Conference Agenda 2025
In March this year, the full-day conference featured four dynamic sessions exploring the latest trends shaping retail destinations. We began by revisiting the state of retail and ESG, before diving into technology’s growing role in immersive leisure, safety, and AI-driven innovation. The afternoon focused on people — from creating safe spaces and engaging young communities to forging innovative partnerships that strengthen our high streets — and concluded with a forward look at the forces driving retail and leisure places into the next decade.
Session 1 – Retail Revisited
09.40am
Shopping Centres Revisited — Steve Norris, Executive Director – National Head P, R + I, Lambert Smith Hampton
10.05am
ESG Revisited – where we are today — Anastasia Petrova, VP Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, Deepki
Overview of ESG trends in real estate, leveraging adoption of proptech and climatetech solutions that can support industry in tackling challenges across built environment lifecycle.
10.30am
Economic Overview — Jennet Siebrits, Head of UK Research, CBRE
Session 2 – Technology
11.30am
Immersive Leisure: new world order? — Tom Whittington, Director of Commercial Research, Savills
What are the opportunities for competitive socialising and immersive leisure, and how are these concepts and consumer appetite for F&B reshaping the profile of retail places?
11.55am
Managing emergencies with clearer response plans and enhancing existing technologies — Darren Pearce, Centre Director, Meadowhall and Dawn Osborne, Director, Nova Consultants UK
12.20pm
PANEL DISCUSSION – The Evolution and Future of Retail Destinations
- Gareth Jordan, Managing Director, Retail Advantage
- Alasdair McClimont, Customer Manager, The Crown Estate
- Glynn Edwards, Trading Director, Landsec
- Anand Basu-Attwood, Commercial Operations Director, Resorts World Birmingham
Session 3 – People
1.50pm
PANEL DISCUSSION – Safe Spaces for Women & Girls – Initiative
- Kayley Buxton, Marketing & Events Director, Revo
- Marina Milosev, Director of Urban Strategies & Innovation, Founding Partner, Beyond the Red Line
- Tarah Gear, Director of Brand & Place Futures, Milligan
2.15pm
How the High Street engages with Young People / Creative Maker Spaces — Joe Barrett, Founder, The Teenage Market
2.45pm
PANEL DISCUSSION – Innovative Partnerships: Securing the Future of Our High Streets
The panel will share insights on how collaboration and creative strategies can help shape the future of retail and reinvigorate our town centres.
- Ben Hammond, Growth & Performance Manager, Toolbox Marketing
- Romy Romes, Founder, Vfour London
- Paul Clifford, Director, Flourish
- Alex Schlagman, Founding Partner, Save the High Street
Session 4 – The combined power of People and Technology
3.45pm
Revo Future Insight – The Forces Driving Retail & Leisure Places in 2034 — Alex McCulloch, Director, CACI and Neil Hockin, Managing Director, Lunson Mitchenall
4.10pm
The Future of Retail
4.40pm
ROUND UP & CLOSE BY CHAIR
4.45pm
DRINKS & EXHIBITION OPEN TILL 5.00pm