Welcome to our Inaugural Annual Dinner 2026 Programme. Here you'll find information on our dinner programme, speakers, and charity partner.
Meet our compère
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Michael Crow
Compére
Michael Crow
Compére
With more than 30 years’ senior experience across corporate, political and media environments, Michael specialises in strategic communications, reputation building, presentation skills, crisis leadership and public policy. His career spans Director‑level roles at NatWest Group and the UK Conservative Party, alongside 15 years as a senior political and Westminster correspondent and presenter in the broadcast media.He's led on major, high‑profile issues including NatWest Group’s return to the private sector, the rebrand from RBS Group to NatWest Group, and NatWest Group’s role as lead financial services sponsor of COP26. He’s interviewed Prime Ministers and Chancellors, chaired live TV debates, hosted political programmes and written speeches for senior leaders including David Cameron, George Osborne and NatWest Group CEOs and Chairs.He has also served on several boards - from a tech start‑up to a national charity and Oxford University’s senior leadership programme.Michael has recently set up the communications consultancy Direct Communications Ltd.Compére
Michael Crow
Compére
With more than 30 years’ senior experience across corporate, political and media environments, Michael specialises in strategic communications, reputation building, presentation skills, crisis leadership and public policy. His career spans Director‑level roles at NatWest Group and the UK Conservative Party, alongside 15 years as a senior political and Westminster correspondent and presenter in the broadcast media.He's led on major, high‑profile issues including NatWest Group’s return to the private sector, the rebrand from RBS Group to NatWest Group, and NatWest Group’s role as lead financial services sponsor of COP26. He’s interviewed Prime Ministers and Chancellors, chaired live TV debates, hosted political programmes and written speeches for senior leaders including David Cameron, George Osborne and NatWest Group CEOs and Chairs.He has also served on several boards - from a tech start‑up to a national charity and Oxford University’s senior leadership programme.Michael has recently set up the communications consultancy Direct Communications Ltd.
17:00 | Real Estate:Futures Pre Dinner Reception at All Bar One
An exclusive pre-dinner reception only for Real Estate:Futures members attending the dinner at All Bar One, Exchange Plaza, Clydesdale Bank Plaza, 50 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH3 9BY
18:00 | Reception commences for all guests
At Strathblane Hall
18:45 | Call for Dinner
1900 | Formalities commence
Guests get seated in Cromdale Hall
1905 | Address by Real Estate:Scotland Chair, Cameron Stott, Head of Scotland at JLL
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Cameron Stott
Real Estate:Scotland Chair; Head of Scotland, JLL
Cameron Stott
Real Estate:Scotland Chair; Head of Scotland, JLL
Cameron Stott leads JLL's Scottish operations as Head of Scotland and Director of Commercial Agency and Development. With over 35 years' experience in Edinburgh's property market since 1987, he specialises in development, acquisition, consultancy, sales and lettings across business space, knowledge sector and mixed-use schemes. Currently managing high-profile Edinburgh developments including Haymarket, Edinburgh Park, and Heriot Watt University Research Park, plus office projects like Rosebery and Waverley. He advises major clients including Parabola, M&G, Network Rail, and Aviva Investors, while providing market commentary for capital markets and professional departments throughout Scotland. Cameron also works alongside colleagues in sectors residential, leisure and retail sectors.
Real Estate:Scotland Chair; Head of Scotland, JLL
Cameron Stott
Real Estate:Scotland Chair; Head of Scotland, JLL
Cameron Stott leads JLL's Scottish operations as Head of Scotland and Director of Commercial Agency and Development. With over 35 years' experience in Edinburgh's property market since 1987, he specialises in development, acquisition, consultancy, sales and lettings across business space, knowledge sector and mixed-use schemes. Currently managing high-profile Edinburgh developments including Haymarket, Edinburgh Park, and Heriot Watt University Research Park, plus office projects like Rosebery and Waverley. He advises major clients including Parabola, M&G, Network Rail, and Aviva Investors, while providing market commentary for capital markets and professional departments throughout Scotland. Cameron also works alongside colleagues in sectors residential, leisure and retail sectors.
1915 | Address by RE:UK CEO, Vanessa Hale
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Vanessa Hale
Chief Executive
Vanessa Hale
Chief Executive
Vanessa became Chief Executive of Real Estate:UK in June 2026. She is a business leader and innovator with nearly 25 years of extensive experience in corporate strategy, research, data, and innovation across a variety of real estate sectors and geographies.
Immediately before joining RE:UK, she headed up the research and strategy function at BNP Paribas Real Estate’s UK business and was a member of the executive leadership team, where she was recognized as an AI pioneer and technology-forward thinker, committed to fostering a culture of openness and transparency. Vanessa is also a long-standing supporter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), having served as its UK Chair between 2019 and 2021 and remaining a trustee to this day.
