Expert Panels

NLA brings people together to shape a better city and improve quality of life across London. Our vision is a better planned, designed and managed built environment, as set out in the New London Charter.

We do this by seeking to guide policymakers and professionals and engaging a wider audience in the debate. Our year round programme includes research, public events and debates, training, roundtables, industry viewpoints and exhibitions. As an independent member-supported organisation, our audience brings together the public, government, and cross-sector professionals both in London and internationally.

Our new series of NLA Expert Panels bring together industry experts from across the NLA membership to advise on our core programmes, provide thought-leadership on design, development and construction in London and respond to new policies or consultations.

Panels are formed of 12-15 individuals, representing the public and private sectors across development, design, planning and construction in London, and providing a unique voice to comment on the key issues facing the capital. Members are invited to commit to joining the Panel for one year.

Panels meet 3-4 times a year, setting out key lines of enquiry which shape our forward agendas and inform our year-round programmes. Reports from each meeting are shared with NLA members and the broader network, alongside a selection of contributions and viewpoints from Panel members.

Wellbeing

Understanding the impact of the places we live, work and spend free time on our physical and mental health. This Expert Panel will share thought-leadership on the relationship between the urban environment and mental health; physical wellbeing – improving air quality, physical activity and health outcomes for all Londoners; and social sustainability – understanding how the design of the physical environment links with infrastructure to support social and cultural life, social amenities and systems for citizen engagement.

Chair: Heath Harvey, Project Play Lead, Argent LLP
Alan Siggins, Managing Director, Airflow
James Matthews, Senior Consultant, Avison Young
Natalie Thomson, Director, Head of Strategy, Buckley Gray Yeoman
Stephen O'Malley, Founding Director, Civic Engineers
Amanda Whittington, Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Olaide Oboh, Director of Partnerships, First Base
Michael Dariane, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Hilson Moran
Wendy de Silva, Mental Health Lead, IBI Group
Lisa Woo, Head of Placemaking – Meridian Water, LB Enfield
Rory Olcayto, Writer and Critic, Pollard Thomas Edwards
Jenny Buterchi, Partner, PRP
Ruth French, Associate, Ryder Architecture
Shaun Andrews, Executive Director, Nexus Planning

View the programme

Planning

The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the digitalisation of the planning system, leading to significant, and potentially long-lasting, changes in the way we approach consultation and accessibility of information and data. This Panel will focus on best practice in the planning system to support London’s development, including new approaches to community consultation and trust in the development process; accessibility and transparency of data; the role of local and regional plans; and how the planning system can better support London’s economic recovery.

Chair: Jonny Popper, Managing Director, London Communications Agency

Anna Sinnott, Planning Director, BDP
Sarah Wardle, Associate Director, BECG
Mike Saunders, CEO (Co-founder), Commonplace
Victoria Du Croz, Partner and Head of Planning, Forsters
Lisa Webb, Senior Planning Partner, Gerald Eve
Peter Kemp, Head of Change and Delivery, Greater London Authority
Thomasin Renshaw, Director of Development, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland
Darryl Chen, Partner, Hawkins\Brown
Riette Oosthuizen, Head of Planning, HTA Design
Anisha Jogani, Placemaking Team Leader, London Borough of Croydon
David Joyce, London Borough of Haringey
Brett Harbutt, Head of Planning, Quintain
Gordon Ingram, Founding Director & Chairman, VU.CITY

View the programme

Work

The way we work has been particularly impacted over the last few months, leading to potentially significant changes to the requirements of workspaces across the capital. This Panel will consider what the future holds for London’s office space; the adaptation of spaces as we emerge from lockdown; alongside longer term implications for office requirements, space standards, flexibility, wellbeing and changes in worker behaviours and travelling patterns.

Chair: Katrina Kostic Samen, Head of Workplace Strategy and Design, KKS Savills

Helen Causer, Office and Investment Lead (King's Cross), Argent LLP
Earle Arney, CEO/Founder, Arney Fender Katsalidis
Ben Adams, Founding Director, Ben Adams Architects
Emma Lange, Leasing Manager, Derwent London
Duncan Swinhoe, Managing Principal, Gensler
Steven Skinner, UK CEO, HB Reavis
Julie Lecoq, Consultant, HOK London Studio
Alison Webb, Head of Workplace Futures, Lendlease
John Avery, Director, LOM architecture and design
Beth Kay, Programme Director New Ways of Working, London Borough of Haringey
Ruth Duston, Managing Director, Primera
Toni Riddiford, Associate Architect, Stride Treglown

View the programme

Technical Competency

In the aftermath of Grenfell, the relationship between architects, project managers and contractors’ roles the delivery of buildings is under question. In a world dominated by BIM the building team need to understand how different elements of their buildings go together. This Panel will share thought-leadership on improving technical competency in the detailed design and delivery of buildings in London, and advise NLA on the development of a new technical programme. Topics of focus will include fire safety and material performance, building regulations and procurement, modern methods of construction, digital collaboration, and training and education.

