Forthcoming Meetings
Thursday 11th September 2025
Jacob Loftus
CEO General Projects
Jacob is the founder and CEO of General Projects, the award-winning creative-led development company. The business focuses on the reinvention of real estate to deliver sustainable, inspirational, design focused, buildings for the next generation. Across the UK, General Projects is developing over 1.5 million sq ft of new space - from HQ offices to SME workspaces, film studios to industrial complexes, loft apartments to new public places.
He leads on all thing’s vision and strategy, although he loves to get into the detail when it comes to architecture and design. Over his career he has the led the acquisition and development of over £2bn of real estate spanning over 2m square feet of mixed-use projects, winning a number of notable industry awards in the process.
Prior to founding General Projects, Jacob was Head of UK at Resolution Property, a £3bn pan-European real estate private equity fund.
Jacob holds an MSc in Real Estate from London Southbank University and a BA in International Relations from Boston University.
Thursday 16th October 2025
Simon De Friend
Co-Founder Regal
Simon co-founded Regal in 1998 with friend and business partner, Paul Eden. Simon started his career in the property industry within the residential agency market and has led the business from inception to today's fully integrated business.
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Regal is one of the capital’s leading privately owned mixed-use developers with a focus on unlocking value from complex urban settings. With a legacy of over 25 years of success, Regal continues to shape vibrant places that reflect the diversity of London. Regal builds long-term partnerships with like-minded parties, including landowners, councils and financial partners, to maximize their collective ambitions.
Unlike many other developers, Regal is a fully integrated business operating across the entire lifecycle of the asset, which means that it puts the customer at the centre of everything it does
Tuesday 18th November 2025
Tim Burke
Editor Estates Gazette
Tim has been writing, editing and running news teams covering business and finance for more than two decades.
He is editor of Estates Gazette, where he has worked since 2019, taking on his currently role when the title was acquired by Mark Allan Group in February 2025 and leading a relaunch of the magazine earlier this year.
Earlier in his career he worked for publishing houses including Dow Jones, The Economist and Thomson Reuters, covering beats including real estate, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and emerging markets.
Thursday 11th December 2025
Jace Tyrrell
CEO
Opportunity London
During a 25-year career in urban regeneration, destination development and campaigning in the UK and Australia, Jace has led successful industry and precinct partnerships and holds the world record for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). His recent tenures include CEO of New West End Company (London’s West End & Mayfair), setting up Australia’s first BID across Sydney’s Western Harbour and in 2023 becoming CEO for Opportunity London, the public/private partnership seeking to secure the next £100bn of capital investment for London.
Jace has represented thousands of businesses and employees, secured millions in funding and successfully advocated for billions into capital investment.
His entire career has been spent in building meaningful collaborations and driving value across cities with businesses, working with Government at all levels and cultivating local communities.
Jace is passionate about sustainable and innovative cities, commercial real estate, and the retail & leisure sectors. He thrives in leading award-winning teams and working with purpose driven businesses. He is an Alumnus of the London Business School and Griffith University, Australia.