Propertyshe Podcast

Elliott Sparsis

Elliott Sparsis is the founder and CEO of TOGETHER, a human-first meetings, events, and venue brand in London. Elliott is a property entrepreneur and hospitality specialist whose career has spanned investment, real estate, flexible workspace and events. Elliott began his career in property and investment, including a period at Blackstone, before moving into the rapidly evolving world of hospitality led work and event space. He played a key role in bringing New York based Convene to London and went on to become CEO of Cavendish Venues. Elliott has now embarked on his latest venture, TOGETHER — a new hospitality-led meetings and events business that aims to rethink how people come together in the workplace and how landlords can create more valuable, experience-led buildings.

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James Burchell

James Burchell is Co-Founder and Partner of Tellon Capital, a real estate investment company he established with Ben Hamburger in 2014. Since its formation, Tellon Capital has invested more than £300 million in Central London office and retail assets. James has 40 years’ experience in real estate. He began his career at Hirshfield’s in 1986, specialising in auctions and investment, before becoming a founding member of niche commercial investment agency Lewis and Partners in 1994. In 2000, he established Faircroft Real Estate in partnership with Arrowcroft, completing transactions with a value exceeding £100 million. During the global financial crisis, he helped create a substantial asset management business dealing with distressed assets on behalf of a range of financial institutions. He subsequently became Chief Executive Officer of Arrowcroft following its acquisition of Faircroft in 2012. James left Arrowcroft in 2013 to establish Phoenix Real Estate, a multi-family real estate investment vehicle. Throughout his career, James has led office refurbishment and redevelopment projects across the UK’s major cities. His work is now focused primarily on London. He is a qualified chartered surveyor.

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Thomasin Renshaw

Thomasin Renshaw is Managing Director – UK Development and leads the Greystar UK Development and Construction teams. She is responsible for leading their UK development strategy across build to rent (BTR) and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). She joined from Pocket Living, where she served as Chief Development Officer overseeing its entire pipeline of major London schemes including the award-winning Sheepcote Road in Harrow and Atlas Wharf in Old Oak. Her earlier roles at Grosvenor and Muse Developments established a strong track record in regeneration and public–private partnership, working with local authorities and institutional stakeholders to unlock major development opportunities, including the two-acre South Molton Triangle in Mayfair. She has over 20 years of experience leading complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects across London and the UK.

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Will Pearce

Will is the co-founder and CEO of Orbital, a legal AI platform built for the real estate industry. Founded in 2018, Orbital sits at the centre of property transactions, automating the legal work that has traditionally been slow and manual and connecting the parties who depend on it. It now handles over 200,000 transactions a year for some of the UK's top law firms including Mishcon de Reya and works directly with the real estate businesses behind those deals: the developers, owner-operators, investors and REITs shaping the built environment. By bringing law firms and their clients onto a single platform, Orbital is building the infrastructure for how real estate gets bought, sold and financed. It opened a New York office in 2025 and, in January, raised a $60 million Series B to scale further across the US.

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Anette Simpson

Anette Simpson is Director of Developments and Partnerships at L&G's Affordable Homes Division one of the UK’s leading registered providers, delivering high-quality, tenure-diverse communities at scale through long-term institutional investment. She leads the development and delivery of L&G's growing national portfolio, overseeing developments from concept to completion, and plays a key role in shaping places that support thriving communities. Anette also leads on sustainability, driving L&G's ambition to deliver net zero carbon homes in operation by 2030. A chartered urban planner with extensive experience in complex residential developments, Anette is passionate about creating well-designed, sustainable homes that leave a lasting positive impact

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Faisal Butt

Faisal Butt is the Founder & Managing Partner of Pi Labs, one of Europe’s leading venture capital firms focused on AI and technology transforming real estate and the built world. Since founding the firm in 2014, he has led investments in ~100 companies across 17+ countries, achieving 20+ exits, and backing founders redefining how real estate and real assets are designed, built and operated. He is also the Founder of Spire Ventures, his principal investment platform focused on scaling and aggregating real asset–backed operating businesses across sectors including property services, infrastructure and asset management. With a background spanning venture capital, private equity and entrepreneurship, Faisal has built, scaled and exited businesses while investing across both high-growth technology and traditional real assets. His work sits at the intersection of AI, infrastructure and real estate, with a focus on backing category-defining companies and platforms globally. He holds an MBA with Distinction from the University of Oxford and a degree in Business Economics and Computer Science from UCLA.

