Work

Poplar Works © Adams & Sutherland

Supporting the right type of spaces for London’s diverse workforce

2020 has clearly been an extraordinary year for the workplace. We are possibly in the midst of the greatest and most rapid change to the way we work that we have ever seen. But what are the short-, medium- and long-term impacts of this transformation? What will ‘the office’ look like after the pandemic?

London is a global powerhouse of commerce – with particular strengths in finance, tech, media and the service industry – yet this status is being threatened by growing pressures on land, rising business rates, and market uncertainty following the current pandemic and Brexit. How do we ensure development is balanced to create vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods for workers and residents? Are we providing the right types of workplaces in the right places? And are they flexible enough to adapt to future needs?

This year-round programme explores the future for integrating commercial and affordable workplaces in the evolving city through bringing together key experts to explore the scope for co-location, attracting and retaining talent, and making the best use of land and buildings. Workplace trends were already evolving rapidly, but exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, is there a bigger revolution now taking place?

MORE ONLINE AND PUBLISHED CONTENT

News

Video

Research

Expert Panel

CHAIR
Katrina Kostic Samen, Head of Workplace Strategy and Design, KKS Savills
BCO Immediate Past President
Katrina has a total commitment and absolute passion for diversity in the workplace, promoting the NextGen, and focusing on the best interests of the occupier and their business. Her experience over three decades of commercial development and workplace design enables Katrina to provide expertise across all aspects of architecture and interior design projects. She challenges boundaries and perceptions, connects ‘inside-out’ design philosophies, and combines strategy and design to maximise real estate potential for both occupiers and developers.

As the British Council for Offices (BCO) President for 2018-2019, Katrina chaired the 2018 BCO Annual Conference in Berlin, “Building Communities for Occupiers”, which was a ground-breaking shift for the industry.

Since 2004, Katrina has built a practice which is a recognised leader in workplace strategy and interior architecture, reflected in many achievements and awards over the last 16 years. KKS joined the Savills group of companies in 2019 to become KKS Savills, and Katrina is Head of Workplace | Strategy & Design, connecting all disciplines to set Savills apart with KKS’s unique advisory service lines to create a centre of excellence.

Alison Webb, Head of Workplace Futures, Lendlease
Alison Webb is Head of Workplace Futures for Lendlease, advocating for the needs of our customers in the workplaces we create, and looking at how we, as city-makers, can boost their performance, wellbeing, and happiness. At Lendlease we take on an expanded definition of workplace: thinking beyond the four walls of an office and out into the neighbourhood and city.

Duncan Swinhoe, Managing Principal, Gensler
Duncan brings a passion for design, strategy, and innovation to his role as Co-Managing Principal for Gensler’s Europe Region. Duncan has been living and working in London for over twenty years and is spearheading the growth of the European business and establishment of our new offices across key markets in Germany and Paris. He co-led the creation of Gensler’s Commercial Office Building Developers practice and has gained a deep knowledge of the trends and issues affecting how people interact with their cities and working environments. In addition, he has been responsible for some of the most significant architectural projects in the firm’s portfolio. Duncan serves on Gensler’s Management Committee and is responsible for leveraging the best of the firm’s global platform for clients firmwide. Educated at the University of Washington in Seattle, Duncan earned a B.A., with Honours and Dip.Arch from the University of Liverpool

Duncan is an active member of the BCO and the ULI, speaks regularly on issues relating to office design and shaping the future of cities.

Earle Arney, CEO/Founder, Arney Fender Katsalidis
Earle Arney is the Founding Director/CEO of Arney Fender Katsalidis. He holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard University and is an architect, urbanist, and an office and tall building specialist. His practice works internationally from their London and Toronto studios, recently completing London’s newest commercial skyscraper, 100 Bishopsgate, Brookfield Place, a whole downtown block office-led development in Calgary, together with Deloitte’s transformational agile Toronto and Montreal HQs. His firm is also currently working on the Turing Building for LendLease in the International Quarter, alongside a number of retrofits/adaptive reuse city fringe offices, and a major sustainable commercial office tower for London.

Emma Lange, Leasing Manager, Derwent London Plc

Emma is responsible for managing letting campaigns at Derwent London, with a constant eye on identifying emerging workplace trends and ensuring these are incorporated into the design and operation of new and existing buildings across the portfolio.Prior to joining Derwent London, Emma was part of Cushman & Wakefield’s London Office Team, where she specialised in advising a broad range of occupiers on their workplace strategies.

