Sol Anitua is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in strategic leadership and business development across various industries. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Strategy, Research & Innovation at The Crown Estate, she is also a Non-Executive Board Member for Fundacion Prodis. With over 20 years of experience in energy markets, banking, non-profit and strategy, Sol has held senior roles at prominent organizations such as Santander UK, Vitol, and Merrill Lynch, after starting her career at McKinsey & Co. She has also served as Chief of Staff at Plastic Energy, a cleantech company focused on advanced recycling of plastic waste, and led the pioneering work in launching the Codespa BBVA Microfinanzas Fund. Sol holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, along with degrees in Law and Business from ICADE, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid. Based in London, she is recognized for her strategic vision and innovative approach to complex challenges, and her passion for building diverse, cohesive, high performing teams.

John was one of 9 Trade Commissioners appointed by the British government to promote the UK in important global markets. As the head of the Department for Business and Trade in China, John was in charge of all bilateral trade issues and worked closely with His Majesty’s Ambassador in Beijing to promote UK trade and prosperity. John has more than 25 years of experience working for the UK government, with 15 years spent in China including as: HM Consul General in Shanghai (2015 to 2019), Minister Counsellor at the British Embassy (2012 to 2015) In his previous roles in China, John has led teams across China dealing with science and innovation, energy, climate change and health policy. As Consul General in Shanghai he was responsible for the trade and investment relationship across East China. In his most recent role as Deputy Trade Commissioner he was responsible for the advanced manufacturing, Tech, education, life sciences and healthcare sectors. Outside of China, John was the speechwriter for 3 Foreign Secretaries and was the Deputy Consul General in Jerusalem.

Oliver leads Mott MacDonald’s Cities Studio, its placemaking and regeneration business that brings together masterplanning and urban design, town planning and place economics expertise to deliver integrated urban development solutions. Over the last two decades, Oliver has led a number of major strategic planning, placemaking and business case exercises for major urban development programmes in towns and cities across the UK and internationally.

Deepa specialises in both real estate investment and development, acting for domestic and overseas developers, property companies, institutional investors and funders. She has significant expertise in complex real estate transactions including structured investments and disposals, joint ventures and all aspects of corporate real estate and real estate finance transactions both single asset and portfolios. She has notable experience leading multidisciplinary teams on both real estate and corporate transactions and has developed a particular expertise in the residential sector (student accommodation, co-living, build-to-rent and senior living schemes). Deepa also acts for national and international developers on residential-led mixed-use schemes including scheme structuring and risk analysis. Deepa has been ranked in top legal directory Chambers & Partners for the last eight consecutive years for Real Estate: £150 million and above and was ranked as a Leading Individual in the 2022/23/24 editions of the Legal 500 for Commercial Property Development. Deepa has also been included in the Hot 100 most influential lawyers (The Lawyer).

Imogen Thompson is an experienced leader, creator and manager of planning, development, and infrastructure projects. She specialises in large-scale regeneration schemes, transit-oriented developments, and long-term strategic planning, with experience working on a range of major projects across the UK, North America, and the EU. Imogen’s innovative approach to team leadership has meant the successful delivery of complex major development projects, growth strategies, business cases for public- and private-sector investment, and public consultations. Across her career, she has led the strategic planning and approvals programmes for multi-billion pound regeneration projects, and has secured a cumulative £1 billion worth of government funding and investment in transit-oriented development bids to enable property development. Outside of her professional experience, Imogen is a keen advocate for diversity and inclusion, championing more diverse representation in the land use and infrastructure industries. Imogen is a leader in her industry, sitting on Executive Committees for national and international organisations including the Urban Land Institute and Women in Planning. She is passionate about community development, and volunteers regularly with community groups.