WOMEN OF INFLUENCE - Celebrating women in the planning, property and the built environment - Newington Communications

WOMEN OF
 INFLUENCE
           THE LIST 2020

   Celebrating women in the
    planning, property and
    the built environment

Newington Communications

PAGE 1

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
This year the theme for International Women’s Day is “I am Generation Equality” and here
at Newington, we are celebrating influential women in planning, property, and the built
environment.

We have sought nominations far and wide from across the sector asking you to nominate
politicians, those in the private and public sectors, journalists, campaigners, architects,
planning consultants, journalists, lawyers, and women from the world of academia.

The 2020 list published in this document is not ranked but celebrates women of influence
from across the sector.

                            The list
Lucy Bird
HEAD OF PLANNING, BERKELEY GROUP

Responsible for St James’ and St William divisions having previously worked in
local government planning departments and also at Lendlease.

Georgina Blakemore
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
The corporate head of Epping Forest, having previously served in executive
positions within local authorities across Essex.

Cllr Nesil Caliskan
LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, LONDON BOROUGH OF ENFIELD
Overseeing the implementation of the council’s landmark Meridian Water social
housing scheme.
Emma Cariaga
JOINT HEAD OF CANADA WATER DEVELOPMENT, BRITISH LAND

Responsible for the delivery of the landmark Canada Water Development in
Southwark.

PAGE 2

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Lisa Carlson
CHIEF EXECUTIVE,CANTERBURY BID
Responsible for heading up the Canterbury Connected Business Improvement
District (BID) an independent not-for-profit initiative championing the Canterbury
Business community.

Gillian Charlesworth
CHIEF EXECUTIVE,BRE GROUP
The first ever woman chief executive of BRE Group and current RICS board
member.
Louisa Clarence-Smith
PROPERTY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CORRESPONDENT, THE
TIMES
Housing correspondent for The Times with a background in property journalism,
including as a former News editor of the Estates Gazette.

Karen Cooksley
PARTNER, WINCKWORTH SHERWOOD
Karen heads up Winckworth Sherwood’s planning division, covering specialist and
residential development.

Cressida Curtis
HEAD OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS & SUSTAINABILITY, BRITISH LAND
Executive member of the British Land team, previously responsible for
communications at Quintain Estates and Wates Group respectively.

Jennie Daly
GROUP OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, TAYLOR WIMPEY

Operations lead at Taylor Wimpey with previous executive experience at Peabody
and Harrow Estates.

PAGE 3

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Rosie Day
DIRECTOR, WESTMINSTER PROPERTY ASSOCIATION
Director of the London Property Alliance (City & Westminster Property
Associations).

Jane Duncan OBE
DIRECTOR, JANE DUNCAN ARCHITECTS
Founded her architectural practice over 30 years ago, Jane has also previously
served as President of RIBA from 2014 to 2017.

Claire Fallows
PARTNER, CHARLES RUSSELL SPEECHLYS
Specialises on planning, highways and compulsory purchase law for land owners,
local authorities and developers.

Claire Fenwick
MANAGING DIRECTOR, SPACIAL DIMENSIONS
Managing Director of Spacial Dimensions with two decades experience as a
chartered surveyor.

Isabelle Fraser
PROPERTY EDITOR, THE TELEGRAPH
Lead writer on housebuilding, property and development since March 2018.

Susan Freeman
PARTNER, MISHCON DE REYA
Partner at Mishcon De Reya, working in the Real Estate department.

Nicky Gavron AM
DEPUTY CHAIR OF PLANNING COMMITTEE, GLA
Oversees planning in City Hall and across Greater London as the Deputy Chair.

PAGE 4

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Rosalind Goode
REGIONAL SENIOR DIRECTOR – LONDON, AVISON YOUNG
Rosalind is responsible for Avision Young’s London-wide operations with over 30
years experience in the sector.

Helen Gordon
PRESIDENT, BRITISH PROPERTY FEDERATION
Helen also serves as the CEO of Grainger plc and is also a chartered surveyor by
profession. Helen has also worked for Railtrack in the past and is the serving
president for the British Property Federation.

Emily Hamilton
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY, GROSVENOR GROUP
Emily leads the implementation of Grosvenor’s five year sustainability plans and is
a chartered environmentalist.

Olivia Harris
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DOLPHIN LIVING
Oliva has over 15 years’ experience in the property industry, including previously
serving as Finance Director at Dolphin Living before becoming Chief Executive.
Olivia is also the Chair for the Westminster Property Association,

Helen Hayes MP
LABOUR MP FOR DULWICH AND WEST NORWOOD
A planner by professsion and a previous member of the DCLG and Housing and
Planning Bill committee.

