Financing The Future Of European Data Centres: Capital, Risk And Opportunity

Where Capital Is Flowing, What’s Slowing It Down And Which Markets Are Still Scaling

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  Andrew Pilsworth

  Andrew is a Managing Director at SEGRO, leading the evolution and execution of the company’s data centre and energy strategy. Working closely with teams in the UK and across Continental Europe, he is responsible for developing and managing strategic partnerships. He joined SEGRO in 2009 as Group Treasurer, before taking on roles as Head of Corporate Finance and Director of Finance. Most recently, he held the positions of Chief of Staff and Head of the National Logistics Business Unit, overseeing the development and management of the company’s UK Big Box logistics assets with a value of £1.78bn. Prior to joining SEGRO, Andrew trained as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte and held a variety of finance roles at Bass plc, Intercontinental Hotels and Alliance Boots.

  SEGRO

  Managing Director, Data Centres & Strategic Partner

  Andrew Pilsworth

  Managing Director, Data Centres & Strategic Partner

  SEGRO

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  Pascale Labrecque

  Pascale Labrecque is a Principal at DigitalBridge Investment Management. Ms. Labrecque is based in London and is responsible for originating, executing, and managing new and existing investments in Europe. With over nine years of experience working in infrastructure investing, she has led and co-led acquisitions, financings, and divestment processes in markets across Europe and the Americas. Prior to joining DigitalBridge, Ms. Labrecque was a Director at InfraRed Capital Partners, where she initiated and led the digital infrastructure investing for the firm’s core strategy. Previously, she worked at PSP Investments, where she covered various sub-sectors, including digital infrastructure, utilities, and sat on the boards of TDF, Angel Trains, and Polat Enerji. Earlier in her career she worked for GE Capital as a financial analyst. Ms. Labrecque graduated as valedictorian and received a Bachelor of Finance from HEC Montréal.

  DigitalBridge

  Principal

  Pascale Labrecque

  Principal

  DigitalBridge

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  Alexis Kantt

  Alexis Kantt is a Managing Director at Blackstone and leads all Digital Infrastructure investments in Europe. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Kantt was a Senior Vice President at Starwood Capital Group.

  Blackstone

  Managing Director, Real Estate,

  Alexis Kantt

  Managing Director, Real Estate,

  Blackstone

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  Jack Shand

  Jack is a senior member of Linklaters real estate team and has broad corporate and commercial real estate experience, including development projects, real estate M&A and financings in Europe and the Middle East. He has experience advising on data centre and digital infrastructure transactions, including lease negotiations, stabilised portfolio carveouts and data centre developments.

  Linklaters

  Counsel

  Moderator

  Jack Shand

  Counsel

  Linklaters

Expanding Europe's Data Centre Footprint: Overcoming Development And Supply Chain Challenges

Scaling At Speed: Navigating Europe's Bottlenecks In Land, Power And Permitting

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  Sam Beech

  Sam Beech, a Chartered Commercial Property surveyor with over a decade of experience, has made significant contributions to the data centre real estate sector. For the past five years, Sam has focused on growing Digital Realty's portfolio in the EMEA region, specialising in land acquisitions and site selection across UK and Europe at Digital Realty. Additionally, Sam manages corporate development for the region, ‌which includes strategic planning and execution for joint ventures, asset disposals, and mergers and acquisitions, and continues to drive the company's expansion and strategic initiatives.

  Digital Realty

  Senior Manager - Acquisitions & Investments

  Sam Beech

  Senior Manager - Acquisitions & Investments

  Digital Realty

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  Julian Michalski

  European lead responsible for full turn-key project delivery across Europe of multi campus hyper-scale Data Centres, including, site selection/evaluation, land acquisition, planning and vendor procurement. A successful 30 year career as a senior executive, specialising in Commercial Property Development, Engineering and Data Centres / Mission Critical Operations, including, site selection/evaluation, land acquisition and vendor procurement, business Development, Finance, Operations & Design Management working with major blue chip financial organisations and developers.

  Corscale Data Centers

  Development Director - Head of Europe

  Julian Michalski

  Development Director - Head of Europe

  Corscale Data Centers

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  Matt Kendle

  Matthew Kendle is Head of International Construction at Marsh Specialty in London. Matt has 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry and throughout his career, he has been successfully involved in insurance risk advisory work, the placement, and subsequent servicing of large construction projects across a broad range of territories. Matt has developed strong working relationships with both clients internationally and the London and European insurance markets. He provides support to global clients and partners across Marsh's extensive network in the development, placement, and management of construction projects. Matt has worked with clients across multiple sectors including data centres and other classes of infrastructure, but in recent years has specialised in the power sector and has been involved in hydroelectric, nuclear, simple cycle, combined cycle and IGCC projects.

