Speaker Profiles
Alexis Conran KEYNOTE SPEAKER
A charismatic keynote, Alexis employs his knowledge of the dark and deceptive world of hustling, pickpockets and con-artists to speak candidly on the risks and security threats constantly faced by businesses and consumers. Having devised and carried out over 500 scams he is in the rare position of being able to advise and educate on the issues affecting us in the real and virtual world. He also gives an insight into how to interpret human behaviour and body language and the communication techniques used to inspire confidence; skills the world’s most prominent scam artists rely on to achieve their unscrupulous aims. Alexis is an accomplished TV performer with writing and presenting credits for BBC1, BBC3, National Geographic, Discovery Channel (Man vs Expert), ITV and Channel Five (Secrets of the Scammers)
Alex Schlagman Founding Partner - Save The High Street
Alex is CEO of PocketHighStreet and a founding partner of SaveTheHighStreet.org. SaveTheHighStreet.org is a coordinated industry-wide initiative supporting and empowering local businesses nationwide. The movement is powered by 1000s of shopkeepers, industry leaders and high street supporters. Alex is a serial entrepreneur focused on levelling the playing field for local retailers with technology. Alex previously founded a digital agency for small businesses and a local commerce marketplace for student communities.
Ben Hammond Growth & Performance Manager - Toolbox Marketing
Ben has over 10 years marketing experience, with 6 years in the retail real estate space. Toolbox Marketing have been established for over 24 years, and are a leading agency that use strategic marketing and vibrant placemaking to shape tomorrow’s places.
Gareth Jordan Director - Retail Advantage
Gareth Jordan is a Director at ART Software Group creators of Retail Advantage, an innovative solution at the forefront of assisting professionals with the most effective ways to analyse key performance data to drive performance and support Brand-Partners. Used widely throughout the UK and Europe, Gareth oversees the platform’s business development and excels at helping centre management teams create a connected community, streamline workflow and unlock potential in data to increase revenues and rental values. Backed by more than a decade of experience working closely with retail and leisure professionals, he remains focused on developing and enhancing data opportunities on leading schemes, implementing analysis environments for shopping centres, outlets, retail and mixed-use portfolios that deliver results.
Joe Barratt Founder - The Teenage Market
Joe Barratt is the Co-Founder of The Teenage Market®, an award-winning national initiative which has provided thousands of young people with a free platform to showcase their creative talents at market events across the country, ever since it was established in 2012. Joe is also a Fellow at the Institute of Place Management, who he worked with to deliver the government’s High Streets Force, supporting 150 places in England, over the last five years. He is a regular contributor to discussions on the future of town centres, markets and high streets, and serves as the Shadow Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport on Stockport Council.
Neil Churchill Destination Director - JLL
Neil is our chair of RD Live for 2025 and leads the leadership team at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in London. Brent Cross Shopping Centre is one of the UK's most popular retail destinations. It opened in 1976 and was the first indoor shopping mall in the UK. Hammerson and Aberdeen Standard Investments are working together to redevelop the shopping centre. Brent Cross Town is a mixed-use development in Brent Cross, London NW2. Related Argent and Barnet Council have formed a joint venture partnership, BXS Limited Partnership, to develop Brent Cross Town.
Romiluyi ‘Romy Romes’ Benjamin Abiodun Founder - Vfour London
Romy founded Vfour London, a streetwear brand celebrating art and culture, in 2017. He is a passionate and driven entrepreneur, regularly running pop-up shops and activations, in tandem with growing the brand online.
Tim Fitzhigham Comedian and author
Tim Fitzhigham's far-fetched exploits are recounted in hilarious manner and are ideally suited for any corporate event to leave the audience in stitches. Tim’s interactive showmanship and farcical shenanigans will delight an after dinner audience. A hit for corporate events Tim’s almost unbelievable stories are guaranteed to amuse one and all. Tim enchants and entertains audiences with his tales, told in an unassuming, yet hilarious manner, making him the ideal choice as comedian or after dinner speaker for any event large or small.
