As Chief Executive Officer of Europe, based in London, Paul leads the expansion of Harrison Street’s European strategies and is responsible for overseeing and growing the Firm’s team of professionals across the UK and Europe. Prior to joining Harrison Street, Paul was most recently President and Chief Operating Officer at Round Hill Capital, a real estate investment and asset management firm with a global footprint. While at Round Hill Capital, he managed a business with a $8+ billion portfolio as well as a team of 260 people across 15 offices in 14 countries. He has overseen investment and development projects, regulatory approvals, complex refinancings and capital raises in multiple European locations across a wide array of real estate asset sectors including retail, commercial, residential and student housing. Prior to joining Round Hill, Paul served as a Partner at Aggmore Group, where he was responsible for raising and deploying over €500 million of new capital and developed JV partnerships with European operators in the residential and commercial real estate space. Earlier he served as Chief Operating Officer at North Bridge Capital Partners Ltd. he began his career at KPMG LLP as a senior manager in the transaction services department. Paul earned a BA in Accounting and Financial Analysis from Newcastle University. he is ACA qualified and is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

George Dyer is the Group Investment Director and Head of Divestment at Watkin Jones Group where he has responsibility for the Group’s divestment and asset management activities. George has more than 12 years’ experience working in real estate and was previously one of the partners leading Cushman and Wakefield’s pan-European student accommodation capital markets team. He also has extensive fund management experience through his time at Schroders, Invesco Real Estate and as Head of UK Investment Management for GSA Group.

Issie Armstrong is Managing Director at Aboria Capital, a vertically integrated real estate investment management firm focused on the European Living sector. She leads investor engagement, capital formation and the development of investment solutions across institutional and private wealth channels. Issie brings over 17 years of investment management experience spanning product strategy and development, and investor relations, with previous roles at DWS Group, Aviva Investors, and LaSalle Investment Management, where she helped deliver pioneering strategies, including the first UK PRS fund. In 2025, she was recognised as a Future Female Leader by Bisnow.

Paddy Allen is Global Head of Investor Solutions, responsible for all new capital-raising initiatives, from building global long-term client relationships through to new product formation, overseeing strategic development and client servicing across GSA’s investment vehicles globally. Paddy is also responsible for the GSA credit division.

Paddy has over 20 years’ experience in funds management, capital raising and transactions, including in his previous role as CEO at Kinetic Capital, where he focussed on delivering committed, flexible finance for the operational living sector.

He has held senior roles with Colliers, GSA and Principal Europe, co-founded a boutique real estate advisory business in UK & Australia, and launched the proptech business Acasa, which was exited in 2021.

Paddy is MRICS qualified and studied Land Management at University of Reading, with executive training at Harvard Business School. Outside of GSA, he Chairs Pathways to Property, helping young people from under-represented backgrounds enter the real estate industry.

Chris co-leads EY’s UK Real Estate Transaction Services team, and is the Real Estate sector leader for EY’s Strategy & Transactions EYP business in the UK.

He has been advising clients investing in real estate for 16 years, specialising in financial due diligence, purchase price mechanisms, SPA advice and negotiations, and liaising with lenders/W&I insurers.

Chris’s clients include private equity, sovereign wealth, corporates, pension funds and lending banks; and he advises on transactions across the entire real estate space, including commercial, industrial, living, student accommodation, datacentres and other alternative asset classes.

Huw Forrest is the PBSA Living Capital Markets Lead for JLL. Based in London, Huw advises leading institutional investors having either invested in or are looking to access the UK PBSA market. Huw is also a trusted advisor to a number of new investors to the sector.

His vast client base ranges from universities and institutions, through to the private sector. With a focus on investment, the business has advised on over £5bn in acquisition and disposal instructions over the last 24 months, whilst also specialising in providing strategic land and development advice.

The business provides a full advisory service working alongside JLL’s experienced debt, valuation, equity advisory and technical consultancy business lines.

Ann is a chartered Surveyor currently leading a team helping to reshape the University of Leeds campus to support the ambitions of the University and the experiences of all students and staff. Prior to this, she led the University of Glasgow £1bn campus redevelopment programme. She is passionate about the built environment and how it can support cohesive and engaged communities. Previous non-executive roles include Chair of Architecture Design Scotland, Chair of Built Environment Trust and Chair of the Scottish Board of Women in Property, Trustee of the National Museum of Scotland and Board Member of Scottish Future Trust, Crown Estate Scotland and the Water Industry Commission.

Ann was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to higher education.

A global transformation and operations executive with over 20 years' experience across real estate, financial services and PE-backed businesses. Varun has held senior roles at GE Capital, Aviva Investors, Yugo and GSA (Global Student Accommodation). At fu3e, he leads operational execution and scalable growth across the UK, US and MEA markets, with a focus on product delivery, onboarding and customer success.

