From data centres and digital resilience to London’s nightlife, future-proofing means designing a thriving city for future generations. Find out how our leadership candidates tackle the challenge and who won the audience vote for best pitch.
As a global capital of over 9 million people, generating nearly a quarter of the UK’s GDP, London faces big pressures — from rapid growth to climate change. But with these challenges come opportunities to build a city that’s more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous for everyone. Future-proofing isn’t just about what we preserve today; it’s how we shape tomorrow.
With the beautiful view of St. Paul’s Cathedral setting the scene at Turner & Townsend in London, our Leaders Plus 12 cohort concluded nine months of intensive leadership sessions, expert insights, and field trips across the capital. They took the spotlight as they reflected on their leadership styles and, through conversations on leading through crisis and change—as well as sustaining partnerships—strengthened their ability to inspire and collaborate effectively.
This journey helped them develop the resilience and agility needed to create meaningful impact in a city as dynamic and complex as London. Building on these principles and the insights shared by module leaders, the candidates worked together to propose new solutions aimed at ensuring the city remains resilient and vibrant for decades to come. From tech infrastructures designed to meet local needs to initiatives focused on keeping London’s heart beating after dark, their proposals embraced a holistic approach to future-proofing the city’s social, economic, and environmental wellbeing.
We’re incredibly proud of all our Leaders Plus and the creativity, passion, and purpose they’ve brought to this programme. We look forward to continuing this journey — championing inclusive leadership and supporting the next generation of changemakers across our city.
Audience votes for future-proofing London’s nightlife – twice!
The proposal called The Night Isn’t Over Yet: Future-proofing London’s Nightlife won the audience award for “Most Impactful” and “Most Feasible Idea” presentation.
Congratulations to the double-winning team (from left): Sukhi Randhawa, George Clarke, Blair Parkinson, Conor Keappock and Yvette McKenzie-Ray! Here’s the summary of their presentation:
For many teens, clubs and late-night spaces represent more than just fun—they’re places to connect, express identity, and feel part of the city. Yet the Night-time Industries Association warns that by 2030, there may be no clubs left in the UK. This loss isn’t just cultural; it’s economic, social, and generational. Our proposal responds with a future-proofing toolkit to sustain nightlife—tools designed to build resilience from the venue to the neighbourhood, ensuring that young people inherit a city that still comes alive after dark.
Find all group proposals here.
Congratulation to all LP12 candidates and welcome to our Alumni Network!
- Souraya Ali Head of London Anchor Institutions Programme GLA Good Growth
- Jorge Barbeito Associate, Masterplanning & Urban Design Arup
- Mel Bristow Strategic Asset Manager Soho Housing Association
- Andrew Catcheside Placeshaping Lead LB Enfield
- George Clarke Head of Communities & Commercial Properties Notting Hill Genesis
- Darren Collings Head of Policy & Training The Guinness Partnership
- Victor Fernandez Stohanzl Associate Director – Urban Design Prior + Partners
- Syma Kadri Head of Estates LB Barnet
- Conor Keappock Design & Conservation Lead LB Waltham Forest
- Tom Lloyd-Smith Senior Programme Manager Peabody
- Nathalie Malanda Senior Finance Business Partner Places for London
- Yvette McKenzie-Ray Head of Investment, Housing & Land GLA Housing & Land
- Blair Parkinson Management Consultant Inner Circle Consulting
- Sharon Pickerill Head of Children, Youth & Families YMCA St Paul’s Group
Sukhi Randhawa Head of Housing Development & Supply LB Hounslow - Mathieu Rogers Head of Strategic Planning & Regeneration LB Hillingdon
- Osama Shoush Strategic Lead, Southwark Construction LB Southwark
- Joanna Tatlow Development Manager Argent Related
Special thank you to our LP12 mentors for giving their time and support
- Alexander Jan Chair Central District Alliance BID
- Dr Phil Askew Director Landscape & Placemaking Peabody
- Caroline Harper Deputy Managing Director Be First
- Carl Vann Partner Pollard Thomas Edwards
- Rob Krzyszowski Assistant Director – Planning, Building Standards & Sustainability LB Haringey
- Mark Baigent Corporate Director of Regeneration & Culture LB Redbridge
- Claudette Forbes Director CAF Consulting
- Virginia Blackman Principal, Site Assembly & Compulsory Purchase, Chair London Regional Executive Avison Young
- John Lumley Strategic Sales Director L&Q
- Greg Campbell Partner Campbell Tickell
- Matthew Dibben Director – Regeneration, Assets and Property LB Lambeth
- Sara Bailey Managing Partner Trowers & Hamlins
- Emma Williamson Director of Planning OPDC
- Tracey Downie Chief Executive Women’s Pioneer Housing
- Barbara Brownlee Chief Executive Soho Housing Association
- Lyn Garner Chief Executive LLDC
- Ed Watson Director EWA Consulting
- Matthew Essex Executive Director – Place RB Kingston
Thanks to Urbancanda for continuing to deliver first-class leadership modules and to new friends Turner & Townsend for generous event hosting and bringing several of their team from different workstreams and levels. Find out more about Leaders Plus.
London Leaders Plus is sponsored by Related Argent