Alasdair McClimont Customer Manager - The Crown Estate
Alasdair McClimont has over 15 years of experience managing flagship retail stores for prominent brands such as Topshop/Topman and Vision Express in major retail destinations across the South East. He joined The Crown Estate in 2022 to launch its performance support offer for Regent Street and St James’s retail and hospitality brands. This included the launch of the customer communication portal, Retail Advantage, delivering on-demand demographics to brands, alongside news and information. The product aims to support retail sales for The Crown Estate’s customers and drive data-led decision making around suitable activations, marketing campaigns and target retail brands.
Anand Basu-Attwood Commercial Ops Mgr - Resorts World Birmingham
Anand Basu-Attwood is the Commercial Operations Manager at Resorts World Birmingham, which is owned by Genting and part of the Multi-Realm portfolio. Anand joined Resorts World before the scheme opened in 2015 after holding roles across retail sites in multiple cities across the UK. He works closely with Brand Partners to help them achieve the maximum potential in sales using tools such as Retail Advantage, 5G demographic tracking and mystery shopping programmes alongside his observations drawn from extensive retail experience, which spans high street to luxury, outlet to travel retail. The mixed-use destination has 23 shops, along with a range of fantastic places to eat and drink, from family favourites to spectacular rooftop dining, a Cineworld with IMAX, Escape Hunt, 21 lane Hollywood Bowl, the 4* Genting Hotel, a luxury Spa, a casino, and a conference venue with a capacity in excess of 1,000.
Dawn Osborne Director - NOVA
Dawn has spent over 26 years in shopping centre management mainly in operations and was the Operations Director for Meadowhall before founding NOVA Consultants UK, which supports client’s development of security and resilience. She was also an Associate at the Cabinet Office’s National Resilience Centre, the Emergency Planning College and is an advisor for Guidepoint Global. Dawn has previously spoken in forums in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin and at the World Counter Terror Congress, and in 2024 was asked to speak at IOSH and Anticipate London conferences.
Glynn Edwards Trading Director - Landsec
Glynn is the Trading Director at Landsec where he heads up sales collation and commercial analysis for the UK-wide portfolio. He was previously Head of Retail for Ted Baker amongst other retail roles focusing primarily on Retail Operations and Commercial Analysis.
Kayley Buxton Marketing & Events Director - Revo
As the Marketing & Events Director at Revo, Kayley plays a pivotal role in enhancing the visibility and reputation of the Revo community, supporting its members and partners through strategic initiatives, thought leadership, and industry-leading events. With over two years of experience leading marketing and event strategies, Kayley curates and delivers conferences, study tours, and networking events that showcase the innovation and excellence of Revo’s members. She also manages the seamless operation of Revo’s committees, providing platforms for collaboration, learning, and advocacy among key real estate professionals and stakeholders.
Neil Hockin Managing Director - Lunson Mitchenall
Neil is the Managing Director of Lunson Mitchenall and oversees all leasing activity including Shopping Centre Leasing, High Streets and Leisure/F&B. He works closely with LM's Capital Markets & Lease Advisory Divisions giving him a unique insight into all aspects of retail and leisure property. Neil is a Director of Revo where he sits on the Management Board and is actively involved with the organisation’s key areas of focus and oversees the Asset Management Committee. Neil previously ran Revo’s international study tours and organised trips to The Nordics, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, Washington and New York. Neil is also a Director and Trustee of The Elifar Foundation charity which has close links to the Retail and Leisure Property Industry.
Steve Norris Executive Director - National Head P, R + I - LSH
Steve has over 30 years’ experience providing planning, regeneration and commercial property consultancy advice on a wide variety of retail, town and shopping centre issues for regional planning bodies, local planning authorities, developers, investors and operators. His expertise ranges from the preparation of evidence-based town centre visions, action plans and regeneration strategies to securing funding and permissions for major mixed-use schemes. Contact Steve on 07733122420, or email at SNorris@LSH.co.uk
Tom Whittington Director of Retail and Leisure Research - Savills
Tom has advised retailers, landlords and developers for 25 years on all things retail, from store expansion strategies, shopping centre feasibility and supermarket performance. For the last 10 years Tom has been a commentating on ways of rationalising and improving retail places to address the needs created from over expansion and addressing both economic and environmental sustainability challenges. His passion lies with creating genuine curated mixed use spaces that serve better social value, have more positive environmental impact, while still fulfilling the financial expectations of investors and other key stakeholders.
