Education Estates® for Universities

Free to attend - Join the national conversation around the education estate!

Whether you’re part of a university leadership team, estates department, capital projects group or procurement office, Education Estates® offers vital insight into how university estates can be enhanced, future-proofed, and sustainably managed to meet the evolving needs of students and staff.

With over 160 universities and higher education institutions across the UK, the event reflects the scale and significance of creating sustainable, efficient and future-ready campus environments.

Education Estates® is a vital opportunity for university leaders, estates teams and decision-makers to stay ahead of sector priorities, connect with key suppliers and access free, CPD-accredited content that directly supports your role.

Education Estates® is proudly supported by the University Design Forum, bringing together leaders shaping the future of higher education environments.

University Design Forum

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Conference Programme

Key benefits for Universities

Attend the conference and exhibition for FREE!
Learn from real-world case studies at the conference
Meet specialist architects, consultants, contractors and suppliers with extensive experience meeting complex requirements in the higher education sector
Explore scalable solutions that support consistency, compliance and efficiency across your university estates
See inside other universities and see how they're managing their campuses
Explore innovative solutions in the exhibition
Gain practical estates management guidance
Network with university leaders, suppliers, architects and fellow sector peers
Earn CPD hours through expert-led conference content

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Focused Content

We've picked just a few sessions specific to Universities but please view the full programme to discover more sessions relevant to your specific priorities

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12:00

Old Buildings, New Futures

Improve & Renew the Estate Stage

60 mins

This session explores how existing buildings can be reimagined to create inspiring learning environments while delivering wider social, economic and environmental value. Through two contrasting case studies — transforming part of a Grade I listed university building into future-ready computer laboratories and converting a vacant department store into a creative and digital education hub—the session will examine how heritage assets and redundant retail spaces can become catalysts for renewal.

A chaired discussion will then consider how education providers can unlock overlooked assets, reduce environmental impact and place learning at the heart of communities, town centres and regeneration strategies.

Chairperson

Harry Bolton, Partner - Carter Jonas

Speakers

Matt Hayes, Partner - Education Lead - Lee Evans Partnership LLP

Alex Manktelow, Associate - Hoare Lea

Dominique Haslam, Architect - Partner - Wilson Mason LLP

Noreen Kassem, Faculty Operating Officer, Faculty of Engineering and Science - University of Greenwich

Petra Marshall, Senior Capital Project Manager - University of Greenwich

Ross Westwood, Partner - Gardiner & Theobald LLP

14:00

Trauma Informed Design

SEND & Inclusion Stage

60 mins

Speakers in this session will examine the practical implications of emerging policy, capital investment and estate planning, alongside the growing role of trauma-informed and neurodiversity-aware design in promoting wellbeing, safety and belonging. Through policy insight and design-led case studies, the session will consider how inclusion bases, sensory-informed spaces and wider estate improvements can be integrated within mainstream settings to support equitable outcomes for all learners.

Chairperson

Alice Parker, Partner - Education Sector Lead - Ridge and Partners

Speakers

Robert Hopkins, Director & Head of Sustainability - AHR

Sandeep Ranote, Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and Consultant Paediatric Psychiatrist

Naomi Sharples, Associate Dean for Academic Development and International - School of Health & Society, University of Salford

Stephanie Kyle, Associate | Architect & Inclusive Design Consultant | Assistant Professor of Architecture | Neurodiversity Specialist - Floyd Slaski Architects
Let's have a Heated Debate!

Build & Rebuild the Estate Stage

60 mins

This session explores how ambitious sustainability goals can reshape the way education buildings are designed, delivered and experienced, challenging the reliance on complex mechanical systems and demonstrating the potential of low-energy, Passivhaus-informed approaches at scale. Drawing on research-led thinking and large-scale delivery experience, including the NowtHaus
research study and the University of Manchester’s landmark Fallowfield Passivhaus student residential development, speakers will examine how intelligent architectural design, thermal comfort modelling and performance-led decision-making can reduce operational energy demand while improving occupant wellbeing and building resilience.

