Behind the Blueprint: The People Powering UKREiiF
- Rico Naylor
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
UKREiiF is not just shaping the conversation in real estate, it is rewriting the script. What many see as a three-day flagship event is, in fact, a year-round movement driven by purpose, inclusion, and collaboration.
In this feature, we step behind the scenes to meet the women turning vision into reality. Not just planning an event, but shaping a movement. From content to operations, marketing to standards, these are the voices ensuring UKREiiF reflects the sector’s best self.
We meet:
Mya Driver, the marketer transforming social value from rhetoric into real, lived experience
Fahmida Nisa, the operational lead weaving sustainability and coordination into every thread
Mina Saeed, the content curator challenging the sector to think bigger and more boldly
Each brings a different lens, but all are aligned by one thing: the belief that how we do things is just as important as what we do.
Making Inclusion Tangible
Your role goes far beyond promotion, it is about shaping how people feel when they engage with UKREiiF. How do you ensure that inclusivity and social value are not just themes of the event, but experiences woven into its identity?
“To make inclusivity and social value a lived reality, we embed them into every layer of the event, from the programme and partnerships to accessibility and representation,” says Mya Driver, Senior Marketing Executive.
“Our fantastic content team work to curate a diverse speaker lineup that reflects the communities and industries we aim to serve. That means elevating voices from underrepresented backgrounds, both in terms of ethnicity and gender, but also across age, region, and lived experience. We ensure that these aren't just token voices, they lead conversations and shape narratives.”
This ethos carries into logistics.
“We partner with organisations that hold us accountable, from social enterprises to local councils. We prioritise suppliers who deliver real social value.”
Accessibility is designed in, not bolted on.
“From fully accessible venues and BSL interpreters to quiet rooms and baby-changing stations, we are constantly listening. Through feedback loops and informal conversations, we stay tuned to how people actually feel, ensuring we are always improving.”
But making these values visible on the ground takes operational excellence. That is where Fahmida steps in.
Operational Backbone, Values First
Bringing UKREiiF to life is a complex feat of collaboration and standards. How do you keep multiple teams aligned and energised through such a fast-moving planning cycle, while embedding best practice and sustainability into every step?
“Bringing UKREiiF to life is a real team effort. With several moving parts and a constantly evolving landscape, keeping everyone aligned is crucial,” says Fahmida Nisa, Events Manager.
Clear communication, regular check-ins, and a shared mission keep the team energised.
“We have weekly team meetings, monthly business updates, and, most importantly, a team that genuinely believes in our values.”
Sustainability is not a separate thread.
“It is part of our DNA. From the suppliers we choose to the way we deliver the event, every decision is made through a responsible lens.”
“What really keeps the energy high is the sense of purpose. This is not just an event, it is a platform for real conversations and meaningful change.”
And those conversations begin with the programme. Mina and her team are responsible for ensuring that what happens on stage pushes the industry forward.
Curating for What’s Next
UKREiiF’s programme always feels current, yet somehow a step ahead. What is your approach to curating conversations that not only reflect the sector’s big issues, but also move them forward?
“Our approach to content curation is deeply rooted in listening, both to the sector’s current challenges and its future ambitions,” says Mina Saeed, External Affairs & Content Manager.
“We engage year-round with stakeholders across public and private sectors, from investors and developers to local authorities and innovators. This dialogue helps us identify the issues that matter most now, but also spot the ideas, technologies, and policies that are set to reshape the landscape”
“We don’t just want to reflect the sector, we want to challenge it. That means creating space for bold thinking, honest conversations, and cross-sector collaboration.”
Her team intentionally brings together diverse voices.
“We look for pairings that do not often share a stage. Combining grassroots leaders with institutional voices, disruptors with decision-makers. We weave in themes like sustainability, inclusive growth, and innovation, not as buzzwords, but as pillars that move the conversation forward.”
Together, Mina, Fahmida, and Mya represent a new face of leadership in the built environment.
One where values, execution, and ambition go hand in hand. As UKREiiF evolves, so too does the ambition of those behind it. They are not only building an event, they are shaping a future.
One that is braver, broader, and built to last.
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