Meet Our Conference Speakers
We are thrilled to announce our fantastic conference speaker lineup, featuring leaders from various industries. Highlights include Richard Parry, Head of Creative Services at the Department for Business and Trade; Nick Searl, Executive Director of Related Argent; and Stephen Mayhew, Chief Business Officer of The Francis Crick Institute. Other notable speakers are Andrew Caruso from Hatch, Richard Slaney from Lightroom, and Mike Clewley from the Mayor of London’s Culture team. We also welcome William Chamberlain of Hackney Wick and Fish Island Community Development Trust, Karrie Goldberg and Rowena Maddock from Outernet, and many more. Join us for a day of inspiration and networking with these visionary leaders!
Our 2024 Speaker Lineup
Our speaker line up is being updated all the time so please check back for the most up to date information.
Mike Clewley
Cultural Tourism Manager – Mayor of London’s Culture team at City Hall.
Mike is the Cultural Tourism Manager at City Hall, and has over 12 years of experience ensuring London remains a global cultural hub. His background includes roles at VisitBritain, promoting London and Britain worldwide, as well as work in the music industry for Domino Records and at the British Music Experience.
Professor Emeritus Derek Clements-Croome
Reading University
Derek Clements-Croome’s career spans academia and industry, with significant contributions to building design and environmental engineering. He’s established and directed courses, collaborated with notable figures, and led initiatives in professional organisations like CIBSE. His work encompasses publications, reports, and ongoing projects, all emphasising sustainability, human well-being, and innovation in intelligent building design.
Karrie Goldberg
Founder – Outernet Venues
Karrie epitomises the modern entrepreneur, forging a path marked by innovation and passion. From co-founding Outernet Live, contributing to London’s immersive entertainment district, to establishing The Kagency, a premier platform for venues and talent, she’s left an indelible mark on the industry. Her ventures like Loupe and Paladin Artists further showcase her commitment to creativity and talent cultivation. Karrie’s journey reflects a relentless drive to challenge norms and shape the future of entertainment and art.
Becky Jones
Co-Founder Someday Studios
Recognised as an Estates Gazette ‘Rising Star,’ Becky Jones has significantly shaped the retail sector, working with brands like Netflix and Gucci and founding a not-for-profit program that launched 450 new UK brands. Her latest venture, Someday Studios, has been appointed by Westminster City Council to transform Oxford Street over the next three years, reimagining retail spaces to keep the iconic shopping street vibrant and innovative.
Andrew Caruso
Partner – Hatch
As an architect and economist, Andrew works at the intersection of design, data, and development within the world’s cities. He is currently a Partner and Director of Hatch’s multidisciplinary placemaking Urban Solutions practice. In addition to practicing architecture and urban planning, he has led global research and strategy projects for private firms, NGOs and governments in the following areas: rapid urbanization, resilience and security, sustainable growth, development economics, organizational management, and human capacity building.
Dr. Marta Gonzalez Ruiz
Director – PLP Architecture
Marta is a Director at PLP Architecture, where she leads the practice’s masterplanning and urban design team. Her wide-ranging experience in creating urban environments has a strong focus on placemaking, innovation, and strategies. Her expertise in urban design includes a special emphasis on creating inclusive spaces that enhance community well-being through thoughtful and innovative design solutions. Her human-centric approach to design utilises both qualitative and quantitative methods to develop a future-proof, sustainable, and creative designs.
Nick Searl
Executive Director – Related Argent
Nick is an Executive Director at Related Argent, the company formed in 2015 between developer Argent and Related from the US. Nick joined Argent in 2007, became a Partner in 2012 and was Managing Partner from 2020 until April 2024, since when the business has operated solely under the Related Argent banner. Having spent almost 10 years working on King’s Cross, where his main priority was office and retail, Nick went on to be a member of the leadership team for the 10 million sq ft Brent Cross Town development in north London. Nick is a trained architect and has been a member of the RIBA for 35 years.
Richard Parry
Head of Creative Services – DBT
Richard is Head of Creative Services at the Department for Business and Trade. Ten years ago, recognising a shift in consumer appetite from products to experiences, he created Experience UK – pulling together the U.K.’s leading experience providers. In response to the pandemic, Richard conceived Experience On Main Street which demonstrates the value creativity brings to urban areas struggling to deal with post COVID changes in work and social behaviour.
Cannon Ivers
Landscape Architect/Director – LDA Design
Cannon has played a key role in shaping many of London’s most acclaimed spaces, including the award-winning Strand Aldwych, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and Battersea Power Station. Ivers specializes in urban parks, streets, squares, public spaces, and projects for new communities.
As a creative thinker and passionate communicator, Cannon frequently contributes to design discourse through publications on 3D design and digital fabrication, activating public spaces, intelligent water design, and resilient planting design.