Chairperson

Hershil Patel, Director | Government and Public Agencies - Arcadis

Speakers

William Allen, Associate building performance consultant - Ramboll

Vicky Ackerley, Director of Residences and Sport - The University of Manchester

Neil McFarlane, Strategic Development Director - GRAHAM Investment Projects

Natalia Maximova, Partner - Sheppard Robson

16:00

The Intelligent Estate: Using Data to Drive Better Decisions

Manage the Estate Stage

60 mins

As the sector moves towards greater standardisation and data-driven decision-making, speakers will examine how organisations can build stronger estate intelligence, improve governance and align local priorities with national expectations. Through live case studies from both school trusts and higher education institutions, the session will demonstrate how complex estate data can be made more accessible, enabling stakeholders to make more informed decisions about investment, sustainability, space utilisation and long-term strategic planning.

Chairperson

Gemma Donnelly, Deputy Director, Digital, Data & Building Technology - Department for Education

Speakers

Andrew Muldoon, Director of Estates and Sustainability - Brooke Weston Trust

Jeremy Pilgrim, Managing Director - Building Spatial Intelligence

Gill Smith, Client Director - Education - AtkinsRéalis

Helen Groves, Head of Architecture - AtkinsRéalis

Norion Ubechel, Chief Executive Officer - Place Intelligence
The Adaptive Campus - harnessing the opportunity of commercial science and technology redevelopment

Fireside Exchange

60 mins

Access to research, talent, specialist infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration are among the key reasons science and technology companies cluster in regional hotspots across the UK. This panel will explore how existing estates can be reimagined as sector linked science and technology clusters, and how partnerships with specialist developers can help unlock their full potential. Join our expert panel as they discuss the essential ingredients of a successful innovation campus, driven by education estates, drawing on practical experience and insight from across the sector.

Speakers

Matt Lee, Partner and National Head of Science and Technology - Carter Jonas

Mark Tock, Chief Operations Officer - University of Warwick Science Park and University of Warwick Innovation Campus

Tom Devine, Partner, Consultancy and Strategy - Carter Jonas

Laura Sherliker, Director - Fairhursts Design Group

11:30

Buildings that have stood the test of time

Build & Rebuild the Estate Stage

45 mins

This session explores the long-term impact of university buildings through the lens of post-occupancy evaluation and heritage retrofit. Using Southampton Solent University's The Spark and Sheffield's Arts Tower as case studies, speakers will demonstrate how both new-build and refurbishment projects can enhance the student experience, improve sustainability, and create resilient, future-ready learning environments.

Chairperson

Kayo Efunshile, Director - Universities & Social Sciences Account Leader - Arcadis

Speakers

Ian Pratt, Director, Head of Education, Health & Wellbeing - Scott Brownrigg

Sarah Radif, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Dean, School of Technology and Maritime Industries - Southampton Solent University

Karl Brown, Associate Architect - HLM Architects

13:30

Retrofitting Complex Education Estates

Improve & Renew the Estate Stage

45 mins

Drawing on case studies from higher education and specialist research facilities, speakers will examine the practical realities of working within constrained and occupied environments, balancing decarbonisation ambitions with cost, compliance and technical challenges. The session will highlight approaches to feasibility testing, infrastructure planning, embodied carbon reduction and phased delivery, demonstrating how targeted interventions can extend asset life, improve performance and futureproof ageing estates while minimising disruption and environmental impact.

Chairperson

Gill Smith, Client Director - Education - AtkinsRéalis

Speakers

Kevin Stewart, Head of Estates - Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Jane O'Leary, Sector Director Devolved Government - Tilbury Douglas

David Bolderstone, Project Manager - Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Aditi Saxena, Sustainability Lead - Bond Bryan

Alastair Dixon, Senior Project Manager - University of Warwick

14:45

The Intelligent Estate

Manage the Estate Stage

45 mins

This session explores how artificial intelligence, digital technologies and data-driven approaches are transforming both the management and delivery of education estates. Attendees will gain practical insights into how intelligent technologies can support more efficient operations, better-performing buildings and greater confidence in estate investment and delivery.

Chairperson

Javid Mahdavi, Managing Director - Nexus Associates (ICT)

Speakers

Adil Ayi, Founder / CEO - PLEQ

Scott Laird, AI & Technical Director - Reds10