Chief Executive
Vanessa Hale
Chief Executive
Vanessa became Chief Executive of Real Estate:UK in June 2026. She is a business leader and innovator with nearly 25 years of extensive experience in corporate strategy, research, data, and innovation across a variety of real estate sectors and geographies.
Immediately before joining RE:UK, she headed up the research and strategy function at BNP Paribas Real Estate’s UK business and was a member of the executive leadership team, where she was recognized as an AI pioneer and technology-forward thinker, committed to fostering a culture of openness and transparency. Vanessa is also a long-standing supporter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), having served as its UK Chair between 2019 and 2021 and remaining a trustee to this day.
19.20 | Address by Frances Sim, Charity Partner (SPIFOX)
We are proud to continue our partnership with SPIFOX as our exclusive charity partner for this year's Annual Dinner. This year, we're adding a twist: raffle prizes for our lucky guests! Tickets can be purchased by cash in the traditional envelopes or by cashless payment. Donations can also be made on the SPIFOX website.
1925 | Dinner Service
2120 | After-dinner speaker – Brian Taylor
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Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor is a journalist, broadcaster, author and lecturer.He is a columnist for the Herald and a regular broadcast commentator, mainly on politics and current affairs.Brian is the former Political Editor of BBC Scotland. He joined the BBC in 1985. After a spell co-presenting the political programme Left, Right and Centre, he was appointed Political Correspondent and then Political Editor.Before joining the BBC, Brian worked in newspapers for eight years including six years as a lobby correspondent at Westminster.Brian has written two books on Scotland’s Parliament and co-written eight more. He has lectured on politics and identity in Washington, Stockholm, Madrid, Edinburgh, London and throughout Germany.Born in 1955 in Dundee, he is a former pupil of Dundee High School and graduated MA (Honours) in English from the University of St Andrews in 1977.He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Edinburgh Napier University in 2008; and from Abertay University in 2010; and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Dundee University in 2015.Brian maintains contact with the realities of Scottish life through passionate support of Dundee United Football Club. Other interests include literature, theatre and golf.Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor is a journalist, broadcaster, author and lecturer.He is a columnist for the Herald and a regular broadcast commentator, mainly on politics and current affairs.Brian is the former Political Editor of BBC Scotland. He joined the BBC in 1985. After a spell co-presenting the political programme Left, Right and Centre, he was appointed Political Correspondent and then Political Editor.Before joining the BBC, Brian worked in newspapers for eight years including six years as a lobby correspondent at Westminster.Brian has written two books on Scotland’s Parliament and co-written eight more. He has lectured on politics and identity in Washington, Stockholm, Madrid, Edinburgh, London and throughout Germany.Born in 1955 in Dundee, he is a former pupil of Dundee High School and graduated MA (Honours) in English from the University of St Andrews in 1977.He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Edinburgh Napier University in 2008; and from Abertay University in 2010; and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Dundee University in 2015.Brian maintains contact with the realities of Scottish life through passionate support of Dundee United Football Club. Other interests include literature, theatre and golf.
2155 | Close of formalities by RE:Scotland Vice Chair Caroline Cuthbertson
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Caroline Cuthbertson (1)
Real Estate:Scotland Vice Chair
Caroline Cuthbertson (1)
Real Estate:Scotland Vice Chair
Caroline is a Chartered Accountant and worked in corporate banking for 20+ years across a variety of transactional banking teams, including a period of 6 years in real estate restructuring. More recently she was part of the Crosswind Developments team leading the masterplan planning application process for the mixed-use development site in west Edinburgh. She currently works independently as a corporate finance specialist. In addition to her day job, Caroline has been part of the social housing landlord Link Group, Board for 7 years, where she Chairs their Audit & Risk Committee and sits on the Board of Link Living, a trauma-informed health and wellbeing charity that supports people to overcome the negative impacts of trauma, mental health, inequality, and isolation. She became Vice Chair of RE Scotland in June this year.
Real Estate:Scotland Vice Chair
Caroline Cuthbertson (1)
Real Estate:Scotland Vice Chair
Caroline is a Chartered Accountant and worked in corporate banking for 20+ years across a variety of transactional banking teams, including a period of 6 years in real estate restructuring. More recently she was part of the Crosswind Developments team leading the masterplan planning application process for the mixed-use development site in west Edinburgh. She currently works independently as a corporate finance specialist. In addition to her day job, Caroline has been part of the social housing landlord Link Group, Board for 7 years, where she Chairs their Audit & Risk Committee and sits on the Board of Link Living, a trauma-informed health and wellbeing charity that supports people to overcome the negative impacts of trauma, mental health, inequality, and isolation. She became Vice Chair of RE Scotland in June this year.
2200 | Late Bar
0100 | Carriage