Rachael Herbert
PLANNING LAWYER, DENTONS
Senior Associate within Dentons’ planning team, Rachael’s experience across
public and private sectors has included planning appeals, major regeneration
schemes and judicial reviews.

PAGE 5

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Victoria Hills
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ROYAL TOWN PLANNING INSTITUTE
Victoria has over 20 years’ experience working at senior positions in planning and
transport and is a Chartered Town Planner by profession.

Kate Ives
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, WATES
Responsible for Wates’ investment in new developments and expanding its
portfolio of partnerships and joint ventures.

Karen Jones
OPERATIONAL DIRECTOR, RPS
Over 20 years’ experience advising private and public clients planning and
development matters across the UK.

Doris Lam
HEAD OF UK DEVELOPMENT, CHINESE ESTATES HOLDINGS
Formerley Project Director at FEC UK and lead on development across the UK at
CEH.

Melanie Leech
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BRITISH PROPERTY FEDERATION
Executive lead for the BPF, Melanie previously held senior communications roles
at the Cabinet Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Laura Leggetter
NEWGATE
Laura has 20 years experience across property, luxury hospitality and tourism
providing communications and strategic advice to companies in the built
environment.

Miranda McCabe
STRIDE TREGLOWN
Winner of WICE Best Young Woman Architect 2019,

PAGE 6

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Kate Murphy
FOSTER & PARTNERS
25 years in the architectural sector and winner of the Best Woman Architect at the
European Women In Construction and Engineering awards 2019.

Dame Alison Nimmo DBE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE CROWN ESTATE
Dame Alison has overseen two terms as the Crown Estates CEO and is a chartered
surveyor by profession,

Olivia Oates
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HOUSING,
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RT HON ROBERT JENRICK
MP
Key advisor to the Housing Secretary, supporting him in delivering on the
Government’s housebuilding agenda.

Nicholle Phillips
DIRECTOR - STRATEGIC LAND WEST, COUNTRYSIDE PROPERTIES
Over 15 years industry experience having previously worked for Crest Nicholson
and Taylor Wimpey prior to her role at Countryside Properties.

Karen Sullivan
SERVICE DIRECTOR - PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, ISLINGTON
COUNCIL
Responsible for overseeing housebuilding and development in one of London’s
most innovative borough.

Judith Salomon
HEAD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND COMMUNICATIONS, POCKET
LIVING
20 years industry experience in senior strategic planning roles. Judith has
previously worked for St George and now leads on policy and public affairs
agenda at Pocket Living.

PAGE 7

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Anette Simpson
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS, LEGAL AND
GENERAL
Heads up the delivery of L&G’s affordable projects, with over 20 years’ experience
in the property industry having prreviously worked for Ballymore and Capco.

Isobel Stephen
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING SUPPLY, MHCLG
Isobel is responsible for strategy, relationships with the developer sector and
works closely with Homes England.

Alison Tero
SENIOR DIRECTOR – PLANNING, CBRE
Over 20 years’ experience at the CBRE, having worked as a Town Planner in the
1990s.

Aileen Thompson
STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND
COMMUNICATIONS, HS2
Responsible for shaping the strategic narrative for HS2, Aileen has previously led
communications for multinational corporations including Kellogg's and Vodafone.

Baroness Jo Valentine
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CROSS RAIL
Baroness Valentine’s non-executive roles include Vice-Chair of UCL and Chair of
Heathrow Southern Railway as well as for Cross Rail.

Alex Valenzuela
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC REALM, SBEG AND SOUTH BANK BID
Alex leads on the strategic direction of the public realm at SBEG and South Bank
Bid having also previously worked for the Jubilee Gardens Trust.

PAGE 8

2020

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Sam Wait
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS,
SWAN HOUSING
Sam heads up regeneration, development and strategic communications across
Swan Housing.

Professor Georgia Watson
ASSOCIATE LECTURER IN PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN, OXFORD
BROOKES UNIVERSITY
Professor Watson is currently involved in research projects including delivering
sustainable and healthy cities; the regeneration of run down housing estates.

Beth West
MANAGING DIRECTOR (SOUTH REGION), BALFOUR BEATTY
Beth has previous experience in leadership positions at HS2, London Underground
and Tube Lines and now heads up development across the South of the UK for
Balfour Beatty.

         AN EQUAL WORLD IS AN
            ENABLED WORLD.
       #IWD2020 #EACHFOREQUAL

                      Edited by

                                     PHIL BRISCOE             GURJIT KAUR BAINS

                                     Managing Director Account Director