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James Scott

James is the Group Director of Strategy and Planning at leading Master Developer, Urban & Civic. The company was specifically created 15 years ago to disrupt the established approach to the promotion and delivery of large scale residential led Strategic Sites. James qualified as a barrister before advising the Government on planning issues and cross-qualifying as a solicitor. Prior to being one of the founder members of Urban&Civic, James was part of the senior executive team of Lend Lease Europe with responsibility for town planning and risk management. Within Urban&Civic, James heads up strategy, planning and communications. Having previously served as a non-executive director of East Thames Housing association and sat on the Development Committee of L&Q, James is currently a senior advisor to Dorrington PLC and a non-executive of Natural England.

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Jessica Hardman

Jessica has worked in real estate investment for over 20 years – starting out her career at BNP Paribas, before joining Deutsche Bank’s real estate funds business in 2004. She enjoyed a successful, varied career with Deutsche Bank and DWS; first leading transaction teams culminating in €12bn of transactions, and subsequently running European fund management for international investors. Jessica was a pioneer and trusted portfolio manager for the wave of inward capital flows from Asian institutional clients from 2011. She built a multi-billion assets under management (AuM) business for Deutsche Bank, utilising her skills in business building, leadership and investment solutions. In 2023, she became the CEO of DWS UK, overseeing 500 staff and over €200bn AuM across Global Alternatives and Passive public market strategies. As CEO and Co-Founder of Aboria Capital, her ambition is to create an innovative, leading vertically integrated partner for investors in the European Living sector market. In July 2024, Jessica became the President of the British Property Federation (BPF) and joined the board of INREV.

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Marc Vlessing

Marc is co-founder of Pocket Living, where he was CEO for 20 years and is now Chair. In 2017 Marc was awarded an OBE for services to housing delivery. Pocket was London’s first private developer of affordable starter homes. The company has delivered some 2000 homes with another 1000+ in the pipeline. Pocket’s innovation lies in combining purposeful and affordable high-quality design for single and couple households with a policy and brand approach that allows it to tap into both public and private finance. In 2016 the US real estate major Related Companies became its major shareholder. Prior to Pocket, Marc worked in the media and entertainment sectors as CEO of Crescent Entertainment, owners of theatres and cinemas. He also produced and wrote a number of award-winning feature films. He started his career at County NatWest, where he became an assistant director in corporate finance with responsibility for corporate work in the Benelux and in the media sectors. Marc also chairs ProVen Growth & Income VCT, one of the UK’s largest VCTs and is Senior Partner at Namier Capital, a London-based advisory firm that leverages its investment and corporate finance expertise across businesses in Energy Transition, Healthcare and the Creative Industries. Marc maintains his sanity by playing the saxophone (jazz).

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Gaby Hersham

Gabriela has been credited as a pioneering voice of flexible workspace in the UK and a champion of women in business. She founded Huckletree in 2014 to bring together London’s most innovative startups, entrepreneurs and businesses, after being inspired by the success of co‑working in New York. Huckletree is now one of the UK and Ireland’s fastest‑growing co‑working communities, with a presence in London, Manchester and Dublin. Gabriela has been actively involved in campaigning for diversity in the innovation ecosystem and passionately supports diverse entrepreneurs both within Huckletree’s community and beyond – demonstrated through the launch of Fairer Funding Now, Huckletree’s campaign to promote inclusivity in startup investment, and Huckletree Alpha, the pro‑bono accelerator programme for under‑represented founders that Huckletree has run since 2017. In 2017, Hersham gave a TEDx talk on the future of work and was named one of Tide Bank's Top 20 female entrepreneurs to watch in 2020. Gaby has been heralded as a strong example of feminine leadership in a traditionally masculine business world; leading with heart and soul while making decisions based on a deep understanding of their potential impact. Gaby is a mother of two boys aged six and two, and is married to Antoine Nussenbaum of Felix Capital.

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Tom Sleigh

Tom Sleigh is Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, overseeing one of the most dynamic and densely developed planning jurisdictions in the country. An elected independent Member representing the ward of Bishopsgate since 2013, Tom has long been at the forefront of shaping the City’s built environment and cultural life. He previously chaired the City’s Barbican Centre Board, one of Europe’s largest performing arts centres where he launched Barbican Renewal, securing £191 million to renovate the iconic centre. He chaired the Investment committee, overseeing a £4 billion real estate portfolio including over 20% of the Square Mile’s freehold estate and many of its iconic heritage sites. In addition to his Corporation roles, Tom is Chair of Goldsmiths, University of London, a board member of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal’s Delivery Authority and Chair of the South Bank Employers Group which manages the Southbank BID, where he champions place-making and cultural-led regeneration across central London. He also co-chairs the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board. Tom’s professional background includes senior roles at The Bank of London and Amazon UK, and earlier work with Lloyds Banking Group, the BBC, and Booz Allen Hamilton. A Fulbright Scholar and Cambridge graduate, he combines strategic rigour with a deep understanding of how great cities evolve.

