Across the past four years, numerous individuals have been involved in helping shape Future of London as an organisation and through their contributions to the programme.
Future London Leaders (Round 1)
Round 1 of the FoL Future London Leaders Programme was launched in April 2010, bringing together a range of high performing individuals from across the London regeneration practitioner network. Since that point candidates have been busy developing their networks across London, engaging in a range of events and seminars, and developing their skills and experience across the many disciplines of regeneration. Below are profiles for each of the candidates on Round 1:
 | Brodie McKean Senior Strategic Delivery/Implementation Officer, LB Hackney "The programme has so far provided an exciting forum for discussion on the challenges of delivering regeneration within London in the current political and economic climate. The major project site visits have added a practical, ‘hands on’ opportunity to learn from leaders in the field about delivering regeneration and given an insight into important lessons learnt to take forward to facilitate best practice in future regeneration schemes." |
 | Elinor Savage Investment & Regeneration Manger (East London), HCA "I’ve found it very useful to meet colleagues working on regeneration projects all over London, who are overcoming similar challenges. There’s a lot of innovative work going on and the programme offers a fantastic opportunity to share ideas. The project tracker element provides the parameters and contacts to enable you to gain a detailed knowledge of a project in another area. I have also found the mentoring sessions are vital in helping me to focus thinking on personal areas for improvement, the direction of my career and what I can do to get to where I want to be. For me, the chance to build up a network of other regeneration professionals working at a similar and more senior level is proving very useful and I am sure will be invaluable in the future. |
 | Sam Friggens Major Sites Manager, LB Newham "Through seminars, project shadowing, and the company of a hugely talented and interesting set of people, the programme has given me the opportunity to step back from my daily focus delivering projects and see the big picture. I have gained new perspectives and been introduced to new ideas and approaches. In turn I have been inspired to instigate my own learning and return with renewed motivation to play my part in the regeneration of the Royal Docks. I can’t recommend the programme highly enough!" |
 | Julia Williams Major Sites Manager, LB Newham "Primarily it has been a good opportunity to network with people who we may not meet in the course of our normal day-to-day work – sharing best practice from their experiences, undertaking site visits to the projects that they are working on and talking though current issues in the regeneration industry... Mentoring sessions have been a great experience to obtain quality feedback from a senior professional and they are invaluable in terms of what I get out of them." |
 | Tom Dewey Project Manager, LB Waltham Forest "As the regeneration landscape in London changes quickly around me, this programme has been a brilliant and invaluable forum for keeping track of current and cutting edge developments in the sector. I have also had the pleasure of meeting and learning alongside peers from across London and with key senior players on a regular basis through mentoring sessions. I am very grateful to be on the programme." |
 | Sarah Tulej Regional Skills Adviser, London & South East Region, HCA "For me the programme is a fantastic way to share my experiences of working in regeneration with others at a similar stage in their career, and with people working all over London. Also it’s a great chance to draw on the wisdom of senior practitioners working in London through the mentoring element of the programme and to think about how to get the best out of my career in regeneration." |
 | Nnenna Urum-Eke Estate Regeneration Coordinator, LB Southwark "The programme has been a tremendous learning and networking opportunity. The workshops and events have been worthwhile but it is the congregation of seasoned experts/pathfinders and peers who are truly rising stars in regeneration that make it for me. The mentoring aspect of the programme has also been more rewarding than I ever expected. In all, what I have gained from the guidance, the exchange of insights, the debates and the learning is immeasurable." |
 | Charissa Fiander Kidbrooke Development Officer, LB Greenwich "I have gained a considerable amount from the programme so far, and have felt inspired through cross-working with other like-minded professionals from organisations across London. The programme has really helped me place my role within the wider context of regeneration through focussed training and networking activities. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with talented and creative individuals, and have really benefited from discussing issues and ideas with a dedicated mentor. It is extremely refreshing to step back, analyse and discuss the multi-faceted issues facing regeneration schemes, all of which is relevant to my role. As a result of this, I feel that I have grown since joining the programme and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a long-term career in regeneration." |
