Cllr Darren Rodwell

Leader
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Darren is a passionate community champion. Prior to becoming a councillor, he led a tenant & resident’s association and was at the forefront of the Labour Party campaign which led to the defeat of the British National Party in Barking in 2010. He has also worked in welfare rights and has set up a food bank as well as serving as a non-executive director in the NHS and a school governor.

Darren was first elected to Barking & Dagenham Council in 2010 and became Leader in 2014. Since then he has set the vision and direction of the Council which includes Barking & Dagenham being London’s growth opportunity. He was also responsible for a series of successful festivals which marked the borough’s 50th anniversary in 2015 which included a visit by Her Majesty the Queen.

Since 2014 he has led Barking & Dagenham Council through a transformation programme to secure £63m of savings over the next four years at the same time as delivering real time improvements in services.

Bek Seeley

Managing Director for Development
Lendlease

Bek Seeley is the Managing Director for Development at Lendlease.

In her current role Bek is responsible for leading the senior development team for the successful delivery of Lendlease’s European pipeline including the Euston Estate, Thamesmead North, Birmingham Smithfield, Elephant Park, Silvertown Quays, IQL Stratford, Deptford Landings, High Road West and both Milano Santa Guilia and MIND in Milan.

Most recently she held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Development and was instrumental in winning a number of major projects for Lendlease, as well as overseeing operations and the overall growth of the business.

Before joining Lendlease in 2015 Bek’s career spanned the public and private sectors, having held a range of operational and commercial roles including in economic development, infrastructure, built environment and public services.

Bek regularly speaks at industry conferences and events, including at MIPIM and the West Midlands Forum for Growth.

Fiona Fletcher-Smith

Group Chief Executive
L&Q

Prior to joining L&Q, Fiona was the Executive Director for Development, Enterprise and Environment at the Greater London Authority (GLA).

As part of the senior management team for the GLA, she was responsible for overseeing the delivery and implementation of key strategies such as the London Plan, the Economic Development Strategy, transport, environment and climate change and in overseeing the operation of the Mayor’s powers in relation to significant planning applications in the capital.

Eamonn Boylan

Chief Executive
Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Eamonn Boylan was appointed Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in January 2017. He played a key role in the development of the Housing Market Renewal Programme, the Northern Way Growth Strategy and, through his work with the Core Cities Group and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, in the emerging policy framework for city regions. Eamonn takes the lead role on Investment and on Planning and Housing for the AGMA Wider Leadership Team.