The Build to Rent Forum, now in its twelfth year, is organised by Movers & Shakers, and is unrivalled as ‘the UK’s leading BTR Conference!’ This highly-successful, authoritative one day (content-driven) event, brings together Private and Public sector leaders and key stakeholders to debate and exchange ideas. Be part of the conversation! Since its inception in 2014, the Forum has established itself as a powerful platform for the advancement and development of BTR and the rented sector; and has been a sell-out event each year! Speakers Confirmed to date for October 1st 2026...
Simon Atkinson
Chief Knowledge Officer
Ipsos
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Rebecca Jason
Partner
Winckworth Sherwood
Rebecca is a highly experienced finance lawyer in social housing, public sector and real estate. Her practice includes all forms of lending arrangements involving clearing banks, institutional investors and public sector bodies on both a secured and an unsecured basis.
Rebecca has acted for clearing banks in connection with refinancings and new lending on both investment and development LMA-based facilities, as well as for various public sector funders (such as local authorities and government departments) on the refinancing of existing loans, and the provision of new bespoke development loan facilities to unlock sites for building residential properties and the regeneration of key city centres. She also acts as borrower-side counsel for real estate clients in respect of their funding arrangements for investment property portfolios.
Justine Edmonds
Managing Director
APO
With more than 20 years’ experience in residential property, Justine has held senior leadership roles in the Living sector, with a career spanning Multi & Single-Family Housing with a deep understanding of operational strategy, mobilisation, asset performance and investment optimisation.
Justine regularly works with investment committees, bringing an operational and commercial lens to underwriting assumptions and helping ensure investment cases are grounded in realities if delivery and long-term asset performance.
Justine is a member of the Build To Rent committee for Real Estate: UK (RE:UK).
Ruth Hynes
Global and EMEA Project and Development Services Research Lead
JLL
Ruth Hynes is Senior Director and Global Research Lead for Projects and Development Services at JLL. With deep expertise spanning design strategy, construction trends and the built environment, she shapes and directs JLL's research agenda across the full lifecycle of how places and spaces are conceived, designed and delivered.
Working at the intersection of data and design, Ruth collaborates with JLL's development and design teams worldwide to produce research that informs how buildings and environments are built and experienced. Her work spans workplace design, experience-led design strategies and global construction trends, with a particular focus on data-driven approaches to design, the relationship between physical space and human experience, and emerging trends shaping tomorrow’s built environment.
Lucas Cross
Development Manager
Greystar
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Millie Dodd
Account Director
Shared Voice
Millie is passionate about improving how communities, councils and the development industry engage around new housing. A regular public speaker at events and conferences and a contributor to the media, Millie challenges the way the planning process often amplifies opposition, while leaving supportive voices unheard. She strives to change the way the industry approaches engagement, pushing for more representative engagement and positivity in planning.
Natalia Kolotneva
Head of Living & Hospitality Europe
La Salle
Natalia oversees deployment and asset management into living and hospitality sectors for European equity at LaSalle with a further remit in supporting debt business and managing external asset management partnerships across wider sectors.
With over 20 years of real estate experience, her previous work includes leadership positions across public and private sectors with IHG Hotels, JLL/JLL Hotels, Legal & General, Asia Pacific Investment Partners and London Borough of Lewisham.
Natalia graduated from University of Surrey with BSc in International Hospitality Management, followed by receiving her MSc in Corporate Real Estate Finance from Bayes Business School London. She is a member of RICS and serves on several Advisory and Governing Boards.
Craig Carson
Regional Managing Director
Barratt London
Craig Carson is Regional Managing Director at Barratt Redrow, leading the company's London business. His expertise in the property sector spans nearly 25 years, including previous roles at Joseph Homes and St George (Berkeley Group). He has extensive experience delivering residential-led, mixed-use developments, including major brownfield and regeneration sites such as the former Kodak factory Eastman Village, the 2,500-home Hendon Waterside project in partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, and Hayes Village, located on the site of the former Nestlé factory.
Craig has also played a key role in establishing strategic partnerships, including the West London Partnership with Places for London (TfL), which will deliver more than 4,000 new homes across west London over the next decade. This includes the Bollo Lane development in Acton, featuring 195 Build to Rent homes alongside a range of other tenures, as well as new homes at High Barnet, Wembley, Cockfosters and other key locations across the capital.
