The appointment follows the arrival of two other new board members, Alison Vincent and Nick Chism, new Board Affiliate Lucy Yu, as well as the arrival of the new Chairman at Connected Places, Professor Greg Clark.
Liz comments on her appointment: “Having spent 11 years of my life in a defense technology powerhouse and the next 20 years working across the many facets of the property industry, I am fascinated to explore how Connected Places Catapult can use innovation in all its forms to help industry build and support better places for people to live and work, and, in the process, to contribute to economic growth – both essential outcomes for our post–Covid society.”
Liz has more than 35 years’ experience in government and the property sector.
She spent her early career in the Ministry of Defence, eventually becoming a key player in the team that created QinetiQ plc. Liz subsequently served as Chief Executive of the British Property Federation (BPF), where she regards the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) to be her key achievement. She was awarded a CBE in 2008 for services to the property industry.
Having retired from the BPF in 2014, Liz now has a portfolio career with a range of non-executive, advisory and charity roles at Howard de Walden Estates, RPS Group plc, RDI REIT plc, the Churches Conservation Trust, and Whiteley Village Trust. She is Chairman of the Architectural Heritage Fund, Centre for London and Real Estate Balance, the property industry’s leading diversity organisation. She is also President of the Property Litigation Association.
In 2017 Liz was appointed Chair of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) and in 2018 she became Chair of the Sponsor Board for the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme.
About Connected Places
The Connected Places Catapult represents a diverse team which combines extensive experience across the cities, mobility, urban innovation and transport sectors seeking to created Connected Places which are fit for the future. Check back regularly as we will be adding more profiles soon.