Chair: Arita Morris, Director, Child Graddon Lewis

Dale Sinclair, Director of Technical Practice, AECOM
Alex Cossins, Senior Associate Partner, Axiom Architects
Dieter Bentley-Gockmann, Director, EPR Architects
Nigel Ostime, Project Delivery Director, Hawkins\Brown
Nigel Clark, Technical Director, Hilson Moran
John Robertson, Director, John Robertson Architects Limited
Seya Tansill, Senior Associate Technologist and Head of Design for Manufacture, Stride Treglown
Karen Telling, Board Director of Waterman Structures, Waterman Group

View the programme

Net Zero

To meet the Paris Agreement declaration the Mayor of London has declared a climate emergency, committing to become carbon neutral by 2050. This Panel will focus on understanding the priorities for London to achieve Net Zero, and the role that the built environment has to play in meeting this target. Topics of focus will include London and local leadership, adaptability and flexibility of building stock, resilience and green infrastructure, and a prioritising a green recovery for London.

Chair: Ashley Bateson, Partner, Hoare Lea

Craig Robertson, Associate, Head of Sustainability, AHMM
Juliette Morgan, Head of Sustainable Development, British Land
Tom Steel, Director, Heyne Tillett Steel
Douglas Phillips, Senior Environmental Analyst, Historic England
Gary Clark, Principal, Science and Technology Regional Leader, HOK London Studio
Sonal Jain, Director - Net Zero Carbon, Workplace and Clients, JLL
Paul Dipino, Development Director, Joseph Homes
Nils Rage, Sustainable Design and Innovation Manager, Landsec
Luisa Brotas, Senior Sustainability and Climate Change Officer, London Borough of Hackney
Hero Bennett, Principal Sustainability Consultant, Max Fordham LLP
Marion Baeli, Partner, PDP London Architects
Derek Wilson, Senior Sustainable Development Supervisor, TfL
Charlie Scott, Board Director, Waterman
John Davies, Head of Sustainability, Derwent London

Joseph Henry, Senior Project Officer, Greater London Authority
Nathan Millar, Principal, Sustainability, Elementa

View the programme

Science, Tech & Innovation

London and the Golden Triangle contains the strongest biosciences cluster in Europe studying genomics, digital health, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and neuroscience; the greatest concentration of top universities in the world; as well as clusters of global tech companies. This panel will develop findings from NLA’s recent Knowledge Networks report, to focus on the design and delivery of spaces for the science, tech and innovation sectors to support the burgeoning knowledge economy, and the clustering of businesses across the region to foster innovation.

Chair: Jonathan Burroughs, CEO, Creative Places

Rob Partridge, Design Director, AKT II
David Williams, Partner, Business Space Agency & Head of Science & Technology, Bidwells
Rebecca Mortimore, Principal, Hassell
Kat Hanna, Masterplan Strategist, Lendlease
Darius Umrigar, Science & Higher Education Director, NBBJ
Peter Baird, Urban Design Associate, Perkins Will
Faaiza Lalji, Director of Planning and Development, Precis Advisory Limited
Charles Walford, Property Director, Stanhope
Gavin Henderson, Principal Director, Stanton Williams
Emma Frost, Director of Innovation, Sustainability and Community, London Legacy Development Corporation
Dan Culling, Construction Engineer, Innovation Incentives, EY
Colin Boyd, Design Director, Bouygues UK

View the programme

Housing

Delivering the quality and quantity of housing Londoners need remains perhaps the biggest challenge for London. This Panel will focus on developing thought-leadership around housing design and the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to have in shaping housing design in the future; moving on with the Net Zero agenda across our housing stock; housing tenure including housing for key workers; and the future delivery of housing through offsite technology.

Chair: Jo McCafferty, Director, Levitt Bernstein
Adunni Adams, Head of Delivery, Catalyst Housing

John Lewis, Managing Director, Modular Housing, AECOM
Melissa Dowler, Director, Bell Phillips Architects
Dipa Joshi, Partner, Fletcher Priest Architects
James Pargeter, Senior Director, Projects, Greystar
Fergus Evans, Project Director, Estate Development Programme, Grosvenor
Heather Macey, Associate, John McAslan + Partners
Russ Edwards, Head of Product, Residential, Lendlease
Caroline Harper, Chief Planner, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham / Be First
Peter Elliott, Head of Property Development, TfL
Linda Thiel, Director of London Studio, White Arkitekter
Sarah Hiscutt, Partner, Knight Frank
Barbara Brownlee, Managing Director of Westminster Builds, City of Westminster

View the programme

Tall Buildings

London is now a city of tall buildings, a city traditionally associated with a low-rise, low-density character. In the past decade, major new clusters of tall buildings have emerged in areas such as Nine Elms, Elephant and Castle, the Isle of Dogs and the City of London. And still more are to come, with a pipeline of over 500 tall buildings either in planning, approved or under construction in the capital. NLA has played a vital role in this debate and this Panel will play in key role in developing NLA’s contribution, including placemaking and environmental impacts of towers, construction of towers post Grenfell, and attitudes to tall buildings for those living and working in the capital.

