Martyn Chase
Robert H De Barr
Michael Green
Andrew Irvine
Hugh Black
Eileen Connolly
Charlie Costello
Maureen De Barr
Jackie Johnston
Laura Leonard
Gerry Lennon
Gerry Millar
Brendan Mullan
Sally Pinkerton
Nigel Poad
Mike Shearwood

Conference Chairman
Martyn Chase, Chairman, Donaldsons

Martyn now has been involved in the retail development industry for almost 30 years – all with Donaldsons, where he is now Chairman.

Martyn’s early experience was in local authority consultancy – early projects were the Lanes at Carlisle (first BCSC Award winner), the Quadrant at Swansea and Eden Walk Kingston – all of which were developed direct by the Council (and were brilliant investments for them). Donaldsons remaining one of the leaders in this client sector.

This took Martyn into the heart of the retail debate – Environment Select Committee, Association of Town Centre Management, BID’s, Oxford Retail Group.English Historic Towns Forum and BURA all consumed energy and enthusiasm. At that time PPG6 (as was), town centre planning policy, investment in urban regeneration, mixed use and city centre management were controversial topics. Now all are an accepted context for our industry today – who would have believed only 10 years ago that BCSC would be working with English Heritage and CABE to produce guidance on retail environments, a key report where Martyn played a lead role in as Vice Chair of the Urban Task Force.

More recently Martyn has become involved for developers and investors in delivery of large-sale urban regeneration projects in partnership with the public sector. Victoria Square Belfast is typical. Originally appointed by Belfast Council in 1996 to set up City Centre Management in the Belfast, he spotted the opportunity for a new retail led scheme in the city. Martyn introduced AM Development of the Netherlands to the project and has seen the scheme through a selection process, a public enquiry and a judicial review before eventually being given the go-ahead in 2004. It involved a particularly tricky political environment with seven political parties and five successive Ministers to satisfy, all against the complex background of the Good Friday Agreement.

Pre-letting, land assembly, funding and development agreement negotiations felt the easiest part in this context, but in reality it all required eight years of commitment and stamina from Martyn, the AM team and many others.

Now the scheme is on site, funded by CGI, and anchored by a 20,000 sq m House of Fraser. 65,000 sq ft of retail, cinema, 100 apartments and 1000 car spaces will take Belfast right up the retail hierarchy – and bring £300M investment and 3,500 new jobs to the city.

Donaldsons is going from strength to strength, led by their retail and outsourcing business. A team of 550 enthusiastic people in 8 UK offices is now expanding into mainland Europe – with a further 150 staff managing shopping centres in 12 countries. In his role as Chairman Martyn is committed to a successful firm, friendly culture, support for the community and above all focus on making a positive contribution to the success of clients business.

Martyn is a family man with three children (19, 16 and 12) and many boats (and sailing clubs). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Freeman of the City of London (Court of the Needlemakers Company).

Martyn is delighted to have brought the BCSC Conference to Belfast. A unique city, warm welcome, splendid venues and terrific line up of speakers will make a great event – and a great party.

BCSC President
Robert H De Barr FRICS, Land Securities - Director

Robert (Bob) De Barr qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1975 and after a spell in agency joined Land Securities in 1977.

He was appointed Assistant Director to the Group's principle operating subsidiary, Land Securities Properties in 1986 and Director in 1992. Since the re-structure of the Group he is now Director of Development Partnerships within the Retail Business unit. Much of his current activity involves the two Alliance projects in Birmingham and Bristol. He is a Founder Director of both the Birmingham Alliance and the Bristol Alliance.

In 1993 he pioneered the Company’s “Talk Direct” letting initiative, encouraging retailers to have an open dialogue with Land Securities.

He is a Board Member and President of the British Council of Shopping Centres, a Member of the BCSC Government Affairs Committee, Trustee of the Educational Trust and was Chairman of the BCSC Conference and Retail Showcase 2001. He is also a Member of the International Council of Shopping Centres, as well as being a member of the Strategic Marketing Board of Marketing Birmingham.

BCSC Chief Executive
Michael Green

Michael spent 20 years with Marks & Spencer where he worked in both stores and head office.

He was particularly involved in the development of the move into Food Neighbourhood stores and the Out of Town Developments in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

He was responsible for the company taking a leading role in the development of Town Centre Management schemes throughout the country.

Michael then joined MEPC, at the time the 2nd largest property company in the country, helping the company work more closely with some of their 1200 retail tenants in their shopping centres.

