Technology & AI Summit

Chris de Gruben FRICS

Senior Director - AI in Property & PE / Data Consulting / AI Strategy, Artefact

Chris is a property generalist with nearly 20 years of global expertise in delivering strategic change. He worked and set-up successful property and valuation focused businesses in Asia and the UK. Chris enjoyed understanding how the built environment can be better managed and utilised for the benefits of all stakeholders. Today he leads multi-functional teams within a global data & AI focused management consultancy. He specialise in the implementation of cutting edge data science solutions along with the change management this entails across some of the UK's largest property companies. Beyond Artefact, Chris is the Vice-Chair of one of the PGP on Valuation within the RICS, defining what the future of the valuation trade should look like (in particular the uses of data and AI). He is also the co-chair of the AI, Data and Tech working group at the RICS where we are currently publishing new guidance and an external examiner for undergraduate built environment programmes at UCL and finally, an examiner for APC panels for the RICS.

Dame Wendy Hall, DBE, FRS, FREng

Professor, University of Southampton

An authority on AI, digital geopolitics and technology governance, Wendy advises governments and global institutions on how AI, data and digital infrastructure are reshaping power and competitiveness, combining scientific expertise with strategic insight into technology’s global impact.

Justin Young

CEO, RICS

Justin is CEO at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the professional body that promotes and enforces standards across the land, real estate, construction and infrastructure sectors. He was previously a Chief Operating Officer for 13 years, with particular expertise in the legal and property sectors. He was Knight Frank’s first COO and previously Global COO at HFW and South East Asia COO for Clifford Chance. He has extensive international experience and began his career as a tank commander with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Chris Walsh

Director of Education and Skills, RICS

Anil Sawhney

Head of Sustainability, RICS

Anil Sawhney is the Head of Sustainability at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He leads a portfolio of global initiatives aimed at ensuring RICS achieves its strategic objective to lead and influence in the field of sustainability. Dr. Sawhney contributes to the development of the built environment sector’s body of knowledge, strategic solutions, guidance, education, and training.

Jim Walton

Managing Director, Ascend Studio

Jennifer Schooling

Professor of Digital Innovation & Smart Spaces, Anglia Ruskin University

Jennifer Schooling OBE is Professor of Digital Innovation and Smart Places at Anglia Ruskin University. Her research focuses on the sociotechnical dimensions of digitalisation at the city scale, including the emerging challenges of AI in public-sector decision-making, especially in relation to ethics and safety.

Chris Brady

Founder, Metrix

Chris Brady, founder of Metrix and RICS Technical Partner, helps construction and surveying firms adopt AI and meet the RICS AI standard. His work has won clients over £4.8M and saves teams 14 hours a week.

Dr Bola Abisogun OBE

Founder & CEO, AI-QS

Dr Abolade ‘Bola’ Abisogun OBE is a pioneering leader in digital construction, AI and diversity. Founder and CEO of AI-QS, he champions digital twin adoption through #PQS2030 and supports young people through the Digital Twin Skills Academy, alongside influential roles shaping industry policy, skills and transformation.

Ioannis Brilakis

Professor of Civil & Information Engineering at University of Cambridge, Laing O'Rourke

Prof Ioannis Brilakis is the Laing O’Rourke Professor of Civil & Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge, leading research in construction information technology. An award-winning expert and author of 300+ papers, he advances automation, robotics, computer vision and digital technologies across the construction industry.

Neil Pennell BTech (Hons), CEng, MCIBSE

Head of Design, Innovation & Property Solutions, Landsec

Neil Pennell is Head of Design Innovation & Property Solutions at Landsec. His role is to drive innovation in design and the application of new technology in buildings, including, AI, advanced analytics, IoT, modern methods of construction and smart building solutions.

Samuel Opoku Daniels

Head of Technology & PhD Researcher, Zeepay JV UK & University of Essex

Privacy-by-design expert and Head of Technology at Zeepay JV UK, a UK-based fintech, and a PhD researcher at the University of Essex. His work focuses on privacy-by-design, AI-assisted GDPR compliance, and architecting secure, regulation-ready digital systems.

Nina Young, FCA

CEO, Surveyors UK

Nina Young FCA is the founder and CEO of Surveyors UK. A chartered accountant and daily AI practitioner of four years, she translates the RICS AI standard into practical terms for firms, and publishes to 6,500 professionals every week.

Gareth Thomas

Commercial Director, Watergate

Gareth Thomas is Commercial Director at Watergate, where he helps real estate owners and operators use AI and smart water technology to reduce waste, cut costs and improve building resilience. With over 20 years’ experience spanning Google, Samsung and dozens of high-growth technology businesses, Gareth is passionate about helping the built environment tackle one of its most overlooked sustainability challenges: water.

Tom Storey MRICS

Senior Specialist – Data, Tech & AI, RICS

Tom Storey MRICS is Senior Specialist - Data & Technology at RICS, leading its global data, technology and AI programme. He works with industry, regulators and technology partners to support responsible innovation and digital transformation across the built environment.

Zakee Ahmed

CEO and Founder, Buildable

Zakee Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of Buildable, helping real estate firms use AI across research, analysis and operations. He combines property industry experience with practical expertise in AI agents, automation and technology implementation.

James Brook FRICS

Co-Founder & CEO, Novello Chartered Surveyors

James Brook FRICS is Co-Founder and CEO of Novello Chartered Surveyors, one of the UK's largest home survey specialists. He leads its AI development, building agentic AI to produce surveys, the Scout property data platform, and upfront information products.

Anthony Meadows

Chief Digital Information Officer, RICS

Anthony Meadows leads the organisation's global digital, data, technology and AI strategy. With more than two decades of experience delivering large scale business and technology transformation, Anthony has helped organisations navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies while maintaining trust, resilience and effective governance.