Alex McCulloch Managing Director - CACI
Alex leads the Property Consulting team at CACI who are market leaders in using cutting edge technology to understand people and how they engage with brands and places. We use consumer data, spatial intelligence, and AI to turn complex data into action for global companies across property owners, retailers, leisure operators, government, finance and media. Alongside the property team Alex also leads innovation across CACI and specialises in the application of innovative tech and data solutions to help clients understand their customers, who they are, how they behave and how to get more of them.
Anastasia Petrova VP Partnerships and Strategic Alliances - Deepki
As a VP Partnerships at Deepki, Anastasia leads the development of strategic alliances with key industry players, from real estate consultancies to specialist system integrators and technology partners. Anastasia’s focus is growing Deepki’s partner ecosystem to collaborate with partners in supporting their clients on their journeys to net zero. Under Anastasia’s leadership, Deepki established a global partnership with CBRE to expand their capabilities through championing solutions that evolve and anticipate their clients’ needs and expectations in line with regulatory and market demands. Anastasia is an active member of Deepki’s CSR committee, leading the execution of DEI initiatives, and participates in the WLI (women's leadership initiative), Diversity Talks and LiRE (Ladies in real estate) networks, advocating for greater visibility of women leaders in real estate. With over 20 years of global experience, Anastasia has held operational and strategic roles in large corporations and scale ups such as Nokia Corporation, NatWest Group, Pitney Bowes Software, Paysafe and Quantexa, focusing on sustainable growth and innovation.
Darren Pearce Centre Director - Meadowhall
Darren Pearce was born and bred in Newcastle, went to University in Leeds before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with BDO Binder Hamlyn. He joined Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield in 1994 and is now in his 30th year at the Centre. In his time he has held roles as the Centre’s Finance Director, been President of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, along with overseeing Tech and Educational Trust start-up businesses, before taking on the Centre Directors role in 2008. He now sits on the National Centre Managers Committee and plays a key role in organising the RD Live Conference along with many other events.
Jennet Siebrits Head of Research - CBRE UK
I am an economist with over twenty five years experience and joined CBRE 20 years ago to set up the residential research team. I am now head of the UK research team, with a focus is on the big issues in the real estate world; identifying trends, analysing the market, and providing clients with unrivalled insight and ideas.
Marina Milosev Founding Partner - Beyond the Red Line
Marina brings over a decade of experience in strategic urban planning and placemaking. Her expertise lies in developing innovative urban strategies and policies that address critical issues, including affordable housing, sustainability, economic growth, and social justice, with a particular focus on gender equality. Marina also has extensive project management experience, having led high-profile projects, including a programme funded by the European Investment Bank. Marina is a leading expert in gender equality in planning in the UK, having pioneered groundbreaking research in this area. Her contributions to the field were recognised with the Women of Influence 2024 award from the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Paul Clifford Director - Flourish
Founder and Director of Flourish, Paul has over 20 years retail and property management experience and has worked with some of the UK’s largest retailers, in addition to managing shopping centres. Flourish are a leading commercialisation provider, who intelligently fill spaces to create thriving, sustainable places.
Tarah Gear Director of Brand and Place Futures - Milligan
At Milligan, Tarah leads strategic brand development for the places we create, aligning customer needs, stakeholder interests and purpose. Tarah is also responsible for managing various brand, creative and comms specialists at each stage of a project from pre-planning to developing narratives, commercial engagement strategies and media relationships. Tarah’s role marries brand with purpose as she heads up our corporate ESG strategies, holding our commitments to account and leading input from specialist consultants and thinkers across our work.