Lara has over 20 years' property experience and has operated at the heart of the free schools policy since its inception prior to the 2010 election. Previously a Board Director at Cleanslate Ltd, a development and property consulting company, Lara worked with many of the UK’s biggest landowners, agents and developers; prior to that, as Managing Director at Navigant Consulting, Lara specialised in property deals and complex capital investment projects for government education capital programmes.

Gareth is a chartered surveyor and has worked in land agency and development for 16 years, acting across all sectors nationwide. His particular focus was on the acquisition and development of large-scale, residential-led mixed-use schemes for developers across London and the South East. In total, Gareth has been responsible for acquiring land for over 3,500 homes and securing significant commercial real estate for clients.

Alex has 10 years’ experience of delivering education capital projects. Most recently, he has led over 100 property acquisitions for free schools, whilst completing a Masters in Real Estate. Previously, Alex worked as a Project Director at the Education Funding Agency and Partnerships for Schools (PfS), where he managed the delivery of site acquisitions and procurement of building contracts for five new schools. Prior to this, he supported the Operations Director at PfS, leading on the re-engineering of procurement processes, performance and programme monitoring regimes and external reviews of capital programmes.

Chris has had a wide ranging career in commercial property. He has supported the free schools programme for the past 3 years, leading on the acquisition of sites and mixed-use deals including schools. Previously, Chris worked for Mapeley, where he was part of the team responsible for building the company’s Direct Investment Portfolio, valued at over £1.1bn.

Douglas is a chartered surveyor with over 10 years’ property experience. He has worked within a top 20 UK property consultancy and client-side with some of the UK’s biggest known restaurant chains. Previously, as Senior Acquisitions Manager within the restaurant sector, Douglas worked with many of the UK’s biggest investors, agents and developers. Prior to that, he was in private practice specialising in professional services and transactional work.

James is a chartered surveyor who has worked in the property industry for over 27 years. James was previously Head of Acquisition and Development at Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC where he was involved in the significant company growth, being directly responsible for new stores, distribution and manufacturing facilities. James has a wealth of experience in the acquisition and development sectors and has also worked on over 40 major planning applications for a mixture of retail, mixed-use and employment uses. James has also been a Director of a Company specialising in site finding, acquisition and development management.

Matthew is a chartered surveyor and works between north London and the Midlands, leading acquisitions for LocatED in these areas. Having worked in the industry for 15 years Matthew has extensive experience in agency, mixed-use, commercial and residential development. Prior to his appointment at LocatED, Matthew provided consultancy services to the Department for Education, since the inception of the free schools programme.

Dominic is a chartered surveyor with over 20 years’ experience in commercial/residential agency and development. He has advised some of the UK’s largest and most active developers and operators within the retail, leisure and mixed-use sectors in London and nationally to meet their property acquisition and development requirements. Dominic has gained an impressive track record of sourcing and acquiring innovative, off-market opportunities from his substantial network of agent, landlord and operator contacts.

Graham is a chartered surveyor and has 17 years’ experience working in the property industry. He started off as graduate trainee with Colliers, where he spent 10 years, and specialised in the property auction field. Graham’s client base has been spread between the public and private sector. Public bodies have included a number of local authorities, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Defence Estates. Private sector clients have included wealthy individuals, property companies and large corporates, such as Total UK Ltd.

Guy is a chartered commercial property surveyor with over 10 years’ experience of acquisitions, asset management and regeneration. Previously working in the public sector, Guy has worked on a varied range of commercial, mixed-use and residential development schemes with a number of prominent public and private sector developers, agencies and landowners.

Will is a chartered surveyor and has over 8 years of property experience, most recently as Senior Investment Surveyor in a leading firm in the South West advising landowners, investors and occupiers on property acquisition and disposal matters. Prior to that, he was Operations Manager at Tregothnan, the 20,000 acre estate of Lord Falmouth, where he advised on strategic development initiatives across the Cornwall and Kent Estates.

Rav is a chartered surveyor with 3 years’ property experience, most recently with JLL. Rav has provided agency and development consultancy services to a range of public and private sector clients across the East Midlands. Prior to that, Rav worked as a Quantity Surveyor for a Lincolnshire based main contractor.

Andrew is a chartered surveyor with over 20 years’ experience of property acquisition, disposals, capital projects, mixed-use developments, PPP, structured finance, facilities management and operations. Previously, Andrew was an executive member of the University of Hertfordshire, Chairman of their property company and Director of Estates and Hospitality. Prior to that he was a senior board member and shareholder of UPP, the UK’s leading provider of campus based university accommodation and estate management services. Andrew was also a founder member of an asset management business and was behind a PFI start up, latterly sold to Norwich Union. Andrew is a member of the Institute Directors and a previous executive member of AUDE (Association University Director of Estates).

Andrew has over 16 years’ experience working within the property sector, both in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. With a specific focus on retail property acquisition and development within the supermarket industry, Andrew has spearheaded new store acquisitions and development and led internal property teams at Lidl (Ireland), Tesco Ireland and latterly Sainsbury’s where he led the Regional Development Teams across the UK. Andrew brings a proven track record of delivering development projects from “cradle to grave” as well as a large network of property professionals including developers, landowners, agents, local authority officials and other professional practices that support development projects.

