NLA NextGen 2025: Wrapped

Betty Owoo

Senior Design Officer
Greater London Authority

Maheer Khan

Urban Researcher
Futurecity

Joseph Stancer

Regeneration Project Manager
London Borough of Waltham Forest

Amelia Johnson

Planner
DP9 Ltd

Jade Verbick

Account Manager
Caro Communications

2025 has been another strong year for the NLA NextGen community, bringing together emerging practitioners from across London’s built environment sectors to connect, learn and shape conversations about the city’s future.

Across the year, NextGen hosted seven networking events, including our popular summer networking party, and a festive networking edition at City Hall in December. The City Hall event marked the launch of NextGen Rising, a new workstream that will guide the committee’s focus in 2026, centring on skills development, progression pathways and inclusive workplace cultures.

Alongside our core networking programme, NextGen delivered a range of targeted events and collaborations. These included speed mentoring sessions, an in-depth decarbonisation workshop in partnership with AtkinsRéalis, and a topical evening talk, Nightlife for All: Towards a Safer 24-Hour City. Chaired by committee member Maheer Khan, the event explored how safety and wellbeing can be better prioritised in London’s nighttime urban environment.

A key highlight of the year was supporting the launch of NLA’s Skills for Places research. The findings have been instrumental in shaping NextGen’s decision to focus on skills, progression and inclusion in 2026. Being able to better articulate and quantify the value of the built environment sector will help us immensely as we respond to ongoing skills shortages and capacity challenges, while supporting the next generation of placemakers.

Chairing the NextGen Committee throughout 2025 has been a valuable opportunity to develop my leadership practice, endeavouring to lead through collaboration with care and compassion. The strength of NextGen is rooted in the generosity, insight and commitment of an exceptionally talented group of committee members, whose ongoing contributions make this work both meaningful and impactful.

Beyond the committee, contributing to wider discussions on London’s resilience and future development as a member of the NLA Sounding Board has further broadened my understanding of the many forces shaping the city. I have also had the opportunity to bring my work at the Greater London Authority into the NLA’s public programme, co-hosting a Friday Model Talk on gender inclusion in London’s public spaces with my colleague Kathryn Timmins.

As I enter my second year as chair, I am looking forward to continuing to develop NextGen Rising, convening voices from across the sector, and strengthening collaboration with other NLA groups and expert panels, including the Diverse Leaders Steering Group.

Below, some of our committee members reflect on their experience of NextGen in 2025 and their time on the committee.

Being on the committee in 2025, particularly in my first year, has been a really positive experience. It’s been great to get involved, meet new people, and hear a wide range of ideas and perspectives from across the industry. I’ve learned a lot through discussions and events, and it feels like we’ve really started to build momentum over the year. I’m excited to keep driving this forward, building on what we’ve started, and continuing to grow the impact of the committee.

Amelia Johnson, Planner, DP9 Ltd, member for one year

Being on the NextGen committee during the last two years has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The momentum for change has built significantly within our industry over that time. Collaborating with peers to translate that energy and insight into an actionable vision for the forthcoming NextGen Rising recommendations paper has been a particular highlight.

Joseph Stancer, Development Officer, London Borough of Hackney, member for two years

When I joined the NLA Next Gen Committee in 2023, I could not have anticipated the scale of opportunity it would open up. From chairing Nightlife for All: Towards a Safer 24-Hour City at The London Centre, to contributing to the LREF 2024 24-Hour London roundtable and the NLA Health Charrette, the experience has been professionally transformative. Beyond visibility, the committee introduced me to a network of committed, like-minded peers. Through the Next Gen network, I am now a MIPIM Challenger for 2026. My priority is to continue championing inclusive, people-centred citymaking while giving back to this community.

Maheer Khan, Researcher, Future City, member for two years

Being a part of the NLA NextGen Committee has been a very gratifying experience. I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with an exceptional cohort of individuals working in the built environment and discuss the state of the industry for people at the start of their careers and what we can do now to change and improve it, to pave the way for the next generation. I’m very excited for my second year on the panel and look forward to continuing the to build on the groundwork we laid in 2025.

Jade Verbick, Account Manager, Caro Communications, member for one year

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the NextGen programme this year. Looking ahead to 2026, we’re excited to build on these successes by supporting the growth of emerging leaders and helping to shape the future of the built environment through collaboration, insight and action.