David Camp

David joined Stanhope in 1987, was appointed a Director in 1990, Managing Director in 1995 and became Chief Executive in 2002. He has spent his entire career in the property development and investment industry, either acting on behalf of clients, or as a principal in relation to commercial and mixed use assets throughout the South East of England. David spent nine years at Donaldsons (now part of Cushman & Wakefield - five years as a Partner). David’s activities at Stanhope have primarily been in relation to the identification, acquisition and funding of new projects and assets and in leading the strategy of the company. Under David’s leadership, Stanhope has delivered some of London’s most iconic developments, including Paternoster Square, the Royal Opera House, Chiswick Park, the Bloomberg Headquarters, Central St Giles and White City Place. David is also a Governor of the Museum of London, chairing their New Museum Board.

Harry Hyman

Harry Hyman is a British property entrepreneur. He achieved a degree in Geography from Christ's College, Cambridge graduating with a double first in 1978. He trained as an accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) and qualified in 1982. In 1995 he founded Primary Health Properties PLC, a company based on the idea of purchasing primary health care premises and leasing them back to NHS General Practitioners through property investment. The company listed in March 1996 on AIM and progressed to the main market in 1998. In 2007 PHP was one of the first 7 entities to enter the new UK REIT regime. In April 2018 PHP was promoted to the FTSE 250. In 2019 the company merged with Medicx to create the largest private owner of primary accommodation in the UK and Ireland. In April 2024, he stood down as CEO to become the non-executive Chair. In 2025 PHP purchased Assura its competitor in a competitive bid. PHP now has a portfolio of over £6bn and a market cap of £2.5bn. Until early 2021 PHP was managed externally by Nexus Tradeco but is now internally managed with Harry as the CEO. Nexus Group includes a publishing business, Nexus Media Group. Investor Publishing publishes HealthInvestor, EducationInvestor, NutritionInvestor, Caring Times, Nursery Management Today and Independent School Management. In 2012 he founded The International Opera Awards and the Opera Awards Foundation which has three primary aims, to raise the profile of opera as an art form; to recognise and reward success from those involved in opera; and, through the Opera Awards Foundation, to generate funds to provide bursaries for aspiring talent in opera from around the world When not at the opera or indulging his passion of wine, Harry might be at Saracens Rugby Club or supporting the England Rugby or the England Cricket Team or the British and Irish Lions.

Anna Moore

Anna Moore is Founder and CEO of Domna, a housing asset management and retrofit platform helping social and private landlords keep homes safe, healthy, and compliant. Domna combines data, strategy and delivery support, using its proprietary stock assessment tool, Ara, alongside end-to-end technical and project expertise. Domna serves over 10,000 homes a year today. Anna holds senior board and advisory roles across housing and infrastructure including the Built Environment Trust, Rooftop Housing Association, the National Retrofit Hub and the City of London’s Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Task Force. Previously, Anna was a Partner at McKinsey & Company, where she led the firm’s UK Construction and Materials practice, co-led its European Sustainability practice, and stood up its Net Zero Built Environment practice and Sustainable Materials Hub.

Andrew Jones

Andrew Jones is the CEO of LondonMetric which has become known as a consolidator of the UK REIT market and is now the 3rd largest UK REIT behind SEGRO and LandSec. Andrew was a co-founder and CEO of Metric Property Investments Plc from its inception in March 2010 until its merger with London & Stamford in January 2013. On completion of the merger, Andrew became Chief Executive of LondonMetric. Andrew was previously Executive Director and Head of Retail at British Land. He joined British Land in 2005 following the acquisition of Pillar and served on the main Board with responsibilities for shopping centres, retail park investment and asset management. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of leading electric vehicle charging network, InstaVolt, and was previously Non-Executive Director of Unite plc for six years.

Ryan Prince

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Ryan moved to London in 1998 to pursue postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics. Shortly after graduating, Ryan co-founded his first venture, iGabriel, one of the UK’s first early-stage tech venture funds backed exclusively by CEOs and entrepreneurs such as Brent Hoberman, Lord Myners, Peter Gabriel and Harvey Goldsmith. After successfully merging with Pi Capital, Ryan went on to establish the UK arm of the Realstar Group of companies, a privatelyowned Canadian property investment and management company with over $9B of assets under management. Realstar is focused on hospitality and residential rental assets.