In 2017 Emma spent a year based in Singapore, gaining invaluable insight into the diversity of workplace best practice both regionally and globally.

Helen Causer, Office and Investment Lead (King's Cross), Argent LLP
Helen Causer is Office and Investment Lead at Argent (King’s Cross). Helen is responsible for asset management, leasing and performance of the office portfolio at the landmark King’s Cross redevelopment. Since joining Argent, Helen has secured some of London’s largest commercial office deals of the last decade, including Google, DeepMinds, Facebook, Sony Music, Nike and Universal Music, totalling over 2 million sq ft.

Helen is passionate about building strong and collaborative relationships with occupiers, working in partnership to understand and respond to business drivers. She has a strong interest in workplace design, innovation and customer experience particularly around health, wellbeing and sustainability.

Ben Adams, Founding Director, Ben Adams Architects
Ben founded Ben Adams Architects in 2010 and has over 20 years of experience, working on large scale and complex projects across multiple sectors. Ben’s approach combines a rational process of design-driven by brief, costs, and contextual analysis, with a strong instinct for the ‘correct’ design response, cumulatively developed on each and every project.

Within the workplace sector, Ben has developed an award-winning portfolio including Merchants Hall, Informa, Monotype, Scott House for The Office Group and Express Building in Manchester.

John Avery, Director, LOM architecture and design

John is an award-winning architect with expertise in workplace strategy, portfolio planning and workplace design. Together with the team at LOM he creates enriching workplace experiences and harder working spaces.John has delivered projects ranging from large new-build offices to individual boutique fit-outs in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Most recently, he led the transformation of NatWest’s head office in the City of London. His clients include RBS, Coutts, BP, Microsoft, HSBC and the National Bank of Oman.

Julie Lecoq, Consultant, HOK London Studio
Julie is a creative and forward-thinking problem-solver with experience in strategic and design briefing, stakeholder engagement and change management. Julie has an incredible passion for the impact of the environment on behaviours and the user experience overall. Julie is an advocate for diversity and inclusion, committed to helping organisations unlock and realise their potential. Julie has influenced business transformation and the design of working and learning environments across a variety of sectors, both in the UK and overseas

Ruth Duston, Managing Director, Primera

During a 30 year career, Ruth has built a reputation as a leading figure in the Business Improvement District (BID) sector, with a track record of developing valuable public / private partnerships. She has established several BIDs and partnerships representing thousands of businesses and employees and has leveraged over £30m of private sector funding, becoming the catalyst for generating more than £6bn of further investment across major parts of central London. Driving value through partnership is at the heart of Ruth’s approach to urban renewal and supporting business communities.

Steven Skinner, UK CEO, HB Reavis
Steven was appointed UK CEO of international workspace provider, HB Reavis in August 2018, having initially served as Transactions Director from April 2017. As CEO, Steven leads the UK team’s ambitious and expanding project portfolio, including HB Reavis’ largest UK project to date - the major redevelopment of Elizabeth House in Waterloo, the delivery of Bloom Clerkenwell and the latest acquisition will see the redevelopment of Quick & Tower House, Shoreditch in addition to implementing HB Reavis’ workspace service brands.

Toni Riddiford, Sector Lead for Office & Workplace, Stride Treglown
Toni is the Sector Lead for Office & Workplace and key contributor towards strategy, design and delivery within the Commercial team at AJ100 Top 10 Practice, Stride Tregown. Providing particular expertise in Workplace, she also has broader cross-sectional sector experience that she draws upon and blends together to harness the opportunities in projects and deliver solutions for clients and occupiers that are both inspiring and effective. Toni is an active member of the BCO and a former finalist of their Rising Star awards. She is a committee member of Women in Property and a Mentor for the RIBA Student Mentoring Scheme.

Beth Kay, Programme Director New Ways of Working, London Borough of Haringey
Beth is an architect and experienced local government officer with a wide experience of leading multi sector partnerships in the delivery of transformation projects in urban areas. Beth has recently taken on a new role at Haringey, leading on the New Ways of Working portfolio.

See all NLA expert Panels

Gallery

Sponsorship Opportunities

There are opportunities to become either a Champion or Supporter of this programme. To find out more about how you could get involved in the events and output across our platforms please get in touch with the Membership Team via membership@nla.london

Prices start from £3,950 + VAT for 12 month support.