Richard O’Boyle, executive director, We Are Pioneer Group/Trinity Investment Management

Trinity Investment Management acquired BioCity in April 2021 which was subsequently merged with Trinity’s operating platform, Knowledge Factory, to create We are Pioneer Group.

WAPG’s primary goal is to develop innovation ecosystems at science and technology properties in which businesses are more likely to succeed. WAPG does this by harnessing its fully integrated ecosystem approach of real estate combined with a strong track record of venture building, supported by its internal venture capital. Across the UK and Europe, WAPG is home to 600 businesses across 11 sites, totalling 2.3m sq ft. WAPG also delivers five accelerator programmes with its scale-up teams currently mentoring 40 businesses.  

O’Boyle’s primary responsibilities within WAPG is the expansion of its portfolio by leveraging his 20-year investment track record, having transacted in excess of £2bn of UK and European real estate.

Stuart Grant, chief executive, Harwell Campus; co-founder, CoreLife Investors

Grant has more than 25 years’ real estate experience. He began his career in Asia-Pacific as an international executive with Jardine Matheson, before starting his real estate investment career at Blackstone in London and Hong Kong.

During his 18 years at Blackstone, he held a variety of leadership positions including senior managing director and head of asset management for the Asia-Pacific region and was responsible for more than $20bn of investments in Greater China, India, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Australia.

Grant returned to the UK in 2018 as managing director of Stanhope to help grow one of London’s leading developers. He is also a member of the investment committee and advisory board of Mitheridge Capital and sits on Harwell’s healthtec, space and energytec boards. He has supported other organisations and boards, including the Urban Land Institute Dumfries House, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres.

Emma Goodford, head national offices, Knight Frank

Goodford heads the national offices team, specialising in the Greater London and M25 areas and the Thames Valley and wider South East Home Counties. She has 32 years’ experience of development consultancy, office marketing and leasing and re-gears. For corporate occupiers she provides advice on tenant representation instructions. In 2019, her team secured 31% market share across the region.

Clients include Kennedy Wilson, LaSalle Investment Management, M&G, Blackstone, L&G, British Land and Church Commissioners for England. Instructions include assets in Oxford, Cambridge, Chiswick, Winchester and Watford.

Chair: Samantha McClary, editor, EG

McClary has almost 20 years’ experience in real estate and business journalism, covering a wide range of topics. Alongside making sure EG delivers the best, most helpful, most accurate and, of course, most interesting content to EG’s readership across all platforms – print, online and audio – she also plays a leading role in enabling and delivering a more diverse environment for the real estate community through EG’s REWIRE and tech initiatives. A keen chair and regular wearer of too bright trousers, McClary seeks to help keep panel discussions and events lively with audience participation and insightful questioning.

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