Jake Hughes
Founding Partner
Hunter
John Holley
Investment Director
Bywater Group
John Holley is Investment Director at Bywater, where he is responsible for acquiring, growing and delivering the company's living portfolio. John joined Bywater in 2025, having previously worked at leading living sector developer Watkin Jones PLC, where he led landmark deals across the Build to Rent, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation and Co-Living sectors throughout the UK.
A member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), John holds a Bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and a Master's degree in Real Estate. He brings a rare combination of commercial rigour and cross-sector insight to every transaction he leads.
At Bywater, John channels his passion, tenacity and integrity into the company's purpose: creating sustainable homes for future generations and he is a strong advocate for innovation in the living sectors.
James Riddell
Chief Executive Officer
Quintain
Joanne Drew
Executive Director Housing & Regeneration, Enfield Council
Co-Chair, London Housing Directors’ Group, London Councils
Joanne is Executive Director of Housing and Regeneration at LB Enfield and co-chair of the London Housing Directors Network. She has worked in housing across the UK for central, regional, and local government, for housing associations and a national social justice charity driving transformation and the delivery of better outcomes for people, places, and the planet. At Enfield she leads a large-scale housing business and regeneration agenda. Enfield is also co-lead Borough for the London Council’s pan London Climate Change programme for warmer and greener homes through housing retrofit.
Anna Hwang
Chief Investment Officer
Placefirst
As Chief Investment Officer at Placefirst, Anna is part of the senior leadership team with over 20 years’ experience in the property sector. Anna has played an instrumental role in developing and executing Placefirst’s real estate strategy and previously held the role of Director of Operational Capital Markets at Savills. Anna supports on increasing the size of Placefirst’s residential portfolio, developing and executing the investment strategy, and overseeing the management of the investment portfolio. Prior to that Anna was an investment partner at Addington Capital who is a UK real estate investment & asset management company based in London with transactions to date of over £1bn.
Grace Oyesoro
Director of Operations
Quintain Living
Grace Oyebunmi Oyesoro is the Director of Operations at Quintain Living, overseeing the operation of 3,390 homes across eight build-to-rent (BtR) developments at Wembley Park (which will be the largest BtR development in the UK upon completion). With over 15 years of experience in sales, operations, finance, and management; she leads a team dedicated to customer service, retention, and financial performance. Prior to joining Quintain Living, Grace held various leadership positions within the residential and commercial property management sectors.
She is especially committed to improving equality, diversity and inclusion within BtR serving as a member of the ARL's EDI committee. Additionally, she is an Enterprise Adviser for The Careers & Enterprise Company, supporting careers programs at local schools and colleges. Grace believes in empowering the next generation and creating opportunities for all. Her professional journey over the past decade reflects her dedication to operational excellence and social impact.
Niki Kyriacou
Sector Lead - BTR
NHBC
Niki is Sector Lead at NHBC focusing on client management of activity, with a focus on the BTR market.
Niki was previously at leading property trade publication Property Week, specialising in partnerships, campaign strategy and cross-platform solutions and has over 20 years’ experience. She has a strong focus on the residential property sector, having driven the development of prestigious, large-scale events like RESI and the RESI Awards.
Other career highlights during that time included launching and delivering high-profile initiatives like RESI Trailblazers - championing rising stars; and Joint Victories - celebrating the best of public-private partnerships.
Lindsay Garratt
Partner
Winckworth Sherwood
Lindsay is a specialist planning and regeneration lawyer with almost 20 years’ experience advising the residential development sector (private sale, PRS and affordable providers) on the promotion of complex planning applications for residential led/mixed use sites particularly in London and the South East. She advises on the full range of planning and highways law, S106, CIL and policy matters – and has commented extensively on the “First Homes” affordable housing tenure. Lindsay is a key advisor to several FTSE 100 companies, including Barratt Developments PLC.
Damien Sharkey
Managing Director
HUB
Damien Sharkey is HUB’s Managing Director. Damien is keenly involved in all aspects of the HUB business, leading the development process of its current £2.7bn pipeline from acquisition and funding through design, consultation, planning, procurement, and delivery to completion. An architect by background, Damien completed his post-graduate diploma in architecture at the University of Westminster before beginning his career at Robin Partington Architects, now known as Apt. Having moved into development, Damien remains passionate about design and ensures maximum value through thoughtful design, technical accuracy, and efficient delivery for all of HUB’s portfolio. His agile thinking and proclivity for problem solving allow him to develop the HUB direction, structure deals and lead a fantastic team.