Mark Shipman

In this episode of PropertyShe, Susan Freeman speaks with Mark Shipman, founding partner of Michael Elliott, to mark his 40th year in real estate. Widely recognised as one of London’s leading investment advisers, Mark reflects on his early career, landmark deals, and the evolution of the London property market. He also shares his perspective on current market conditions, international investment trends, and how technology and regulation are reshaping the industry. In this episode, Mark Shipman speaks about: Career beginnings & early influences – upbringing, first roles, mentors, and founding Michael Elliott at 24. Formative deals & Chelsfield – early trades (e.g., Great Newport Street), portfolio transactions, and scaling through the 1990s–2000s. How London’s market has evolved – rise of global capital, why international investors choose London (law, stability, culture), and today’s buyer mix. Market cycles & shocks – lessons from the early-90s downturn, LTCM (1998), the 2008 crisis, and COVID’s long-term impact on confidence and debt. Current investment sentiment – ebb and flow of overseas capital, growth of owner-occupier HQ purchases in prime Mayfair and St James’s. Policy and tax headwinds – potential effects of a mansion tax, the end of tax-free shopping, and wider fiscal uncertainty. Public markets & capital structure – REIT discounts, possible sector consolidation, and investor shifts towards lending and AI-linked opportunities. Development and placemaking – examples including Sterling Square and the Fenwick/Bond Street redevelopment; importance of architecture, design, and tenant mix. Hospitality snapshot – strong mid-market hotel performance contrasted with softer ultra-luxury demand. Operator-led transactions – OpCo/PropCo structures and the BBC Maida Vale acquisition involving Hans Zimmer’s team. Law and regulation – how the Building Safety Act 2022 is reshaping development risk and timelines. AI in real estate – valuable analytical tool but still dependent on human judgment and negotiation. Advisory approach & lessons – the importance of adaptability, financial understanding, and trusted professional relationships.

Louise Bonham

Louise joined MAPP as Chief Executive Officer in September 2023 bringing with her a wealth of experience in UK and EMEA property. She is responsible for charting the company's strategic direction within the ever-evolving world of property operations. Louise leads the Executive team across MAPP’s Property Management business and subsidiaries; RE-DEFINED, Building Consultancy by MAPP and Energy by MAPP; ensuring outstanding service delivery, award-winning workplace culture and sustainable practices. Louise is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and until April 2025, was a non-executive Director and the Audit Chair of Miton UK MicroCap Trust plc. Previously, Louise was also a non-executive director for a number of early-stage property companies and held a range of senior executive appointments including at CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield where she was a member of the UK & Ireland Executive Committee and co-headed the EMEA Asset Services Business.

Arthur Kay

Arthur Kay is an entrepreneur, and advisor to organisations building solutions for sustainable cities. He is the founder of several urban design and technology companies, including the clean technology company – Bio-bean (acq. 2023), the design, technology, and development company – Skyroom, and the £100m Key Worker Homes Fund. Arthur is an advisor to organisations including Innovo Group, and serving as a board member for Transport for London, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the Museum of the Home, and Fast Forward 2030. In addition, Arthur holds academic appointments, as Associate Professor (Hon.) at UCL Institute for Global Prosperity. He has lectured on urban design at MIT, NYU, LSE and Imperial College London. He is co-author of the book Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars (Wiley, 2025), with Professor Dame Henrietta Moore. Arthur’s work building solutions for sustainable cities has been recognised by the UN as a Sustainable Development Goals Pioneer, The Guardian as Sustainable Business Leader of the Year, MIT Technology Review as a 35-under-35 and Forbes as an all-star 30-under-30. His words and work have appeared in publications, including The Times, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Bloomberg, National Geographic, The New Scientist, The Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, CNN, CNBC, CBS, Wired, Architect’s Journal, Architectural Review, and on the BBC. Arthur studied architecture at UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, and entrepreneurship at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Paul Oberschneider

Founder and CEO of Hilltop Capital Partners. Paul has been at the forefront of starting successful real estate businesses; an investment professional with a core expertise and 30-year track record in property development, asset management and financial structuring; transacting as an independent over £1 billion in the UK and Continental European real estate markets. Paul’s career spans working as a floor trader on Wall Street in the 1980s to building one of the preeminent fully integrated property firms across CEE. In 1991 he took a trip to Eastern Europe where he ended up building the credit department of a major eastern European bank. In 1993 he built his first apartment; that single transaction grew to be one the largest fully integrated real estate advisory and investment businesses in Central and Eastern Europe called Ober-Haus working across 7 countries with a team of 350 professionals. Until 2010, he was Chairman of Hauser-Oberschneider; a developer and operating partner working with international and private equity real estate firms building housing, grocery anchored retail centres and a boutique hotel chain across CEE. Paul was famously known for selling his real estate portfolios and business pre GFC in 2008. Coming out of retirement, Paul founded Hilltop Capital Partners in the UK four years ago, a private markets specialist residential development financing partner for established residential developers and house builders across the U.K. Paul has also recently founded Hilltop Property Partners with Michela Hancock, former Greystar MD to deliver new build attainable multifamily housing across the UK and Europe.