Property & Regeneration Lunch 2026
Join us on Thursday 8th October at our annual Property & Regeneration Lunch for a fabulous two course lunch and the opportunity to hear from leading industry experts. Our event will feature two panels, each exploring critical issues shaping the future of the property and regeneration sector. Don't miss the chance to connect with like-minded professionals and gain invaluable insights into the sustainable future of property. Reserve your seat today!
Agenda:
12:00 - 12:30 Registration and drinks reception
12:35 - 13:15 Fireside discussion: Reflection, Resilience, and Renewal: 30 Years On From the 1996 Manchester Bomb
Marking a significant 30-year milestone, this fireside chat offers a gentle space to reflect on a profoundly difficult chapter in our city’s history. While the events of 1996 brought sudden sorrow, the decades since have stood as a testament to the enduring strength, healing, and unity of the people of Manchester moving from a moment of shared adversity to thoughtfully rebuilding a hopeful future together.
13:15 - 14:15 Two course lunch served
14:15 - 15:00 Panel Session: The Next Chapter: Scaling Manchester’s Future
While the first session explored how we fixed the city's core, this panel discussion focuses on how we are now expanding its reach. Our experts will dive into the strategic projects and massive infrastructure shifts that will define the skyline through 2030 and beyond.
About the Speakers:
Tom Bloxham CBE MBE is chairman and founder of award-winning regeneration company Urban Splash, which has received 489 awards to date for architecture, design and business success.
The company is responsible for development projects across the country, including Manchester, Liverpool, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford Sheffield, Bristol, Plymouth, North Shields and Morecambe.
Tom has also held many other prominent positions; he was the Founding Chair of Manchester International Festival and Factory International before stepping down in 2024 having led the development of the organisation’s £250 million Aviva Studios. Tom was also Founding Chair of the Centre for Cities think tank, Founding Chair of the Ancoats Urban Village Trust, Chair of the Arts Council NW, Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Trustee of The Tate Galleries, the Manchester United Foundation, The Big Issue in the North, Barbican Centre Trust and The Bloxham Charitable Trust.
In 1999 at the age of 35, Tom was awarded an MBE for his services to Architecture and Urban Regeneration.
In 2025, Tom was awarded a CBE for Services to Culture and MIF Factory International.
Karen is the Project Director for the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation. Prior to that she was Managing Director of Maple Grove Developments and Board Director of Eric Wright Group for 9.5 years. Karen brings 35 years property, development and regeneration experience from both public and private sectors and was previously a Development Director at Salford City Council and Central Salford Regeneration Company.
In her role as Managing Director at Maple Grove, Karen developed public/private partnerships across the Group and progressed development opportunities, including some of the North West’s major commercial projects: industrial/logistics Lancashire Central and town centre regeneration in Preston, Burnley and Blackburn.
In Salford Karen was the public sector lead for a few of the large scale mixed use regeneration projects in partnership with the private sector which included Salford Central – English Cities Fund, Greengate – Ask/Network Rail, MediaCityUK – Peel and RHS Bridgewater with Peel/RHS.
Karen was appointed as a NED for Regenda Group in September 2025 and since February 2025, Chair of two of their subsidiary companies M&Y Maintenance and Construction and Ecogee.
Interested In The Event?
If you’re interested in attending, you can book online here.
For any further enquires about this event, contact [email protected]