Jevan Chowdhury
Creative Director – Wind and Foster
Jevan Chowdhury is an award-winning Creative Director with 19 years experience in creative campaigns. He has led and managed work for international organisations, governments and cultural institutions including KPMG, the United Nations, MTR, Barnardo’s, Hong Kong Ballet and the Institution of Civil Engineers. His placemaking project ‘Moving Cities’ is responsible for the engagement of over 50 million visitors with exhibitions in Sadler’s Wells, London City Hall, The AT&T Aurora Exhibition and Standard Vision Los Angeles.
William Chamberlain
Founding Partner – Creative Wick and Solicitor and Senior Partner – Counterculture
William was a part of the London Olympic Bid team in 2004 and since 2008, has been developing a range of creative placemaking and social infrastructure projects to help establish Hackney Wick and Fish Island as a permanent creative cluster next to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
He is the founder of Creative Wick and East London Tales Ltd and co-founder of the Hackney Wick and Fish Island Community Development Trust.
Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf
Artistic Director – Peckham Platform
Trustee – Artichoke
Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf is a UK-based producer specialising in site-responsive performance, audio, and moving image in non-gallery contexts. Committed to collaboration and supporting underrepresented groups, she has led high-profile public realm projects, including commissions for Art on the Underground, Somerset House, and the 2021 Smithfield public realm commission. Schandorf is a member of the Art on the Underground Advisory Panel, a trustee for Artichoke Trust, and the Artistic Director of Peckham Platform. Her work bridges artistic innovation with community engagement, advocating for inclusivity within the contemporary arts ecology.
Tracey Robbins
Head of UK Delivery – Eden Project
Tracey is the Head of UK Delivery for the Eden Project Communities team, based in Carlisle. She oversees nationwide initiatives like The Big Lunch, Month of Community, and The Community Network, promoting community engagement and participation. With 25 years of experience in community development, health, and social care, Tracey uses action research and participatory techniques to empower individuals and drive positive change. Previously, she led the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s ‘Neighbourhood Approaches to Loneliness’ programme and now represents Eden Project Communities in partnerships on loneliness, including the cross-party Commission for Loneliness and the APPG on Loneliness.
Moira Lascelles
Executive Director & Head of Partnerships
Up Projects
Moira Lascelles is the Executive Director and Head of Partnerships at UP Projects, where she oversees the organization’s strategic direction and leads public art projects that prioritise community needs. Since joining in 2019, she has spearheaded notable projects like Holly Graham’s Stop and Smell the Flowers for Barnet Council, Shezad Dawood’s The Terrarium at the Folkestone Triennial, and the public art strategy Looking Forward To-Morrow for Ebbsfleet.
Previously, Moira served as Deputy Director of The Architecture Foundation in London, where she curated influential projects such as the Union Street Urban Orchard and South Kilburn Studios. She is also the editor of What’s the Point? A Case for Art in the Public Domain, published in 2020. With over a decade of experience in curating socially engaged public realm projects, Moira has made significant contributions to integrating culture and community through art and architecture.
Stephen Mayhew
Chief Business Officer
The Francis Crick Institute
Stephen is the Chief Business Officer at the Francis Crick Institute since February 2023. With over 20 years of experience in life sciences, he has worked in academia, biotechnology, and global pharmaceuticals. Previously, he was the Director of Strategy and Portfolio at CEPI, Global Head of Corporate Strategy at Stallergenes Greer, and held senior roles at GlaxoSmithKline. Stephen holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool, a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Leeds, and an MBA from Imperial College Business School.
Jenny Natusch
Founder and CEO – Escape2Make
Jenny is the visionary Founder and CEO of Escape2Make (E2M). With a background in design, entertainment, and technology, she created E2M to engage 11-18-year-olds in community-centric, inclusive cultural projects, helping them escape social media and life’s pressures through markets, cabarets, and festivals. E2M, the area’s largest employer of freelance artists, is reimagining youth centres for the 21st century with a replicable model to share with other communities. Jenny’s approach has gained nationwide attention, and the former Disney VP serves as E2M’s chair.
David Hutchinson
CEO – The Path Entertainment Group
David is the CEO of The Path Entertainment Group, an innovative company that transforms world-class intellectual property into immersive live audience experiences. Under his leadership, the company has expanded globally, producing successful concepts such as Monopoly Lifesized and the SAW Escape Room. In 2024, they launched their largest project, the Paddington Bear Experience in London. Additionally, through their theatrical sub-wing, Showpath, they debuted the multi-Tony nominated SpongeBob the Musical in the UK and West End. David’s achievements have earned the company several prestigious awards, including the Best Location-Based Entertainment Award and a UK Theatre Award.
Richard Slaney
CEO – Lightroom
Richard Slaney is the CEO of Lightroom, a new home for spectacular artist-led shows, located in King’s Cross on Lewis Cubitt Square. He created the business as a joint venture with Nick Starr of London Theatre Company and produced Lightroom’s first two shows, working closely with David Hockney and Tom Hanks.
