22 May 2024
12:15 PM
Addleshaw Goddard LLP, 3 Sovereign Square, Leeds LS1 4ER
Real Estate Balance has been steadily increasing our programme of activities outside of London. We are delighted to invite members to our first event in Leeds at lunchtime on 22 May as part of the UKREiiF fringe*.
The event will bring together our members based in Leeds, and as well as members attending UKREiiF, for a panel discussion on the topic of regeneration and EDI in the context of the Leeds real estate industry. The event will be kindly hosted at the offices of Addleshaw Goddard, only a short distance from the main conference site, followed by lunch and the opportunity to network and connect with like minded people.
Our panel of real estate professionals will explore how regeneration in Leeds and the wider region can positively impact EDI in the industry. With substantial regeneration projects both current and planned for the city, they will discuss how we can ensure direct benefits in terms of economic and career opportunities for all the communities which make up the city’s population and discuss whether regeneration development plans are robust enough in ensuring social value impact relating to those working on projects being representative of local communities. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of the panel.
Panellists
Jasmine Ceccarelli-Drewry
Senior Advisor, Montagu Evans & co-Chair of REB’s NextGen Committee
Jasmine is a Senior Advisor in Montagu Evans’ Strategic Advisory team and is Co-Chair of Real Estate Balance NextGen Committee.
Jasmine currently leads on a range of social value projects, working with both public and private sector clients across the planning and development life cycle to realise organisational and local objectives and drive positive social impact. Having joined Montagu Evans from Hackney Council, she brings on-the-ground experience in the delivery of regeneration, meanwhile solutions, placemaking, economic development and community engagement projects. Jasmine holds a position in Montagu Evans' DE&I Steering Group and is passionate about tackling the big challenges facing the sector.
Laura Colson
Residential Delivery Director, Harworth Group PLC
Laura Colson is the Residential Delivery Director for Harworth Group PLC, leading Harworth first residential direct delivery projects. Currently overseeing 14 residential sites, of various sizes (50 homes to 177 homes) that are at various different stages from onsite building, closing out contracts with delivery partners or still within the planning process.
Laura has been within the construction industry from the tender age of 20 years old, starting as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor getting on the job experience with one of the countries top house builders, Barratt Homes, traversing her way through the GFC with said Housebuilder. Building on experience to take on new roles as Senior QS and then on to Commercial Manager for a Medium size Housebuilder Main Contractor, Partner Construction Ltd.
Taking on a broad range on duty further exposing myself to various opportunities, I then stepped up to be Regional Head at Partner Construction overseeing all Operational functions for the Midlands region of the business. This saw me lead the Construction, Commercial & Technical functions, and total contract value of £128m.
My passion for seeing project through all stages of its evolution, and the sense of achievement when seeing homes being lived in and a welcome addition to a community is, without a doubt, what drives me”
I grew up in a ‘council estate’, from an area in Amber Valley, Derbyshire that is known as deprived. I left school at 16 years of age and ‘fell’ into construction. Working hard to pull myself up the rank in major Housebuilders and then Main contractors. Having children at a young age (25 years old) also slowed that ladder climb considerably while my male peers continued to speed on ahead.
I’m a boot on ground person, so being on a live site and being within the male dominated site atmosphere is what keeps me sharp and driven. I see myself as a person who treads the path to try and make it easier for those that come after me.
Jill Goodman
Director, National Offices, Avison Young
Jill is Director in the National Offices Team and is based in Leeds and focusses on office agency, lease advisory and related consultancy.
Practicing from 2000 Jill has over 23 years’ experience in the commercial property market. Jill has advised clients on the sale, letting and acquisition of commercial property as well as lease restructuring, lease expiries and rent reviews including in the capacity as Expert Witness throughout the North region.
Clients include landlords and occupiers. Key clients include Ernst & Young, Handelsbanken, Keepmoat Homes LLP, Yorkshire Building Society, Royal London Asset Management Zenith.
From 2000 to 2013 Jill held a position at Jones Lang LaSalle initially specialising in National Investment Agency and latterly with responsibility for Lease Consultancy in the North.
Imogen Smazanovich
Associate Director, Strategic Programmes, SEGRO plc
Imogen is responsible for overseeing the delivery of SEGRO’s strategic priorities including investing in local communities and nurturing talent.
Prior to this role, she spent four years leading the planning and infrastructure delivery of SEGRO’s big box industrial and logistics schemes including SEGRO Park Coventry and East Midlands Gateway Phase 2. She was part of the team that established the East Midlands Freeport.
Imogen is passionate about enabling young people to benefit from development in their area and connecting them with mentors from industry. She leads the implementation of SEGRO’s schools programmes in the East Midlands and Coventry and sits on Career Ready’s Regional Advisory Board. Imogen is committed to challenging stereotypes about careers in property and construction, as well as removing barriers to entry for underrepresented groups.
Imogen is a committee member of Women in Property Midlands and organises their annual Student Awards programme aimed at raising the confidence and profile of female built environment students.
Lucy Sturrock
Partner, Real Estate, Addleshaw Goddard
Lucy has experience in a broad spectrum of commercial property transactions and has a particular interest in hotel and leisure property having co-chaired the firms Hotel Sector for many years. She is particularly skilled in managing large teams, helping clients realise value from their existing portfolios, and advising on restructuring and national acquisition and disposal programmes. She is known for mobilising teams quickly and has often worked on transactions involving multiple properties.
Lucy's practice includes advising owners and occupiers, developers and institutions on the full life cycle of a property asset including, site assembly, acquisition, development, operation, sale and leaseback disposal.
Her focus is property within the UK, but her expertise in hotel management agreements has seen her working on properties in Africa, Dubai and Europe.
The formal part of the event will conclude with a short presentation about Real Estate Balance and our work, and a call to action for members based in Leeds to come together to develop a network to tackle issues pertinent to EDI in the West Yorkshire region.
Registration with light refreshments will be from 12.30pm for a 1pm prompt start. The discussion will close around 1.30pm and be followed by a networking lunch until 2.15pm.
If you would like to attend, please request a place using the button above. And please do circulate to your colleagues who may be interested in attending.
* attendance at the event does not require a UKREiiF pass
Background
Leeds is already a vibrant, liveable city and major cultural centre, offering its residents the best of both worlds when it comes to big city and rural life. It is regularly featured in rankings for being among the best places to live in the UK - a consistent presence in the North and Northeast category in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live list.
Already good rail links with Manchester and nearby towns and cities are set to be improved, with the new West Yorkshire Mass Transit System expected to offer significant enhancements to the internal public transport offering in Leeds and the surrounding area. A recent report predicts growth in the office, life science and retail sectors over the next decade with Leeds benefitting from a highly educated talent pool, competitive house prices and and an expected 10-year growth in disposable household income at more than 20%.
Ongoing and planned major regeneration projects in Leeds include the transformative £500 million South Bank redevelopment, the £350 million development of Kirkstall Road, the new shopping and student destination on the site of The Core, Grand Central Place replacing the former House of Fraser on Briggate, the British Library rejuvenation of Temple Works, Aire Park, Leeds City Square and two new railway stations at White Rose and Thorpe Park.
Leeds is a fairly young, increasingly diverse city, with those identifying as white decreasing from 85% to 79% between 2011 and 2021. In terms of social mobility, the West Yorkshire region, which includes Leeds, faces significant challenges. It is in the top quintile for childhood poverty, the lowest quintile for promising prospects and second lowest quintile for socio-cultural advantage.