After leaving MEPC he started his own Consultancy, GTT Associates, which specialised in the implementation of Business plans and funding for the management of town and city centres throughout the UK.

He lives in North London with his wife Stacey and children Chloe, David and Elissa.

He is a passionate Leeds United Supporter and Leeds Rugby supporter.

Other Committee Members
Andrew Irvine, Markets Development Officer, Belfast City Council

Andrew joined Belfast City Council from a small commercial property company based in the east of the city.

He was particularly involved in the letting and management of refurbished retail, office and warehouse property.

Andrew joined Belfast City Council in January 2000. As Markets Development Officer for the City, he has been responsible for the business regeneration of the city’s St. George’s Market, a Victorian market building which underwent a £3.5m refurbishment in 1999. This redevelopment work has included the launching of new retail markets, and also establishment of St. George’s as one of the most exciting and dynamic entertainments venues in Ireland.

Andrew also has responsibility for the management of the city’s second market – Smithfield Market, and for the creation of niche market events within the primary retailing zone of the city.

Andrew lives in a small village in County Antrim with his wife Margaret. (He says he is the only child in the house – and one is enough!)

He is a passionate private pilot and even more passionate lay preacher with the Methodist Church in Ireland.

Hugh Black, Centre Manager, Junction One, Antrim

Hugh is Centre manager of Junction One international Outlet and also Chairman of Northern Ireland Region of Shopping Centres. Hugh came into industry to manage the Flagship Centre in Bangor were he stayed for four years and then moving to Junction One in May 2004.

In his previous career he was a Store Manager for Dunnes Stores Irelands largest retailer for 18 years managing stores in many of the provinces major shopping centres. Hugh also as chair of NIRSC hosted the inaugural Northern Ireland Shopping Centre awards in Belfast City Hall in 2004.

Eileen Connolly, Head of Retail Marketing, Donaldsons Europe

Joined Donaldsons in 1982 and has worked on over 90 retail and leisure schemes in the UK and Europe providing strategic and tactical marketing advice to private and public sector clients. Key areas of expertise include communications, research, branding, marketing planning, audits and non-core income projects.

Eileen is a Board Member of BCSC and Chair of the Retail Marketing Committee also an ICSC Europe Board member, judge and past chair of the ICSC European Marketing Awards and currently Chair of the 2005 ICSC MAXI Awards.

Eileen teaches for the ICSC Marketing Faculty and is a regular contributor to industry forums in the UK and overseas.

Charlie Costello, Property Manager, Blackrock Centre, Dublin

Charles is Property Manager of the Blackrock Shopping Centre, Dublin.

He is a member of the Board of Management and a member of the BCSC Regional Centre Manager Secretaries Committee.

Maureen De Barr, Managing Director, Morgan De Barr

Maureen De Barr, BSc FRICS is probably best known for her work with the British Council of Shopping Centres and has developed strong contacts with many in the business, in particular with the major and specialist retailers. She was a key figure in the creation and implementation of the inaugural Retail Showcase, launched in 1997. Maureen has had over 25 years experience in both public and private sectors, previously working for Arlington Securities in developing major shopping centres and as Head of Property for the CNT in Milton Keynes where she played a key role in the delivery of 2 million square feet of retail and leisure in the City Centre in addition to working on the completion of the final third of the city, a land bank of some 4800 acres, encompassing every aspect of the property spectrum.

Her company, MORGAN DE BARR is a consultancy company specialising in development, planning and marketing. In its 8 years of existence, apart from BCSC, clients have ranged from major development and funding companies such as Lendlease and the Prudential to niche organisations like Footfall and public bodies such as The London Borough of Greenwich. One of the larger projects was a major master planning exercise and vision for the Greenwich peninsula where Maureen played the lead role as Bid Manager and Team Director for one of the early Consortiums, bidding for the Millennium Dome.

She is happily married to Bob of Land Securities and between them they have 5 grown up kids and many shared interests.

Jackie Johnston, Director of Belfast City Centre Regeneration, Department for Social Development

Jackie Johnston has responsibility for implementing Government's regeneration policy for Belfast City Centre. This involves securing the major retail-led regeneration scheme at Victoria Square to open by 2007 and taking forward the opportunities for further retail-led schemes across the City Centre. Jackie has been with the Department for Social Development for three years and prior to this worked in corporate law administration and economic development.

Laura Leonard, European Manager, Belfast City Council

Laura was born in Belfast, graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1991 with a joint honours degree in business and French. She is a fluent French speaker.