Richard is also the former CEO of Lightroom’s joint venture partner 59 Productions, where he led projects including collaborations with the Smithsonian, BBC Proms, Barbican Centre and
Edinburgh International Festival.
Hannah Harris
CEO – Plymouth Culture
Hannah has a background in cultural development and management, with a strong focus on partnership working within the cultural sector. Hannah joined Plymouth Culture from the Arts University Plymouth in 2019, where she was the Director of Development specialising in strategic planning, partnership development and externally funded projects. Since 2019 Hannah has authored the 10-year Culture Plan for Plymouth and championed work to make the creative and cultural sector in Plymouth vibrant, visible and accessible.
Rowena Maddock
Events & Experiential Director – Outernet
Rowena is the Events & Experiential Director at Outernet responsible for bringing brand events and experiences to life within the entertainment district’s immersive spaces. Prior to Outernet Rowena was Group Head of Experiential at Global, and has an extensive events agency background. She is passionate about the true power of live activations that create meaningful experiences for brands and their audiences.
Samuel Kirk
Director – BCI Studio
Samuel Kirk is an accomplished architect and development manager with over a decade of experience. He co-founded BCIstudio and BCIrealty, leading international projects in leisure, retail, and hospitality across 40 countries. Samuel advises on major developments like King Salman Park in Riyadh and Egypt’s Administrative Capital for Urban Development. He is also a committee member of the Urban Land Institute’s Retail & Entertainment Council and a key account manager for RX Global Events in the MENA region. Samuel is known for his expertise in placemaking, commercial appraisals, and brand launching.
John Sullivan
Director and Founder
The Big Picture / The Light
John is a globally renowned leisure expert who has developed cinema anchored entertainment schemes and acted in senior development management roles in retail and commercial schemes throughout Europe, the UK, Middle East, Asia and Australasia. John’s passion is particularly focused on next generation cinema and a love of seaside towns.
Kitty Vaughan
F&B and Leisure Leasing – Pradera Lateral
Kitty is a specialist in the F&B and Leisure sector at Pradera Lateral, joining the team in 2023. She manages key UK assets such as Trafford Centre and Eldon Square. Currently, Kitty is leading the leasing of a major 200,000 sq ft redevelopment project in Newcastle City Centre, which will feature a live music venue, food hall, roof terrace, and a flagship family entertainment centre. This initiative aims to transform the city centre and generate significant employment opportunities in the North-East. Prior to this, Kitty spent seven years at Landsec, overseeing leasing for their £11 billion portfolio. She holds an MSc in Real Estate from the University of Reading and an MSc in Theology & Islamic Studies from the University of Edinburgh.
Neil Connolly
Creative Director – The Everywhere Group
Award-winning writer, game maker, and creative leader Neil Connolly has excelled in themed entertainment for over 20 years. His notable productions include Peppa Pig Surprise Party, The Crystal Maze Live Experience, and Tomb Raider Live Experience, as well as a career-defining immersive experience for HRH Elizabeth Regina as part of Sainsbury’s 150th birthday celebrations.
Dan James
Development Director – Eden Project
Having joined the Eden Project in September 2002, Dan responsible for the delivery of Eden’s Nature and Social Recovery activity including social prescribing programme – Nature Connections, Deep Roots New Shoots – a nature-based project for under 5’s and their families, and the National Wildflower Centre. With the creation of the Eden Project Wildflower Bank, Dan will become its MD and lead the creation of new wildflower habitats to support organisations seeking to secure Biodiversity Net Gain Off-site Units.
Jon Drape
Director – Broadwick Group
Jon Drape is a shareholder and Director of venue and festivals company Broadwick Group, whose estate includes Printworks, Drumsheds, Depot Mayfield, Exhibition and Magazine. Jon is a founder of Engine No.4, music, festival, and event production specialists. The company’s roster includes Parklife, Kendal Calling, Bluedot, Lost Village, Snowbombing and The Warehouse Project, he is also a founder and Director of Manchester and Brixton venue Freight Island. He is also very proud to be a patron of Attitude is Everything, making music festivals and venues more accessible, and a Trustee of The Loop, the leading drug checking and drug safety charity. In a former life Jon was Production Manager at The Hacienda in Manchester.
Jon Day
Tourism and Investment Manager
Cardiff Council
Jon is responsible for the city’s economic policy and business support teams, the Invest in and Visit Cardiff platforms, as well as being Cardiff’s lead officer for supporting city-region working across the Cardiff Capital Region. His key areas of interest are economic research and analysis.
Prior to joining Cardiff Council, Jonathan worked as a consultant specialising in economic development, and was previously Director and Chief Economist at Arad Consulting, a Cardiff based research consultancy.
Before becoming a consultant Jonathan worked at the HM Treasury as part of the Debt and Reserves Management Team.
Secure your spot on 10 July 2024 at University of the Arts, London: Central St Martins to connect with industry leaders and gain insights into transforming spaces.
© 2024 Experience On Main Street Conference