Freya Richard
Director - Leasing & Operations
Vertus
Freya joined Vertus, in 2019 to launch Canary Wharf Groups first Build-to-Rent portfolio of 1137 units across 3 buildings on the Canary Wharf Estate. Following the success of its launch, she is now focusing on the delivery of future phases from 2024 onwards delivering a further 1300 homes to Canary Wharf.
Prior to joining Vertus Freya spent 7 years at Knight Frank in their Investment Lettings & Management department, managing Offshore Trust Structure portfolios, Institutional investments, Estates & distressed portfolios. As build to rent grew, she then started to work with the likes of Greystar, Kennedy Wilson, Essential Living as they started to launch new assets into the market.
Stephanie Smith
Head of Residential
Muse
Sandra Jones
Managing Director
PriceHubble
Sandra is a Managing Director of PriceHubble following its acquisition of Dataloft in the UK. PriceHubble is an international data and analytics business, specialising in residential markets across 11 countries. PriceHubble holds a unique dataset of achieved rents and renter demographics in the UK used to underwrite rents and profile demand for rental homes. The business works with clients from across the Build to Rent and Single Family Housing sector as well as housebuilders, advisors and policymakers. Its rental Affordability Tracker is published monthly by the ONS and the business collaborates with BPF, BusinessLDN and ARL to produce the report: Who Lives in Build to Rent. Sandra is a member of the BTR Alliance, has written widely for national and trade press and was a Research Associate at think tanks, Centre for London and Future of London.
Emma Rosser
Director, Living Research and Strategy, EMEA
JLL
Emma leads JLL's pan-EMEA living research managing data, strategic advisory and insights. She has written and led a range of thought leadership pieces across the sectors, including global living, student and affordable housing. She is a former business analyst and journalist, with a decade specialising in the living sectors.
Alastair Mullens
Managing Director
Vertus
Alastair joined Canary Wharf Group in 2018, to establish the Canary Wharf Group’s (CWG) Build-to-Rent platform, Vertus. He is currently overseeing the delivery of three seed assets totalling 1,137 units, all based on the Canary Wharf Estate. The first new residential tenants moved in in February 2020. He is now working closely with CWG’s development team to design and envision the future phases of private rental product for the Estate.
Over the last twelve years Alastair has gained a broad experience of the UK residential property market; initially in Residential Management before moving into Residential Development and then centring on the emerging Build-to-Rent market. He spent 9 years with Hamptons International & Countrywide Group based in London and Hong Kong. In 2015 he returned from Asia to focus on Build-to-Rent lease-up delivery for various clients across London. His final role at Countrywide was as National Director of Corporate PRS & Build to Rent, during this time he oversaw the delivery of the group’s operational management platform. This included the delivery of two Build-to-Rent assets in the north-west totalling 488 units for the Vista fund, The Cargo Building in Liverpool and Pomona Wharf in Manchester.
James Blakey
Planning Director
Moda Living
James Blakey was employee number two at Moda Living in 2014 and is an exceptionally experienced Planning Director with 30+ years experience with roles at CBRE, Deloitte, United Utilities, West Property and Morgan Stanley. James has led the planning strategy for The Mercian, which is now under construction, and Great Charles Square in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter
Moda Living is the largest privately funded build-to-rent platform in the UK and has one of the most ambitious build-to-rent development pipelines in the UK. Moda already has £850m of projects under construction, with more expected to start on-site during 2020 – the first phase of its £2.5bn pipeline of over 7,500 rent-only homes.
Russell Pedley
Director & Co-Founder
Assael Architecture
Russell is Director and Co-Founder of Assael Architecture. With over 30 years as an architect and 15 years in urban design, he has a strong passion for creating a sense of place with historical and cultural connections in all of his work.
Russell spent many years spearheading Assael’s skills in the design of professionally-managed Build to Rent communities in the private rented sector. Following years of research, including many study trips to the US, and producing design guides for the UK, Assael is now one of the leading architects in the sector, paving the way with key projects such as Union Wharf in Greenwich for Essential Living, Blackhorse Mills in Walthamstow for Legal & General, and Pontoon Dock in Newham for Linkcity. Russell also co-authored both editions of the Urban Land Institute’s Build to Rent: A Best Practice Guide, which was sponsored by the British Government, and he is now Chair of the ULI’s UK Residential Council and advises on MHCLG’s Build to Rent Joint Committee.
