Meet the panellists for this year’s Derby Property Summit

A top line-up of panellists has been assembled for a debate, which will take place during the forthcoming Derby Property Summit.

Due to take place at Reach Events, on Pride Park, on Wednesday 12 July, the panel will give their take on Derby’s regeneration story – and discuss the central theme of this year’s summit, which is entitled ‘From Customer to Citizen – The Collective Curation of Cities’.

Joining the panel for this year’s event will be Paul Simpson, chief executive of Derby City Council.

Paul has been helping to take Derby’s investment message both national and international by accompanying Marketing Derby’s investment team to events such this year’s MIPIM and UKREiiF.

He will be joined by Alex Hudson, market senior partner for PwC East Midlands.

In May, PwC published its latest Good Growth for Cities Index, in which Derby was named as the best ‘all-rounder’ for growth.

The report found that Derby was the only location in the East Midlands to have just one indicator highlighted for improvement, concluding that the city was “experiencing overall good growth”.

Also taking part in the panel debate will be Tom Ketteringham, chief of staff at the Great British Railways Transition Team.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Derby had been selected to be the new home of GBR, which was major coup for the city.

Rounding off the panel is Donna Smith, sales director at Wavensmere Homes – the company behind the stunning Nightingale Quarter residential scheme – and the chosen developer for the regeneration of the derelict Friar Gate Goods Yard.

Organised by Marketing Derby, the Queen’s Award-winning investment promotion agency – the Derby Property Summit will once again be hosted by BBC and LBC business journalist Declan Curry.

As well as the panel debate, the Derby Property Summit will also feature a line-up of respected keynote speakers.

They include Melanie Leech CBE, chief executive of the British Property Federation, which represents UK companies involved in property ownership and investment.

Also speaking will be Professor Yolande Barnes, chair of the The Bartlett Real Estate Institute, which is based at University College London (UCL).

Another keynote speaker will be Robbie Jones, insights director at Derby-based themed attractions designer Katapult, which works with major theme parks across the world and advises on the customer experience.

And finally, in his first major public speech since becoming leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Baggy Shanker will be taking to the stage to set out his goals for the city over his next four years in office.

Backed by main event partner Bowmer + Kirkland, along with brand partners AJS Structural Design, Faithful + Gould, Lovell and Willmott Dixon, more than 250 people are expected to attend the Derby Property Summit, including business leaders, key decision-makers and investors from across the region and beyond.

For more information about the Derby Property Summit visit https://www.marketingderby.co.uk/events/ .