 | Sakiba Gurda Spatial Planning Team Member, LB Islington "The programme has given me the opportunity to meet colleagues from different agencies who are dealing with different aspects of regeneration, and enabled me to learn an awful lot in a very short space of time. The programme provides a forum for an open and honest discussion about future regeneration challenges in London, and a place where new unconventional ideas can be explored. I have met a great bunch of very talented and creative professionals, and the whole experience has been really inspiring. I have recommended it to colleagues at Islington and elsewhere." |
 | Peter Alsop Principal Planning Officer, Major Developments Team, LB Barnet "The programme has so far given me an insight into the wide range of disciplines involved in the field of regeneration. It has provided a great opportunity to meet and learn from people facing similar challenges on regeneration projects across London and the site visits have enabled us to look at developments and schemes which are leading the field. The mentoring sessions are providing a useful vehicle to have an open and honest discussion about the real issues facing regeneration practitioners and I’ve been able to tailor them to focus on areas where I feel I need personal career development." |
 | Sharon Strutt Programme Development & Funding Manager, LB Enfield "The programme has offered me a brilliant opportunity to develop a network of contacts across London, and to share some of the challenges that we all currently face. I have benefitted from the site visits, and the learning from a number of high profile developments. I have appreciated the time put into this programme from a range of Senior professionals, and hope we go from strength to strength in future years!" |
 | Johanna Gibbons Principal Transport Planner, TfL "The programme has proved an invaluable experience. It has been great to meet, and learn from, people working in other organisations and disciplines within Regeneration in London. My mentor has helped me to reach a greater appreciation of how the work I do in transport fits into the wider picture of regeneration. Tracking a live regeneration project has been particularly useful, providing an example of how close working between different organisations and the local community can lead to greater benefits from the project." |
 | Abigail Stratford Regeneration Officer (Major Projects), LB Brent "The programme has been absolutely fantastic. The seminars, site visits, project shadowing and mentoring sessions by a senior professional have been invaluable. They have provided me with an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and understanding of regeneration and challenged me to view my day to day practice within a wider multi disciplinary context. This has reignited my passion for regeneration, increased my confidence as a professional and enhanced my skills and development. Through the numerous networking opportunities, I have also been fortunate enough to meet an incredibly talented group of like minded professionals. I have benefited considerably from the programme both personally and professionally; I would highly recommend it." |
 | Tom King Policy Manager, West London, TfL "I have been at Transport for London for over five years, working mainly on the development and implementation of Congestion Charging policy, but more recently with responsibility also for preparing a transport plan for east London. Learning about regeneration from others on the course and from my mentor and understanding better how transport can help support it is a key benefit of the programme." |
 | Audrey Helps Economic Development Office, LB Wandsworth "I have been enjoying the opportunities offered by the programme, particularly the site visits, and my Project Tracking visit to Colindale with my partner in crime (Elinor Savage from the HCA). Peter Alsop kindly hosted this, was consistently interesting and amusing, and importantly ensured we had time for coffee along the way. The programme has also very helpfully opened doors and allowed me to get closer access to officers from other agencies, which has been of great value with my current work on Nine Elms. Also, my mentor Michele Dix (TfL) has been a great example of balancing work and home life!" |
| Daniel Fordham Programme Manager, 2010 Unit, LB Tower Hamlets |
|
| _________________________ | Jed Young Strategic Sites & Disposals Manager (Renewals), LB Camden |
Future London Leaders (Round 2)
The second round of the FoL Future London Leaders Programme began in September 2010. Below are profiles for each of the candidates on Round 2:
 | Jessie Lea Southwark Property Development Team, LB Southwark "I see this programme as an opportunity and a welcome challenge; A chance to improve my knowledge, abilities and connections, as well as my confidence. I think it would also help me to plan my career development more effectively for the future by highlighting the many different roles and opportunities that are out there." |
 | Shelley Browne Project Manager, Physical Regeneration, LB Waltham Forest "I am interested in how the current changes in the economy and its impact on regeneration in London is affecting the ways in which my peers are operating within their organisations and sharing these experiences. The programme through its series of site visits and seminars will provide a fantastic opportunity for practical regeneration learning and a chance to see what is happening in other areas of London. It’s a chance to hear about the latest cutting edge ideas and innovative working from senior regeneration practioners, as well as discussing my regeneration experience with my peers." |
