Notable names added to MIPIM speaker line-up

Senior representatives from Saudi development New Marabba and the University of Sheffield are among the latest additions to Place’s North of England and Scotland programme.

Carl Schibrowski, chief development officer, New Murabba Development Company, will join a newly arranged panel on the shared opportunities for development between the UK and Saudia Arabia. New Marabba is a modern downtown development in Riyadh set to be home to be home to 300,000 people by 2040. This session is at 4pm on Tuesday on the North of England Suite.

Full programme below

Richard Rollison, director of international trade and investment with the Scottish Government, will be speaking during the Meet Scotland event on the UK Stage on Tuesday 10 March at 4:15pm. The session, sponsored by MLA, PMP, Robertson group, Civic, OOBE, Drum Property Group, Brodies, and Saffery, will feature champions for Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee making the case for why Scotland is a country to watch.

Linda Goodacre, director of estates and facilities at the University of Sheffield, will be speaking as part of the Investable North session on Thursday. She said: “Last May we launched our vision for Runway Park, an advanced manufacturing innovation district connecting our world-leading research centres with industry. Since then we have been progressing the design, with a planning submission imminent and potential occupation from 2027.  We’re excited to be joining the Place North delegation at MPIM to connect with visionary occupiers and funders ready to contribute to South Yorkshire’s innovation ecosystem.”

Tom Stannard, chief executive of Manchester City Council, is the latest city leader to join the UK Leaders Summit, held at 2:45pm on Tuesday 10 March on the North of England Suite. He will be discussing the future of the country and its investment potential alongside a robust lineup that includes Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, Glasgow City Council Leader Cllr Susan Aitken, Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett, and Newcastle City Council chief executive Pam Smith.

Below you will find our calendar of events including scheduled speakers. Some speakers are still to be confirmed – but we guarantee they will be worth the wait.

All events are open to the public unless indicated otherwise. Registration is not required, but appreciated.

Monday 9 March

4pm-7pm | Place North Arrival Drinks – invite only

This networking get-together kickstarts the MIPIM week by bringing together Place North partners, local government officials, and investors.

Tuesday 10 March

8:30am-10am on the UK Stage | Place North Investor Breakfast – invite only

The breakfast will offer a relaxed and informal setting for senior investors to connect with peers, but also with a carefully curated group of developers and senior local authority representatives from across the UK, including representatives from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Manchester, Salford, East Yorkshire, Trafford, Rochdale, Birmingham, and Dundee. This session is sponsored by Drees & Sommer.

11am-12:30pm on the North of England Suite | Circ_It – The Edge Edition

A live design hack hosted by Layer.studio, Studio Hoodless, and Civic, Circ_It brings city leaders, developers and investors together to explore how good growth moves from ambition to delivery. This is not a panel or a pitch. It is a working session testing a repeatable approach for city regions and development partners who want to deliver better neighbourhoods, faster, without losing sight of place, people or purpose. Request an invite.

11:30am on the Scotland at MIPIM Stand | Scotland whisky tasting session

An informal session to pause, connect, and sample some of Scotland’s finest whiskies from Woven, based out of the vibrant port district of Leith. Whether you’re continuing conversations from earlier meetings or making new connections, enjoy a relaxed networking moment in true Scottish style. No booking required – just drop by and raise a dram with us.

2:45pm-3:45pm on the North of England Suite | UK leaders summit

This roundtable discussion with an audience will feature the individuals and groups who are shaping the UK agenda and delivering on its regeneration ambitions. Expect a high-level conversation that will delve into the strength of the UK property market, the practicalities behind turning ambitions into reality, and the great potential the country has for investment. Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council
• Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford
• Michelle Duggan, head of investment at the North East Combined Authority
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council
• Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region
• Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council
• Tom Stannard, chief executive of Manchester City Council
• Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council

4pm-5pm on the North of England Suite | Vision: How the UK and Saudi Arabia are delivering on big ambitions

