executive Consultant for ABROS financial advisory and KPMG.

Additionally, Ben was previously Chair at Westminster Community Homes and held various Board and Committee positions at Thames Valley Housing Association.

Cllr Clare Coghill

Leader
London Borough of Waltham Forest

Clare Coghill was elected to the London Borough of Waltham Forest in May 2010 to represent the High Street ward in Walthamstow. She became Junior Cabinet Member for Health later in the same year. Subsequently, she held a junior portfolio focused on Town Centres. Clare was appointed as Cabinet Member for Children and Young People in May 2012, leading the Council’s work on Children’s Social Care, Safeguarding and Education.

In 2014, Clare was appointed the Cabinet Member for Economic Growth & High Streets and led a fresh approach to regeneration, planning and development. Waltham Forest has excellent infrastructure, green space and transport links, therefore the priorities lie in developing new, good quality, affordable housing and vibrant town centres. Clare’s policy innovations in this role focussed on pubs, the night-time economy and economic growth.

In January 2017 Clare was elected as Leader of the Labour Group at Waltham Forest Council, and subsequently elected as Leader of the Council at the AGM of Full Council on 25th May 2017. Clare was re-elected Leader of the Council for a 4 year term at the AGM of Full council on 24th May 2018.

Davinia Venton

Partnerships Director
Countryside

Davinia is Partnerships Director at Countryside focusing on regeneration of brownfield land, town centres and estates across London and surrounding towns in partnership with local authorities and housing associations. She has twelve years of regeneration experience and has worked on large projects including 3,000 homes at Acton Gardens in Ealing and 3,500 homes at Beam Park in East London.

Nicola Mathers

Chief Executive Officer
Future of London

Nicola is CEO of Future of London, an independent network supporting housing, planning and regeneration professionals through leadership, research and networks. She leads on strategy, business development and partnerships.

Nicola is passionate about the role of the built environment to improve lives and address inequality. Previously at Design Council and CABE she led national programmes to support the public and private sectors to plan and deliver well designed buildings and spaces.