Simon founded Walter Cooper in the original Covid lockdown of 2020, following a decade working in property from estate agency to land agency, ranging from a small local business to a national market leader. Having transacted on deals from two unit back garden sites to large greenfield sites in excess of 1,000 dwellings Simon has experienced a wide range of deal structures and continues to advise a large section of the market.

Outside of work, Simon enjoys watching any and all sport with a passion for rugby, golf, NFL, football and cricket. You’ll regularly find Simon chatting incessantly at the bar to anyone who will listen. Simon’s particular passion is skiing and holidays with his wife and three children, not forgetting Blue the beloved labrador!

Being a part of the HRDAs is massively important to Simon, as he is an avid supporter of the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity and a keen promoter of the Hertfordshire development industry.

Lauren originally trained as an Architect, obtaining a Masters (Hons) degree in Architecture from the university of Edinburgh. Shortly thereafter Lauren joined a plc house builder graduate scheme where she gained exposure to working in a land department and found her passion for land buying. Throughout the past 10 years Lauren has progressed her career from: land graduate, land manager, senior land manager, head of land for Barratt London and into her current role as Development Director for the Barratt Redrow North Thames division. During this time Lauren has acquired 16 large scale new land opportunities for plc housebuilders reflecting a land spend in excess of £300m and providing local communities with more than 5,000 high quality new private and affordable homes.

In Lauren’s current role as Development Director for BDW North Thames she leads the Development team in their aim to secure new land opportunities, obtain planning permissions and complete affordable housing deals across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Outside of work Lauren enjoys spending time with her fiancé and their dog, with weekends often spent doing Hertfordshire based countryside walks and attending pub lunches. Lauren also enjoys chasing the sunshine on vacation.

With over 15 years’ experience in sales and marketing within the residential property sector, Mark has worked with some of the UK’s leading housebuilders, creating and delivering strategies that drive sales and strengthen brand presence across a wide range of developments.

As Sales & Marketing Director at luxury developer Griggs Homes, Mark is focused on achieving commercial results through clear positioning, strong branding, and considered marketing campaigns. His approach ensures that each development stands out in the market and connects with the right audience.

Mark has a proven track record of increasing sales performance and profitability, leading high-performing teams, and building lasting relationships with clients, colleagues, and partners. He is passionate about delivering a customer experience that reflects the quality and care behind every home.

Olly has worked in the property sector for over 20 years, having had the benefit of working for some of the largest national firms through to small boutique businesses, in agency and development-based roles.

Outside of work, Olly enjoys spending time with his family and is heavily involved with Rugby, holding the youth chairman at Hertford Rugby Club as well as being a coach and captain for the 4^th team. 

Ollie Johnson is Land Director at Taylor Wimpey North Thames, their regional business unit covering Hertfordshire. Ollie’s been with Taylor Wimpey since 2014, and during that time has worked in various offices within the Group before landing at North Thames.

Ollie’s delighted to have been invited to join the Committee and is looking forward to seeing the Hertfordshire Residential Development Awards grow from strength to strength.

With over a decade of experience in the London and Home Counties property sector, Sammy started her career at an independent Hertfordshire based Estate Agents, becoming Head of Land for several years. Sammy then transitioned to the realm of development to become Land Director at a renowned London based property firm, seeking opportunities to add value within both the residential and commercial sector.

In 2023, Templeton Land was launched, an independent Land Agency. With experience in both agency and development, Sammy’s wealth of knowledge and extensive client database enables her to adeptly assess sites and match each opportunity to the most suitable/reliable buyer.

Sophie is an experienced marketing professional with an educational background in Creative Media Production and Marketing from Oxford. With over a decade of experience in housebuilding, Sophie has played a key role in delivering and implementing multi award-winning marketing strategies and campaigns for a range of new build and regeneration projects across London and the Northern Home Counties. 

As Group Head of Marketing for Durkan Group, Sophie is passionate about pushing the boundaries of property marketing, always looking for innovative ways to adapt to the ever-evolving digital landscape. Her expertise lies in creating engaging, forward-thinking campaigns that drive results.

Outside of work, Sophie enjoys live music, getting hands-on with DIY projects, and spending time with her boys, being her other half and two rescue cats!

Will Almond is the Land Director at Mulberry Homes, where he leads the Regional Land and Planning team. He is responsible for the identification and acquisition of both immediate and strategic residential development sites across the northern counties, supporting the company’s growth and delivery of high-quality homes.

Mulberry Homes is a privately funded SME housebuilder. Known for its design-led approach and strong regional presence, the business is focused on sustainable growth through the acquisition of well-located land opportunities. Will plays a key role in shaping this strategy, drawing on his previous experience at Savills, Weston Homes and Stonebond Properties.

With 20 years’ experience in the charity sector Eloise is passionate about the impact local charities have in the sector. She believes supporting hospital charities is one of the most important things you can do for your local community, as every pound donated can create priceless moments for patients, throughout their lives.

East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity raise millions of pounds each year, which they spend to enhance experiences for patients, families, and staff at four hospitals in Hertfordshire.
Eloise leads the NHS hospital charity team to raise these funds in line with their values of being caring, compassionate and collaborative, holding their donors wishes at the heart of all they do. Over her career as a fundraising leader, she has delivered multiple prestigious fundraising events to raise much needed funds for charity.

Shauna started her career coordinating national events and then quickly moved over to the charity sector, where she went on to manage multiple international corporate events.

Her 25 years within the charity sector has stood her in good stead for her role as Philanthropy Manager at the East & North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity, where she works with major donors and Trusts in Hertfordshire, building lasting relationships for the future. Working with donors to create new hospital projects and then seeing those projects through to completion is why she loves coming to work every day.

One of Shauna’s favourite parts of her role as Philanthropy Manager is managing her special events. No two events are ever the same and this ensures that no two working days are ever the same.