They may be more than 3,000 miles apart, but when it comes to their commitment to impactful development the UK and Saudi Arabia have more in common than not. Leading figures in development from both countries will discuss best practice when it comes to turning dreams into reality as well as how the two nations can work together to deliver sustainable growth. This session is sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins and Studio Hoodless.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Carl Schibrowski, chief development officer, New Murabba Development Company
• Jen Hartley, assistant director of capital investment at Newcastle City Council
• Harry Hoodless, founder and director of Studio Hoodless
• Katie Saunders, head of Manchester office and construction partner at Trowers & Hamlins
• Invest Saudi representatives

4:15pm on the UK Stage | Meet Scotland

We will explore Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee and learn what will drive their growth over the coming years. We will also discuss the biggest obstacles standing between the cities and their goals and ask how they can be overcome. This session is sponsored by MLA, PMP, Civic, Drum Property Group, Brodies, Saffery, OOBE, and Robertson Group.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Chris Dougray, chair of Edinburgh Development Forum
• Cllr Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council
• Cllr Ruairi Kelly, city convener for housing, development, built heritage, and land use at Glasgow City Council
• Richard Rollison, director of international trade and investment, Scottish Government
• Jackie Sadek, chair of the UK Innovation Corridor

5pm on the UK Stage | Scotland Reception – invite only

Join the Scotland at MIPIM delegation for an evening get-together to celebrate the start of MIPIM. This session is sponsored by MLA, PMP, Civic, Drum Property Group, Brodies, Saffery, OOBE, and Robertson Group.

Wednesday 11 March

8:30am-10:30am at the Canopy by Hilton | How to build a new town – invite only

Join regeneration, housing, leisure, and commercial experts as we craft a community from scratch. We’ll explore what works and what doesn’t when it comes to town and city centres – while also delving into the role property plays in bringing people together. Expect to talk about the high street, stadia, transport, health, housing, and more. With the UK government set to kickstart development on three new towns in the next five years, this discussion is one you won’t want to miss. Request an invite.

Confirmed speakers

• Nick Mullins, co-founder of Axis Real Estate
• Phil Mayall, managing director of Muse
• Bill Price, director of strategic growth at WSP
• Jackie Sadek, chair of the UK Innovation Corridor
• Stephen Young, chief executive of Salford City Council

9am on the North of England Suite | Great Minds: How Scotland is attracting investment, new brands, and new business

This dynamic 45-minute Great Minds session explores how Scotland is positioning itself as a leading destination for investment, innovation, and enterprise. Through an interactive panel discussion and audience engagement, speakers will examine long-term strategies, cross-sector collaboration, and policy alignment that are driving sustainable economic growth and creating opportunities at scale. This session is sponsored by MLA, PMP, Civic, Drum Property Group, Brodies, Saffery, OOBE, and Robertson Group.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council
• Gunnar Groves-Raines, director of GRAS
• Jonathan Guthrie, chair the Scottish Property Federation
• Rob Holt, group director at Robertson Group

11:30am on the Scotland at MIPIM Stand | Scotland whisky tasting session

An informal session to pause, connect, and sample some of Scotland’s finest whiskies from Woven, based out of the vibrant port district of Leith. Whether you’re continuing conversations from earlier meetings or making new connections, enjoy a relaxed networking moment in true Scottish style. No booking required – just drop by and raise a dram with us.

1:30pm-2:30pm on the North of England Suite | Great Minds: How SMEs are transforming North of England

Regeneration is not just the dominion of global conglomerates. SMEs are at the heart of the UK’s property industry, doing their part to shape the communities they work in. This panel will dig into the great work being done by SMEs with local authorities, how this benefits the region, and why this makes the Northern investment prospect even more tantalising. This session is sponsored by Axis-RE and Marco Living.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Aidan Thatcher, director of place at Wigan Council
• Nick Mullins, co-founder of Axis Real Estate
• Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council
• Nick Gerrard, growth and prosperity programme director, Blackpool Council