Her career began as overseas coordinator for the wider Horizons Programme supported through the International Fund for Ireland, and then as Community Development Officer for Belfast Action Team, spending 6 months on secondment in the American Embassy in Dublin.

Laura Leonard is now European Manager for Belfast City Council’s Development Department.

She is responsible for managing the European Unit to oversee the development of European funded projects, maximise European funding opportunities, contribute to policy formulation, participate in networks of European cities and promote the Greater Belfast Metropolitan, region as a dynamic and vibrant European destination.

Previously, Laura was Economic Development Officer with Belfast City Council and lead officer for the Council’s North American, China and European relationships.

Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive, Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau

Chief Executive of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Board which is supported by Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and trade members and sponsored by Diageo Northern Ireland.

BVCB markets Belfast as a leisure tourism and conference destination and has a key role in visitor servicing, providing a customer focused welcome and orientation to visitors and manages the Belfast Welcome Centre.

Gerry has twelve years in senior management in relation to marketing communications and has been involved in urban and rural tourism and the telecommunications industry.

Gerry is a keen golfer and an Armagh supporter.

Gerry Millar, Head of Urban Development, Belfast City Council

Gerry Millar is the Head of Urban Development within the Development Department of Belfast City Council. His responsibilities include the management of the Council’s Capital Programme, Estate Management of all Council land, property and markets; Procurement of services, supplies and works contract and the development of the Council’s Planning and Transport policy responses. He also works closely with the Department of Social Development in regard to its work in the City Centre and in neighbourhoods.

During his 15 years with the Council Mr. Millar has gained experience in Building Control, CCT, Change Management and in Strategic Management within the Chief Executive’s Department before moving to Development.

Brendan Mullan, Chief Executive, Investment Belfast

Brendan Mullan is a Chartered Director by profession and has worked in the local economic development field for the past 20 years.

He was a founding director of Business in the Community in Northern Ireland and in 1995 he became UK managing director, based in London, with responsibility for leading the organisation’s work in economic regeneration.

Brendan was appointed chief executive of Investment Belfast in October 1998. Established by Belfast City Council, Investment Belfast harnesses the combined energy of the city’s business and political leaders to support economic growth and investment in the city.

Brendan’s social interests include bird watching and rowing.

Sally Pinkerton, Partner, Wragge & Co

Sally Pinkerton joined Wragge & Co in March 2004. Previously a Partner at S J Berwin, Sally specialises in town centre development work and complex investment acquisitions and disposals. Sally regularly manages multi-disciplinary teams, tax, corporate, banking, property financial services planning and constructions lawyers.

Sally's recent projects include; advising US opportunity fund Peabody on its acquisition of Cutler Gardens, Cannon Centre above Cannon Street Station for Hines and redevelopment of High Wycombe town centre for Stannifer.

Sally is a Member of the BCSC Board of Management and member of the Executive Board. Sally is also Honorary Secretary of BCSC and a Trustee (ex-officio) of the BCSC Educational Trust.

Nigel Poad, Head of Property Acquisitions, Debenhams

Nigel is Head of Property Acquisitions for Debenhams. He joined Debenhams in March 1997 and since then has been involved with and is now responsible for the most aggressive acquisition programme in the department store sector.

Nigel is a Board Member and currently sits on the Annual Conference and Retail Showcase Committee and was previously a Judge for the BCSC Golds.

“BCSC is fast becoming a very important and respected voice representing the full spectrum of the retail property business.

It is important that retailers, local authorities and other public sector bodies continue to become more involved so as to allow it to continue to shed it’s perception of a developer/landlord biased organisation”.

Mike Shearwood, Managing Director, Zara UK

Mike qualified as an optician while working for Donald & Aitchenson during the 1980s. He progressed to Regional Director for London before joining Vision Express in 1992. He held various positions at Vision Express during his 8 years there from Divisional Operations Manager, Franchise & Development Director, Group Business Development Director to Operations and Services Director. The varied responsibilities of his roles at Vision Express enabled him to gain valuable experience in all areas of retail from Operations, logistics, systems, finance & audit, to marketing, manufacturing, property acquisitions, store concept & design, customer services & communication and professional services.

After the successful sale of Vision Express in 1997 to GPS of France, Mike stayed on and was instrumental in strategic brand repositioning and development of Vision Express to Vision Express Optical Lab concept.

After 17 years in the optical industry the challenge of operating in a different retail category (and learning Spanish) was too difficult to resist and Mike joined Inditex as the Managing Director for Zara UK. 4 years later Mike is now the Managing Director of 7 companies and 4 brands for Inditex in the UK and Ireland with Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Zara Home.