 | Jodie Yandall Programme and Skills Manager, Regeneration Service, LB Barnet "I am keen to develop further in the field of regeneration and economic development and feel that this programme will help me to build on my skills by talking with other professionals and learning from their experiences." |
 | Gabriella Richard Senior Transport Planner, TFL “The programme offers a great opportunity to tap into the knowledge and experience of senior figures in regeneration as well as an excellent opportunity to meet with like-minded colleagues across the various disciplines that have an impact on regeneration.“ |
 | Richard Wilson Head of Urban Design and Renewal, LB Camden "I have been at LB Camden for 10 months and this is my first job in London. While I have considerable experience in urban design, planning and regeneration this is mostly in the north of England and I am aware that London is a very different and more complicated place. I therefore hope to build on my existing experience and develop a greater understanding of regeneration in London. I am particularly keen to see practical examples on the ground and be able to question those who have been involved in their delivery. The opportunity to meet urban designer, and regenerators with experience of working in both inner and outer London would be of great benefit." |
 | Abdul Khan, Sustainable Development Manager, LB Tower Hamlets "By taking part in this programme, I believe I have the potential to become one of the future leaderw of London in the development and regeneration sector, benefiting from the mentoring scheme, and also giving me the opportunity to shar knowledge and experience with participants. This programme will also provide me with a wealth of knowledge of the regeneration sector that I believe I will benefit from. The programme will also help me develop a network within the London regeneration sector, providing exposure to senior professionals within the sector." |
 | Amena Matin Investment and Regeneration Manager, HCA "I’m keen to gain a broad knowledge and share best practice with regeneration professionals across London. Through the mentoring, I’d like to gain an understanding and experience of how the localism agenda will impact on the sector and to identify innovative approaches to inform my current role and the direction of my career in the sector. I hope the mentoring will also give me an opportunity to build a network with colleagues working towards common objectives." |
 | Jonathan Kay Development Manager, Affordable Housing Development Unit, LB Brent "This programme can network regeneration practitioners, facilitate exchanges of ideas and promote innovative approaches to overcoming the challenges we face in building and rebuilding the capital. Currently focused on housing development, I am keen to broaden my understanding in areas such as planning, transport, and economic development, and support holistic approaches to regeneration. Mentoring offers me access to a senior professional in the housing sector which I hope will provide both stimulus and focus whilst I develop new skills and improve existing ones." |
 | Liz Willis LB Greenwich "Before having a family I had assumed I would continue my career progression in housing into a senior management role. Since coming back to work I have realised that I have started placing all kinds of limitations on myself. I want to use the mentoring process to test my beliefs about what I can achieve and use the programme to explore where my strengths can be used to best effect in the future." |
 | Eshwyn Prabhu Team Leader, Planning & Projects (North-South Team), Spatial Planning and Transport Environment & Regeneration, LB Islington "I think this programme will provide me with skills that will be hugely beneficial to me professionally and also benefit my employer. It will help me to better understand the drivers and constraints of development and regeneration make me more able to anticipate the expectations of development partners, and be much more realistic about the expectations that government can reasonably have on private developers when trying to facilitate regeneration." |
 | Dan Bridge HCA "The next 12 months is likely to be a watershed for Regeneration. The political and economic situation means that Regeneration is going be required to justify and redefine itself and deliver more for less. It’s important that as the future leaders of regeneration in London we learn from the past and work together to influence the debate about the future policy agenda. I think the programme provides a perfect platform to contribute to this." |
| _________________________ | Joanne Woodward Head of Planning Policy, LB Enfield "The programme as is a good opportunity to meet other practitioners in the regeneration field and learn from the experiences of others across London. I am very interested in looking at successful examples of regeneration schemes in other boroughs and gaining an insight in to how these schemes are delivered and what problems needed to be overcome. Whilst I have broad experience within my own professional discipline as a town planner I really want to expand my understanding of how this can contribute to delivery of projects and how the professions and the private and public sector need to work together to achieve this." |
Follow Future of London