3pm-4pm on the North of England Suite | Great Minds: Leisure as a regenerator

A session discussing how leisure can act as a driver of change and anchor for regeneration. We will explore examples of best practice, analyse how to grab the opportunities and avoid the potential pitfalls of this approach. This session is sponsored by Newmark and theleisureway.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council
• Gastón Gaitan, founder of theleisureway
• Sarah Ashurst, head of partnerships and investment, Salford City Council
• Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council

4pm-4:45pm on the UK Stage | The UK’s untapped power player

The North of England is leading the way when it comes to sustainable infrastructure in the UK, from data centres to renewable energy to district heat networks. Hear about the projects that are due to transform the nation’s economy and why the region is a must for investors looking for the next big thing.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Council
• Nick Gerrard, growth and prosperity programme director at Blackpool Council
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Danielle Phillips, assistant director of inward investment and business growth at North East Combined Authority
• Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region
• Andy Temple, executive managing director for property and buildings at WSP

Thursday 12 March

8:30am-10am on the UK Stage | Industrial and logistics breakfast – invite only

Harnessing the power of one of our hottest sectors, Place North brings a taste of its successful regional I&L conferences to Cannes. Developers, investors, local government leaders and economic development advisers will assess the state of the market and share advice for staying ahead of the competition. Topics could include advanced manufacturing, defence, R&D, power, land availability, transport, and occupier demand. This session is sponsored by Caddick, Tritax Big Box, and DLA Architecture. Request an invite.

Confirmed speakers:

• Andrew Dickman, chairman of Tritax Big Box Developments
• Paul Dodsworth, managing director of Caddick Construction
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Mark Robinson, director of economy and place at Rochdale Council
• Ashley Roberts, associate director of development, University of Sheffield

10:15am-11am on the UK Stage | Investable North

Dragon’s Den meets property in this series of quick, digestible, and impactful presentations spotlighting some of the most ambitious cities and projects in the North of England. This MIPIM Place North panel session will feature leading experts and stakeholders from across the North of England’s property and investment landscape.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford
• Linda Goodacre, director of estates and facilities, University of Sheffield
• Cllr Tom Ross, Leader, Trafford Council
• Nicola Elsworth, director of strategic growth at Tameside Council
• Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council

11:15am-12:15pm on the North of England Suite | Edge of Opportunity: Unlocking growth through regeneration at the urban fringe

This session will shine a spotlight on the opportunities emerging across the North, exploring how strategic investment in fringe locations can drive wider economic renewal across the region. While the conversation is rooted in Northern growth priorities, the panel will also draw on select examples from other parts of the UK, including London, the Midlands and the South West, to reveal broader lessons that Northern cities can adapt and apply. This session is sponsored by WSP.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Manu Dwivedi, director of transport planning at WSP
• Alex Ely, founder and director of Mae Architects
• Steve Parry, managing director at Ion Developments
• Rahul Patalia, director of growth and regeneration at WSP
• Hari Sothinathan, partner at Deloitte

11:30am on the Scotland at MIPIM Stand | Scotland whisky tasting session

An informal session to pause, connect, and sample some of Scotland’s finest whiskies from Woven, based out of the vibrant port district of Leith. Whether you’re continuing conversations from earlier meetings or making new connections, enjoy a relaxed networking moment in true Scottish style. No booking required – just drop by and raise a dram with us.

2pm on the UK Stage | Scotland’s housing landscape

Having declared a housing emergency in 2024, the need for more and better homes across the country is at an all time high. This panel discussion will get under the skin of Scotland’s housing crisis and analyse the routes to solve it. We will explore what government policy means for Scotland’s residential sector, how the private sector is navigating the market, and what opportunities exist for investors.  Register your interest in attending.

Confirmed speakers

• Cllr Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council
• Jonathan Guthrie, chair of the Scottish Property Federation
• Hazel Pearson, director of MLA
• Adam Russell, investment director of Drum Property Group
• Ben Wilson, division director for development and regeneration at Glasgow City Council

4:30pm-7pm on the North of England Suite | North of England and Scotland closing reception – invite only

A private gathering where Place North delegates can reflect and celebrate the week’s successes and learnings. A final chance to get together before heading home. Request an invite.