Asha Agarwal
Founder and Managing Director, Inspire Homes
Asha Agarwal is Founder and Managing Director of Inspire Homes, a specialist sales, marketing and customer experience consultancy working across the housing and property sector.
With over 20 years’ experience, Asha has worked with housing associations, local authorities and developers, leading sales and marketing strategies across new homes programmes with a combined GDV exceeding £250 million and helping more than 1,000 first-time buyers onto the property ladder.
A recognised industry leader, Asha is a Board Member of WISH London and a judge for several leading property awards, including the RESI Awards and Property Week’s Inspiring Women in Property Awards. She is passionate about better homes, stronger customer experiences and a more inclusive property industry.
David Powell
Chief Executive Officer, Andrews Property Group
David Powell is Chief Executive Officer of Andrews Property Group, bringing more than 25 years of experience across the UK residential property sector. His expertise spans residential sales, lettings, property management, and strategic business development, providing a comprehensive understanding of the market and its evolving challenges. David leads the business with a focus on sustainable growth, commercial performance, and exceptional customer outcomes.
A strong advocate for responsible business practices and community impact, he is committed to ensuring Andrews delivers long-term value beyond financial success. Through Andrews’ ownership by the Andrews Charitable Trust, he champions initiatives that support housing-related poverty and improve standards across the property industry.
Fiona Lauchlan
Partner, Purcell
Fiona leads Purcell’s Bristol studio. She is a highly experienced architect having led demanding projects across both public and private sectors. She has a proven track record of delivering high-quality designs for complex buildings.
Fiona enjoys challenging projects where strategic planning and technical knowledge is essential, and where creative thinking provides tangible benefits to end users and the built heritage.
She is passionate about supporting colleagues in their career development, fostering an environment where collaboration and growth thrive. Her approachable manner and unwavering positivity have made her a trusted and inspiring leader.
Jonathan Scott
Lending Director for the South West, Pluto Finance
Jonathan Scott is Lending Director for the South West at Pluto Finance and has more than 15 years’ experience working with housebuilders and property professionals across Bristol and the wider region.
He specialises in development finance for SME and regional housebuilders, supporting a wide range of residential schemes and helping developers bring new homes forward. Having worked closely with businesses across the South West throughout his career, Jonathan has a strong understanding of the local property market and the opportunities and challenges involved in delivering successful developments.
Based in the South West himself, Jonathan has built long-standing relationships across the region’s property community and brings extensive hands-on experience of residential development to the Bristol Property Awards judging panel.
Karen Mercer
Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Temple Quarter
Karen Mercer is Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Temple Quarter LLP, leading one of the UK’s most ambitious urban regeneration programmes. She brings extensive experience in delivering complex, large-scale regeneration, having previously served as Delivery Director for Brent Cross Town in London, a major housing and infrastructure scheme that included the delivery of a new railway station.
At Bristol Temple Quarter, Karen is helping drive plans to transform the area around Temple Meads, with ambitions to deliver more than 10,000 new homes, 22,000 jobs and significant improvements to infrastructure and public spaces, creating inclusive and sustainable growth for Bristol and the wider region.
Nick Allan
International Partner, Cushman & Wakefield
Nick provides advice across a variety of commercial & residential property investment and development assets across the UK.
Nick has transacted over £5bn of office, industrial, PBSA and BTR assets – providing advice to UK and International investors/developers on investment transactions, development fundings, sale & leasebacks and capital raising solutions.
Nick’s clients within the Bristol region include BlackRock, University of Bristol, Legal & General, DTZi and YTL.
Shankari Raj
Head of Education, Design West
Shankari Raj (Shanks) is a Sri Lankan-born architect who has called Bristol home for over 20 years. She leads UNIT 02 – Regenerative Vision, and March design studio delivered in partnership with Bristol City Council’s Culture and Regeneration team, and runs Shape My City, a free year-long Built Environment education programme for 15–18 year olds through the charity Design West.
Shanks is also a key figure in Eastville Park Lido CIC, working to establish a community-run outdoor swimming pool in East Bristol. Her Architectural work sits at the intersection of design, education and community regeneration, championing projects that bring people and place together across Bristol.