  Marsh Specialty

  Head of International Construction

  Matt Kendle

  Head of International Construction

  Marsh Specialty

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  Kirsty Rogerson

  Kirsty specialises in complex real estate and infrastructure development across a number of sectors and across the capital stack. She has a particular focus on digital infrastructure and energy transition.

  Jones Day

  Of Counsel

  Moderator

  Kirsty Rogerson

  Of Counsel

  Jones Day

Power, Sustainability And The Energy Challenge In European Data Centres

Securing Sustainable, Scalable Power In An Era Of AI And Carbon Scrutiny

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  Rita Patel Miller

  Rita is a senior leader in social sustainability, CSR, and EDI, passionate about delivering strategies that create lasting impact for businesses and communities alike. In her tenure, Rita built and scaled a consultancy service line, generating £3m+ revenue and delivering £200m+ in social value. As Social Strategy Director at QTS, Rita is building a blueprint for creating social and economic benefits through QTS’s European data centre portfolio. This includes working in collaboration with partners and stakeholders to plan and achieve wider benefits for the communities in which QTS operates. Recognised as a valued thought leader, Rita serves as Chair of the Central London Careers Hub Employer Cornerstone Group, driving opportunities for young people and underrepresented communities. Her mission is simple: to harness strategy, collaboration, and innovation to build a more sustainable and inclusive future.

  QTS

  Social Strategy Director

  Rita Patel Miller

  Social Strategy Director

  QTS

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  Nicholas Holz

  Director of Design And Development

  SDC Capital Partners

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  Liam Newcombe

  As Senior Vice President of Product, Energy Strategy, and Innovation at GreenScale, Liam plays a critical role in shaping the company’s approach to energy-resilient, AI- ready infrastructure. With a sharp focus on enabling the energy transition within the data centre industry, Liam leads GreenScale’s innovation portfolio, driving the development of intelligent systems that balance performance, scalability, and sustainability. In doing so, he works to advance the integration of digital twin technologies and industrial IoT frameworks into GreenScale’s solutions, ensuring clients remain competitive while lowering operational risk and carbon intensity.

  GreenScale Data Centres

  SVP Product, Energy Strategy & Innovation

  Liam Newcombe

  SVP Product, Energy Strategy & Innovation

  GreenScale Data Centres

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  Adrian Del Maestro

  Adrian is the global energy advisory lead at AECOM. He advises a portfolio of clients ranging from technology companies, utilities and oil and gas operators to low carbon developers, start-ups, investors and government. The topics he covers include data centres, fusion energy, low carbon investments (such as offshore wind, EV charging, hydrogen and carbon capture), energy security and navigating the energy transition. He regularly speaks at conferences, round tables and in the media and presents to clients, discussing macro trends in energy. Adrian has undertaken senior roles in the management consulting industry, including PwC Strategy&, Booz Allen Hamilton and EY. He was also the managing director of a boutique energy consulting firm where he worked with the former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond and Lord Moynihan. He is an advisor on multiple boards and is a fellow of the Energy Institute.

  AECOM

  VP, Global Energy Advisory Leader

  Adrian Del Maestro

  VP, Global Energy Advisory Leader

  AECOM

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  Jonathan Cohen

  Jonathan is an industry recognised energy lawyer specialising in renewables and low carbon energy transactions both in the UK and internationally with a particular focus on data centre power requirements. With over 20 years' experience as an energy lawyer, Jonathan has advised utilities, project developers, large industrial consumers, data centres, property developers, funders, sponsors and energy services companies (ESCOs) on energy-related transactions. Jonathan regularly advises on grid connections, on-site power generation and the revenue-generating power offtake arrangements.

  Fladgate

  Partner

  Moderator

  Jonathan Cohen

  Partner

  Fladgate

Fireside Chat: A Blueprint For The Future: Lessons From Digital Realty’s Approach To Risk And Scale

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  Simon Coe

  Simon Coe has been operating in the Data Centre sphere for over five years. In his current role as Sub Regional Project Controls Lead for Digital Realty, one of the leading data centre owners and developers globally. Simon is responsible for Project controls across, cost, commercial, risk and reporting activities for the construction of data centres.

  Digital Realty

  Regional Project Controls Lead

  Simon Coe

  Regional Project Controls Lead

  Digital Realty

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  Patrick Scannell

  Patrick Scannell was the first Buildots employee hired in the UK and is leading the charge with expansion into global territories including North America. Patrick comes from a background of construction and is a qualified civil engineer. Having worked for the GC side in New York and then an owner's rep side in London, his experience in two of the toughest construction markets in the world has been invaluable in sowing the seeds for Buildots' growth. Buildots is a company that solves one of the biggest challenges in construction management using an AI-based approach and Patrick's knowledge of the construction industry and how important objective data is, has allowed him to work with clients all over the world.

  Buildots

  Sector Lead - Mission Critical

  Patrick Scannell

  Sector Lead - Mission Critical

  Buildots