Simon Scott
Lead Director, Living Capital Markets (UK)
JLL Europe
Simon has over 20 years’ experience in the field of residential investment and development, and was actively involved in the development of the student investment market in an advisory capacity, and led in a number of innovative funding structures working with both Housing Associations and Universities in making institutionally acceptable investment assets in the residential sector. Simon is now overseeing the residential investment team and will be focused on matching investor appetite for residential investment, whether off plan bespoke developments or existing portfolios of income producing or reversionary assets.
Jace Tyrrell
Chief Executive Officer
Opportunity London
Jace Tyrrell is an international investment leader with more than 25 years’ experience working with governments, business leaders and global investors on city competitiveness, capital attraction and strategic investment across the UK, Australia and Asia-Pacific.
He is Chief Executive of Opportunity London, the public-private partnership established to attract the next £100bn of capital into London. Working with sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, family offices, developers, governments and business leaders, he connects global capital with investment opportunities and partnerships that support London’s growth and international competitiveness.
Previously, Jace was Chief Executive of New West End Company, where he led one of the world’s largest city-centre business partnerships across London’s West End and Mayfair. During his career, he also led work to establish Australia’s first Business Improvement District across Sydney’s waterfront, including Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, and has advised cities and organisations internationally on investment, partnerships and city transformation.
An international speaker and commentator, Jace brings a commercial perspective to the future of cities – connecting global capital, government and business to unlock investment, shape major projects and drive growth.
He is an alumnus of London Business School.
James Pargeter
Senior Advisor
GAA
James is a recognised advocate for the purpose-built operational Rented Living sector (incl. Build to Rent (BTR) and Single-Family Rent (SFR)) within the wider residential sector, with over 25 years’ varied delivery experience as a Project Manager and Advisor. He aims to help address the UK’s housing crisis through policy and practice, recognising that a full tenure spectrum is key to resolving this challenge. Through successive roles at Deloitte, Greystar and GAA, alongside sector roles including at BPF, the ARL and UKSFA, he has a track record of making positive differences to project outcomes.
James is a tireless campaigner for a much-needed cultural change around renting, including better appreciation of the benefits of purpose-built rental housing, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and intermediate affordable homes. He was included in EG's 'BTR's 50 Most Influential’ list.
Leigh Natasha Salter
Managing Director
Movers & Shakers
Leigh Natasha Salter is Managing Director of Movers & Shakers, having formerly been the Business and Events Director. Leigh has been responsible for developing the brand over the last 14 years and was responsible for the launch of the Movers & Shakers UK Regional events programme. Previously she worked in marketing, communications and research, and also ran the Windsor & Maidenhead Borough’s Business to Community Partnership, facilitating CSR for businesses. She qualified at Oxford University with a BA Honours in Human Sciences, and a scholarship, and is also a member of the BPF, WPA and UK-GBC.
Jules Pipe CBE
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Regeneration
Greater London Authority
Jules Pipe works on key priorities for the Mayor, including: implementation of the London Plan, major and community-led regeneration projects across the capital, building a skills system that properly addresses the needs of Londoners and the economy, and ensuring London’s infrastructure supports good growth.
Jules has unrivalled knowledge of London government, becoming the first directly elected mayor of Hackney in 2002 and serving as Chair of London Councils from 2010 until he joined the Mayor’s team in 2016.
Tim Heatley
Co-Founder
Capital & Centric
Tim is co-founder of Capital&Centric. In just five years since it started they’ve completed over 750,000 sq ft of development, they spend £1m a week on regeneration activity and have won 15 awards for design and regeneration.
Some of their projects in Manchester include the £30m conversion of Crusader Mills in Piccadilly and the £200m Kampus Project and the recently completed Foundry a 50,000 sq ft creative workspace in Salford.
Having completed 5 developments last year alone the pipeline of projects Manchester stands at £330m. Projects in Liverpool include Littlewoods Film Studios, and the recently completed Bunker, Tempest and Hangar projects. The total development pipeline is in excess of £500m.