Craig has over 10 years’ experience working in central government property, including being part of the construction delivery team for two prestigious, award-winning offices. Craig has a strong background in resource efficiency, asset management and sustainability. Most recently, he was Finance Business Partner for a central government cluster, with a £115m per annum property portfolio.

Robert is a chartered surveyor and has over 16 years’ experience in property and industry with asset management experience at both a listed REIT and a USD 300m private equity real estate fund. Robert has experience across the property investment lifecycle and various sectors including mixed-use, commercial, residential and industrial schemes.

Natalia has over 10 years’ property experience and has previously worked for commercial agencies including DTZ and Cushman & Wakefield, as well as general contractors, residential and mixed-use developers such as Berkeley Homes. Natalia’s development experience includes delivering both new-build and refurbishment schemes, the technical and planning process through to development management and disposal. One of Natalia’s core skills is development optimisation alongside red book and agency valuation, financial appraisal and market analysis.

Rizwan has over 10 years’ property experience and has managed the acquisition, planning and development of a wide range of complex, mixed-use schemes with project budgets in excess of £100m. Rizwan has worked in development for a number of London’s largest and most commercially active housing providers, such as L&Q, Peabody and most recently Notting Hill Housing where he worked as an assistant land director. At LocatED, Rizwan is responsible for the structuring, planning and development of complex, mixed-use deals across the country.

Before joining LocatED, Will worked as the Operations Director at NPS South West – a multi-disciplinary property consultancy. Will is a chartered surveyor who has been based in the West Country for over 20 years working in retail, property and local politics. Will chaired the East of Exeter Growth Point helping to bring forward the Cranbrook new town, Exeter Science Park as well as extensive enabling of infrastructure. A founding board member of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership he helped provide the leadership to create and develop this organisation.

Jeremy is a chartered building surveyor with over 20 years’ property experience in project management, planning and development including consenting a 25 acre international satellite teleport near Winchester for NTL, a 250 acre 50 MW solar generating station at Stratford Upon Avon and a hydro project on the River Avon at Pershore. Prior to joining LocatED he was appointed to examine two nationally significant infrastructure projects on behalf of the Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008.

Duncan has over 18 years’ planning experience gained from working on a variety of projects in both consultancy and the development industry. Duncan has experience of various aspects of planning including complex mixed-use redevelopment projects, commercial development, residential schemes, retail development, education projects and leisure proposals. Duncan has also produced socio-economic impact assessments and co-ordinated the Environmental Impact Assessment of development projects. He is an Associate EIA Co-ordinator accredited by the Institute of Environmental Managers and Assessors (IEMA).

Nigel is a chartered town & country planning professional with over 25 years' experience in both local government and the private sector. Previously, Nigel was Associate Planning Director for Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd, northern business, advising on all planning related matters. During that period he facilitated the delivery of over 3,000 mixed tenure residential units. Prior to that, as National Planning Manager for the Co-operative Group Ltd, he led a team of 6 Regional Planning Managers in support of the Food, Health & Funerals trading businesses and typically added values of £7m to existing assets and protected over £12m in trading cash contributions per annum.

Allister has over 20 years’ property and construction experience, working on schemes within both the private and public sector. Within a spectrum of multi-million pound projects from residential to major transport infrastructure, he has been at the heart of the team whether at strategic level or delivery. Allister is process driven and has worked with the RIBA plan of works, NEC3 contract, JCT and local authority corporate governance when developing a scheme, programme or project plan.

With a background in architecture and surveying, Mark has over 30 years’ experience in property, development and construction. Previously, he managed major estate refurbishment and regeneration projects including developments for Wandsworth and Westminster Councils. Mark moved into the private sector as Contract Manager for Jackson Stopps and Staff property division and then Associate Director of JSS Pinnacle. Most recently, mark has spent time in New Zealand and worked on a diverse range of projects including Development Manager of a £1bn mixed-use luxury development for Melview Developments, and Project Manager for significant, national development and procurement projects for Air New Zealand and New Zealand Rail.

Chris graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Real Estate Management, securing internships at various companies including JLL, Colliers International and Knight Frank. He previously worked for a niche development firm which specialised in rejuvenation and new build projects. He is working towards completing the APC.

Edward joined LocatED after graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Real Estate Management and gained one year of experience working with London-based property developer Ballymore Properties Ltd. He is working towards completing the APC.

Harvey joined LocatED after graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Planning & Property Development. Based in London, he mainly focuses on acquisitions and development within the M25. Prior to that, he had internships at various companies including Mercer Real Estate Partners focusing on researching bulk purchasing in east London and Savills European Summer Internship in Dublin in the Property Management Department. He is working towards completing the APC.

James graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Real Estate Management. Prior to joining LocatED, James previously worked for a West End Developer. As part of the LocatED Land & Development team, James identifies sites on and off market for the delivery of new free schools. He is working towards completing the APC.

Kris joined LocatED after graduating from Northumbria University with a degree in Estate Management. Kris previously worked for a niche investment agency, where he assisted on the acquisition and disposal of retail assets nationally, a skill that has transferred into the acquisition of new free school sites across the South of England. He is working towards completing the APC.

Matt joined LocatED after graduating from the Royal Agricultural University with a degree in Property Agency & Management. He previously gained experience working with both the private and public sector for a development company specialising in the development, investment and management of primary healthcare premises in the UK. He is working towards completing the APC.