PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

Alan Richards

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the 2026 ACES National Conference and a very warm welcome to Southend. It is a real pleasure to see so many familiar faces, colleagues, friends and partners from across the country here today.

I hope you have already had the chance to experience some of what our city has to offer. You will no doubt have seen some of the street art from our fantastic City Jam festival a few weeks ago, and there is a reasonable chance you travelled through some of our latest roadworks, which are quite literally paving the way for our Better Queensway regeneration project. Both are things you will hear more about this afternoon.

I must begin by thanking the Palace and its staff, particularly Rosie, for hosting us here in Southend. Our National Secretary, Trevor Bishop, is disappointed not to be with us today as he is supporting his wife following a recent fall. And our Assistant National Secretary, David Pethen, very much wanted to be with us today, but unfortunately is not well enough to attend. My sincere thanks go to Trevor and David for everything they have done to support the conference arrangements.

I am also very grateful to the ACES team who have rallied round to ensure the day runs smoothly – you know who you are and everyone can see you beavering away – thank you – you have all gone above and beyond!

For me personally, it has been a tremendous privilege to serve as ACES National President over the last year. One of the highlights of the role has been the opportunity to visit our branches and meet members from across the country. ACES members work in very different places and organisations, but wherever I’ve gone, I have been struck by the professionalism, commitment and passion people bring to their work and the warm welcome I have received.

I know only too well the vital contribution that surveyors, property professionals and built environment specialists make across local government and the wider public sector. Our members bring expertise, judgement and practical solutions to some of the most complex issues facing our places and communities.

Those visits have also reinforced something that has always been one of ACES’ greatest strengths - our willingness to share experience, learn from one another, and support colleagues across the profession. Today’s conference is the very best example of that.

It is therefore a genuine pleasure to welcome you all to Southend for our flagship national event, bringing together surveyors and built environment specialists from all corners of the country for a day of learning, discussion and networking.

Conferences of this scale do not happen by accident, and they certainly do not happen without support. I would therefore like to place on record my sincere thanks to our loyal corporate members: Norse Group, Lambert Smith Hampton, Avison Young, Carter Jonas, and Park Avenue Recruitment, who make events such as this possible

ACES is extremely grateful for this support. It enables events such as today’s conference, alongside an excellent and varied programme of CPD, networking, research and thought leadership delivered in collaboration with ACES. This continuing commitment helps our members maintain the highest professional standards and supports the development of the profession as a whole.

We are also delighted to welcome and thank our conference supporters: 31ten, BNP Paribas Real Estate, Purcell, and Concerto. I know I speak for the whole ACES membership in thanking them for their generosity, expertise and commitment.

We have an excellent programme ahead, structured around four conference sessions and bringing together leaders and experts from local government, the property sector and the wider built environment. We will be discussing some of the biggest issues facing our profession, including housing delivery, regeneration, workforce development, market trends, local government reorganisation and the future of public sector property. I am very grateful to every one of you for giving up your time to share your expertise and insights.

I hope you have an inspiring, enjoyable and productive day. It is now my great pleasure, as ACES National President, to declare the 2026 ACES National Conference open, and move us into the first session of the day.