Ron has over 30 years’ experience in UK real estate with 25 years in development as a principle. He has obtained planning permission for over 6,000,000 sq ft of mixed use space including schemes in Bristol, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham. Since founding Change Real Estate in Bristol in 2013, the company has gained consents for over 650 apartments, 110,000 sq ft of commercial space, and a 236 bed hotel, bringing to life schemes like Redcliff Quarter, Redcliffe Parade and The Old Brewery in Southville.

Toni is an Architect and Head of the Office & Workplace sector at AJ 100 Top 10 Practice, Stride Treglown. She works nationally leading multi-disciplinary teams on a wide range of exciting projects. Beyond this role, she’s also the 2023 Regional Chair for Women in Property South West and a Member of the South West & South Wales British Council for Offices NextGen Committee. Toni has won several awards for her industry contributions, and most recently was recognized as South West Emerging Property Person of the Year in 2022.

As Managing Director at KTA, Ajay has extensive experience across multiple sectors delivering multi award winning designs across the UK. He has led some of the regions significant projects including The Royal Clarence in Exeter, Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park Stadium and Hotel and also a fantastic new multi-million pound Health and Wellbeing Centre in the heart of Plymouth shaping the future regeneration of this deprived area. He also works closely with many schools in the South West, educating our future generation about the profession and is involved with the University of Plymouth School of Architecture. Ajay has also been influential raising thousands of pounds for many local charitable organisations and food banks as Vice-Chair for the successful Building Forum Devon and Cornwall.

John established benjamin +beauchamp architects in Wedmore, Somerset ten years ago. He has over 25 years’ experience in the conservation and repair of historic buildings, as well as the adaptation of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings within an historic context. John is involved in ongoing work on major medieval buildings including Cathedrals and churches throughout the South West and in the Republic of Ireland. He is a member of the Bath and Wells Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) and an RIBA and AABC conservation accredited architect.

Jo Davis is the Managing Director for Planning, Development and Regeneration at Avison Young with additional responsibility for the Bristol office. She has a well-earned reputation for being one the leading planning strategists in her field. Jo has a long and successful history of delivering complex projects for the public and private sectors – she has worked extensively on mixed-use city centre regeneration schemes, and played a key role in delivering new communities. Jo relishes the challenge to translate her clients’ complex visions into developmental reality, helping to address the nation’s housing crisis and ensuring regeneration is equally focussed on economic and social improvement as it is on place making.

Nick Hole has over 30 years’ experience in the property development sector. He is a director of Exeter-based property company Eagle One, which he first joined as a Chartered Surveyor in 1987. He is also Managing Director of Eagle One company Blue Cedar Homes, which specialises in the luxury retirement market in the South West.

Peter Lacey has practiced as an architect in the South-West since he graduated. He co-founded Lacey Hickie and Caley Ltd and was Chair of the LHC Group Ltd (now LHC Design). During that time, he was variously  Chair of Exeter Initiative, Exeter Business Forum, Exeter Vision Partnership, and SW Region RIBA. Since retirement he has been Non-Exec Chair Exeter FM, Non-Exec Chair of property consultants Vickery Holman and a member of Council and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Exeter where he held the physical infrastructure and environmental sustainability portfolios.

Mike is a self-employed business consultant with a background in engineering. He became CEO for Devonport Management Limited (DML) in 1987, where he led the company’s transition from a public sector organisation into a commercial entity. Subsequently, Mike was appointed CEO of the National Marine Aquarium – a position he held for over ten years. He was also Non-Executive Director of Ireland’s largest house builder, Governor of the University of Plymouth, and Director/Chair of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.

A well-known champion of the Cornish business scene, Thelma Sorensen has a wealth of experience in the construction sector, holding the position of Regional Administration Officer for Devon and Cornwall, for the Chartered Institute of Building for many years. She is also Hon. President of the South West Women in Construction group, an organisation she is extremely passionate about. Thelma is also Chairman and a Hon. Life Member of the Cornwall Business Partnership; she has been awarded Life Membership of, and sits on the Policy Advisory Board for the South West Business Council; and she is a Director of the Architecture Centre Devon. In 2010, Thelma was awarded an OBE for her contribution to economic regeneration in Cornwall.