Seizing Opportunities: The Future Of PBSA Investment In The UK

Exploring Strategies, Risks, And International Interest Shaping The PBSA Investment Landscape

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  Alicia Edgar

  Director, Living Investments, Europe

  Invesco Real Estate

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  Daniel Harris

  Daniel Harris brings nearly 25 years of experience as a senior investment professional to his role as Chief Investment Officer at Fusion. His strategic vision, sharpened during his seven-year tenure as Senior Managing Director and Head of European Investment at Cain International, positions him to lead Fusion’s expansion into new markets and sectors. Daniel has also held senior roles at Tristan Capital Partners, MGPA, and Heitman, giving him a breadth of institutional experience that drives his future-focused approach. At Fusion, he is committed to scaling the firm’s investment management platform by blending its people-first ethos with ambitious growth goals.

  Fusion Group

  Chief Investment Officer

  Daniel Harris

  Chief Investment Officer

  Fusion Group

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  Marcus Weeks

  Marcus heads up the Living platform at Firethorn, where he is driving forward growth opportunities in the PBSA and wider living sector. With over a decade’s experience working at blue chip companies across acquisitions, development and capital advisory, Marcus has amassed considerable expertise in taking student living assets through the entire property life cycle. From successfully leading land and site acquisitions, to overseeing the planning, design and construction of high-value developments, Marcus has an impressive track record in both deal origination and delivering significant added value. Before joining Firethorn, Marcus was Acquisition & Development Director at Unite Group Plc. He previously worked at CBRE within the student accommodation teams.

  Firethorn Trust

  Director, Head of Firethorn Living

  Marcus Weeks

  Director, Head of Firethorn Living

  Firethorn Trust

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  Oliver Cummings

  Oliver is a managing director within Cain’s European real estate team and leads the firm’s origination and investment in PBSA across the U.K. and Europe. Oliver has 15 years of experience in PBSA investment and development experience extending to over 16,000 beds in the UK, Spain and Portugal. Before joining Cain, Oliver worked for W.P. Carey as an investment officer and head of European student housing asset management, where he was responsible for the acquisition, development, financing, delivery, asset management and disposal of over 10,500 beds throughout the U.K., Spain and Portugal. Prior to W.P. Carey, Oliver specialised in PBSA at Dartmoor Capital Management. Oliver holds a Bachelor of Science in land management from the University of Reading.

  Cain International

  Managing Director, Head of PBSA

  Oliver Cummings

  Managing Director, Head of PBSA

  Cain International

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  James Hunt

  James Hunt is Global Head of Real Estate for GSA, where he is responsible for the expansion of our real estate portfolio through the acquisition of development opportunities, investment properties and portfolios. James joined GSA in 2018. He is a Chartered Surveyor with over 20 years’ experience of the purpose-built student accommodation sector in the UK, Europe, Australasia and the USA. He has a track record of delivering complex projects and has experience across investment strategy, acquisitions, development, asset management, joint ventures and university partnerships. GSA has $7bn of assets under management and an unrivalled international presence, active across 11 countries with assets in 80 of the world’s leading educational cities. GSA is part of The Dot Group, a transformational force in global student living.

  GSA

  Global Head of Real Estate

  James Hunt

  Global Head of Real Estate

  GSA

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  Huw Forrest

  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.

  JLL

  Head of UK Student Housing - Living Capital Markets

  Moderator

  Huw Forrest

  Head of UK Student Housing - Living Capital Markets

  JLL

Operational Excellence In PBSA: Meeting Student Needs And Market Demands

Driving Performance, Affordability, And Sustainability Through Innovation And Strategy

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  Riccardo Faccenda

  Asset Manager

  M&G Real Estate

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  Paul Watson

  Paul Watson is Group Operations Director at Unite Students, the UK’s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. Appointed in 2021, Paul brings 20 years of service-led operations management experience to the business. Having supported the shift to becoming a 24/7 business in 2022 in response to customer needs, Paul has led Unite Students to deliver record customer satisfaction scores. He has overseen improvements to building quality, resident experience and support that saw the business certified as a Gold operator in the 2024 Global Student Living Index and win the RESI PBSA Operator of the Year award in two consecutive years. With past management roles at leading hotel brands including IHG, Crowne Plaza and Malmaison, Paul is laser-focused on exceptional customer service and satisfaction at scale. He’s already inspired Unite Students’ 1,600 operations team members to evolve and elevate their service – now your audience can come on that same journey.