With over two decades of experience in sales and client advisory, Shaun Grainger brings deep expertise in residential development and strategic real estate solutions. His career spans the Banking and Insurance sectors, where he has specialised in supporting Real Estate clients and advisors. Shaun co-leads the Residential Real Estate Team at Willis currently, focusing on Build to Rent, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), and Integrated Retirement Community portfolios, covering everything from construction and development to long-term property insurance.

Shaun’s insight into lender and funder requirements, shaped by years of collaboration with institutional investors, positions him as a trusted voice in the evolving landscape of affordable housing and residential investment

Josh is a Chartered Project Management Surveyor (MRICS) and a director at Gardiner & Theobald. He has extensive experience delivering complex, high-profile developments across central London, with particular expertise in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), residential and commercial offices.

Working closely with clients and project teams, Josh provides strategic oversight from early planning through to delivery, helping navigate complex stakeholder, programme and development challenges. His experience across the London market gives him a strong understanding of what it takes to unlock ambitious urban projects and deliver successful outcomes.

Dominika is Head of Asset Management – PBSA at Dominus, where she leads commercial strategy and asset performance across the company’s student living platform. She has more than 12 years’ experience in the PBSA sector, spanning asset management, operations and portfolio performance, and previously held senior leadership roles at Nido Student and Mapletree Investments.

Gareth Chaplin is Head of Energy & Sustainability at Prefect Controls, where he leads initiatives that help student accommodation operators improve building performance, save utility consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the resident experience through intelligent technology.

With more than 20 years' experience across operations, energy management, and sustainability, Gareth held senior roles spanning operations and energy performance management delivering environmental and financial improvements across the large residential portfolios of Unite Students, before joining Prefect Controls in 2023. He holds an MBA in Facilities Planning and Management.

Gareth brings a unique combination of operational expertise and sustainability leadership, giving him a practical perspective on how technology, energy performance and resident expectations are shaping the future of purpose-built student accommodation.

Maria Hatch is senior director of sales and partnerships at Greystar. Joining the firm over nine years ago as a client relationship manager, she has steered her team through an evolving and highly complex market, driving growth while fostering innovation and collaboration.

Hatch has significantly contributed toward the commercial and lease-up success of Greystar’s assets, personally closing over £350M of B2B leasing deals over her nine years there.

Beyond her commercial achievements, Hatch is deeply committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace. She champions diversity and well-being, speaking openly about her involvement within the LGBTQIA+ community — something that isn’t typically celebrated enough within the real estate sector. She is also an active member of the Association for Rental Living’s DEI Committee.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality moments with her family, including their delightful cavapoo, Crunchie, who is the star of the show. You can often find her on a long country walk, hitting the tennis court or catching up with friends and family. She has a passion for the outdoors and loves exploring as much as she can. She finds it's valuable to take a quiet moment to appreciate those around her and practice some mindfulness.

I very much enjoy sharing key data points, such as NPS, with potential clients to ensure that they have every confidence in the Greystar living experience. Having a team dedicated to nurturing client relationships gives our residents a unique and unmatched experience.

Guillermo is a visionary leader at Evolution Sustainability Group transforming European commercial real estate to become efficient and cost savvy. He orchestrates the company’s European Union operations with a blend of expertise and passion for sustainability. With over a decade of experience in renewable energy integration, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.

His impressive career includes spearheading transformative projects for both the private and public sectors, such as the development of impact studies for the European Environment Agency (EEA). These studies have played a crucial role in shaping the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Guillermo’s in-depth knowledge of European sustainability standards and regulations ensures that his initiatives not only meet but exceed legislative expectations.

Guillermo's knack for market expansion is well-documented, supported by his extensive network and strategic partnerships with influential sustainability organizations like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN). His efforts are pivotal in fostering collaboration and driving business growth for Evolution Sustainability Group across Europe.

Jacob Lane is Sustainability Manager at Silentnight, the UK's largest mattress manufacturer. He joined the business in 2020 through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership focused on developing furniture that complies with UK fire safety regulations without the use of chemical flame retardants.

Drawing on experience across product development, compliance, testing and circularity, Jacob now leads Silentnight's sustainability strategy while maintaining close involvement with the company's SATRA-accredited test laboratory. His work spans fire safety compliance, durability and performance testing, new material development, and end-of-life solutions including mattress recycling.

Passionate about taking a whole-life approach to products, Jacob works to help businesses look beyond purchase price and consider the materials, compliance requirements, longevity and recyclability that ultimately determine a mattress's true value.