Chair: Stuart Baillie, Partner, Head of Planning, Knight Frank

Jo Bacon, Partner, Allies and Morrison
Tom Alexander, Director, Aukett Swanke
Gwyn Richards, Interim Chief Planning Officer and Development Director, City of London Corporation
Steve Kennard, Director of Regeneration, Hadley Property Group
John Bushell, Design Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Stephanie Leung, Associate, LDA Design
Emma Talbot, Director of Planning, London Borough of Lewisham
Michael Ritchie, Place Shaping Team Leader, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Gerard Maccreanor, Founding Partner, Director, Maccreanor Lavington Architects
Matt Voyce, Executive Director – Construction, Quintain
Russell Whitehead, Director, Robert Bird Group
Dominic Bettison, Director, Wilkinson Eyre
Ender Ozkan, Vice President - Europe, RWDI

View the programme

Healthcare

The healthcare sector is set to see a new level of government investment not seen in over a decade. This Panel will focus on the delivery of new healthcare buildings for London, best practice in design, health and adaptability, as well as the opportunities for wider regeneration and integration into the urban environment.

Chair: Mark Rowe, Principal, Penoyre & Prasad

Edith Blennerhassett, Director, Arup
Benedict Zucchi, Principal, BDP
Sara Grohmann, Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Jane Ho, Healthcare Design Director, HKS Architects
Justin Harris, Global Healthcare Deputy Lead, IBI Group
Simon Hodson, Head of UK Healthcare, JLL
Jonathan Martin, Director of Inward Investment, London Borough of Waltham Forest
Charlotte Ruben, Partner, White Arkitekter

View the programme

Transport & Infrastructure

The Mayor of London has launched ambitious new plans that will dramatically transform London’s streets to accommodate new cycle lanes and space for walking. As lockdown restrictions are eased, public transport will face challenges to respond to social distancing rules while meeting demand. This Panel will focus on the future of mobility and modal share of streets for all users, as well as the impact of transport infrastructure in unlocking growth and accessibility across the capital.

Chair: Jennifer Ross, Consultant, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design

Rory Brooke, Head of Economics, Planning, Savills
Gerard Casey, Senior Consultant, Arup
Melissa Cazzato, Lead Sponsor, Cycling, Investment Delivery Planning, Transport for London
Matthew Clark, Associate, Steer
Helen Logan, Partner, Allies and Morrison
Bruce McVean, Acting Assistant Director for City Transportation, City of London Corporation
Mark Powers, Technical Director, National Lead - Transport Planning, Waterman Group
Mandar Puranik, Regeneration Programme Manager, LB Sutton
Sophie Thompson, Director, LDA Design
Dr. Walter Daves, Head of London Connectory, Worcester Bosch
Chris Williamson, Partner, Weston Williamson + Partners
Peter Heath, Design Director, Atkins

View the programme

Retail & Hospitality

Chair: James Mitchell , Partner, Axiom Architects
Jane Maciver, Creative Director, Buckley Gray Yeoman

Ben Grose, Head of Retail Leasing, British Land

Mark Bruce, Main Board Director, Head of Hotels, EPR Architects

Angela Dapper, Principal, Grimshaw

Owain Lloyd-James, Head of Places Strategy, Historic England

Veronica Givone, Managing Director, Hospitality, IA Interior Architects

Connor McDonagh, Assistant Director of Economic Growth, London Borough of Ealing

Jace Tyrrell, Chief Executive, New West End Company

Katya Samokhvalova, Associate Planner, Nexus Planning

Derek Griffin, Head of Acquisitions, Whitbread

Katerina Mercury, Senior Asset Manager Retail, The Crown Estate
Andrew Denye, Partner, Forsters LLP
Mary Wallace, Retail and Consumer Behaviour SME, IBM

View the programme

Education

Chair: Ben Marston, Director, Jestico + Whiles
Ian Goodfellow, Principal (and Director of Architecture), Penoyre & Prasad

Marta Galinanes-Garica, Design Director, AKT II

Ann Dalzell, Building Services Engineer, Arup

Jess Mailey, Architect Associate, BDP

Rachel Moulton, Senior Associate, Senior Architect, HKS Architects Limited

Katherine Watts, Senior Architect, John McAslan + Partners

Lalage Clay, Director, Education and Talent, London & Partners

Mat Oakley, Head of Commercial Research, Savills

Judy Raper, CEO and Dean, TEDI-London, TEDI-London

Alan Ollier-Thompson, Head of Skills, Waltham Forest Council

Darren Connolly, Technical Director, WSP Ltd
Douglas Inglis, Director, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Angela Mitten, Director, Estates & Campus Operations, Royal College of Art

View the programme

Network

Stay in touch

Upgrade your plan

Choose the right membership for your business