  Unite Students

  Group Operations Director

  Paul Watson

  Group Operations Director

  Unite Students

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  Neil Smith

  With a 17-year track record in real estate across multiple countries, Neil has experience opening over 15 properties and operating 4,500+ unit portfolios across the UK/Europe and Australia. He has experience with listed / unlisted core / core+ funds, and private equity vehicles. Prior to joining Scape Neil spent five years operating tourism and leisure assets in Australia and four years leading all European openings for Patron/Queensgate Generator Hostels, Europe’s leading lifestyle hostel chain. He has been with Scape since the start of 2017, bringing over 17 years of hospitality, real estate, and tourism to combine the best of all worlds and create an unparalleled offering for the student market. Neil also holds degree qualifications in Economics, Politics and International Business from the University of California Berkeley and the University of New South Wales.

  Scape

  Managing Director

  Neil Smith

  Managing Director

  Scape

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  Nicola Rollin-Boone

  Accomplished operations and portfolio leader with over 15 years’ experience driving performance across property management and retail sectors. Currently serving as Portfolio Operations Director at Homes for Students, overseeing large-scale portfolios, regional operations, and multi-site teams to deliver strong commercial results and exceptional customer experiences. Demonstrated track record of building high-performing teams, optimising operational processes, and managing change during periods of growth and transformation. Brings a strong background in retail leadership, with a decade of experience in senior roles at the Inditex Group, the British Heart Foundation and the Arcadia Group, combining commercial acumen with a people-centric leadership style.

  Homes For Students

  Portfolio Operations Director

  Nicola Rollin-Boone

  Portfolio Operations Director

  Homes For Students

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  Dr. Randall Bowen

  Dr. Randall Bowen is the UK Managing Director at Voltalis, leading the company’s strategy and partnerships to accelerate the deployment of smart demand response across commercial and residential buildings in the UK. He brings over two decades of experience in the energy, tech, and services sectors, with a strong track record of delivering growth and innovation. Prior to Voltalis, Randall held senior leadership roles at Centrica and Good Energy, where he led distributed energy strategy, product development, and commercial transformation. He began his career as an engineer and holds a PhD in Thermodynamics. His unique blend of technical expertise and commercial insight positions him at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition, helping organisations reduce costs and carbon through smarter energy use.

  Voltalis

  Managing Director

  Dr. Randall Bowen

  Managing Director

  Voltalis

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  Guillermo Dekker

  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.

  Evolution Sustainability Group

  Managing Director EU

  Moderator

  Guillermo Dekker

  Managing Director EU

  Evolution Sustainability Group

Remarks From The Podium

Remarks From The Podium

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  John Bushell

  John has led the design of some of KPF’s most notable and innovative projects. John’s approach is rooted in detailed analysis of the context, on each project he builds consensus across diverse expert teams and seeks to promote design that is authentically sustainable and inclusive. His unique design solutions include Chapter London Bridge, a landmark student housing development and The Bermondsey Project, where he led the detailed masterplan for a major regeneration project featuring more than 1,500 BTR homes. An authority on a range of architectural subjects, John is part of New London Architecture’s Sounding Board and has represented KPF at lectures and conferences around the world. His work has been recognised by multiple awards.

  KPF

  Principal

  John Bushell

  Principal

  KPF

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  Neil Clews

  Neil is responsible for Business Development at Silentnight Contract, where he is seeking to improve sleep for clients, delivering quality products into the PBSA, BTR and Hotel sectors. With an engineering background and 25 years of sales, marketing, sustainability, and customer service experience, Neil has developed his expertise in managing the process of design, specification, pricing, and support to clients by adopting a 360 approach with key stakeholders at board and operational level. His success in the first 12 months at Silentnight has seen him deliver projects and frameworks for clients like Vertus, Homie, Marriott and Staycity. Before working at Silentnight, Neil had successful A&D sales management roles with Anglepoise, Reaqua Systems, CME, Grohe, and Kohler Mira.

  Silentnight Contract

  Business Development Manager - Contract

  Neil Clews

  Business Development Manager - Contract

  Silentnight Contract