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MIPIM 2024: A Q&A with our MIPIM Challenger, Ffion Middleton
Planner, Ffion Middleton, has been selected as a MIPIM Challenger, joining an inaugural cohort of 16 young professionals chosen to lend their voices and vision to the premier, global real estate event in Cannes. Ffion will be contributing through a dedicated programme of workshops and events to influence decision-makers and industry leaders, progressing matters shaping the future of the sector.
Following a competitive entry process, the MIPIM Challenger initiative aims to empower the selected professionals with a platform to shape the direction of travel in matters at the heart of the real estate sector. Ffion’s successful application follows her active contributions as a Planner, particularly, supporting the Cardiff Capital Region, of which Turley is a sponsor at MIPIM 2024 – and more widely, sharing insights and shaping the dialogue of Gender Mainstreaming (GM) in the property sector.
We sat down with Ffion to understand her priorities and explore the ideas and initiatives she will be bringing to MIPIM.
Q1: Ffion, firstly, congratulations on your selection as a MIPIM Challenger. The application process sought to understand key challenges. What do you believe is the most critical challenge in urban development today?
Ffion Middleton: Thank you! I’m really looking to attending MIPIM. It’s a great opportunity to influence the property industry. The inclusion of women in the built environment is a critical challenge. This formed the basis of my application.
To give some context, gender inequality is spatially reinforced by the property industry. Cities have historically been planned around a male perspective, meaning that the built environment can be difficult to navigate for women and other vulnerable groups. This is exemplified in data, such as the fact that 71% of women in the UK have been sexually harassed in public spaces[1] and that girls are less likely to use parks after the age of 8 and ten times more likely than boys to feel insecure in these places[2]. This is unintentional and is a result of the industry being so male dominated. We just aren’t used to considering gendered differences in the way we experience public spaces. Data gathering and decision making is typically centred on a “default male” model of thinking[3]. This is not deliberate but is a result of lack of awareness of the different experiences of women, as well as the lack of women involved in decision making.
By acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges women face in public spaces—such as poor design, lack of surveillance, and inadequate lighting—we can make substantial progress towards safer, more inclusive cities. The UN report on Safer Cities and Safer Public Spaces[4] supports this view, identifying that ‘a gender approach to urban planning’ is a key strategy to increase women’s safety globally. Key to this is encouraging an attitudinal shift to influence developers, decision-makers and industry leaders to implement a GM approach within the industry. This is what I am hoping to represent at MIPIM in my role as a Challenger.
Q2: How do you believe young professionals can contribute to resolving this?
Ffion Middleton: Young professionals are a key catalyst to driving this change through our diversity of thinking and fresh, proactive approach. The industry must look to adapt. This includes not only encouraging the attitudinal shift within the industry, but also lobbying for gendered perspectives in government practices and policies, conducting research on sectoral changes – such as how the sector can implement changes and how best to engage women in the process – and promoting more diverse representation in property and leadership roles. Women make up just 15% the workforce in the property and construction sector[5].
Q3: Your work in GM at Turley has been influential. You also mentioned lobbying for GM policy. Could you share more about your initiatives and their impact within the industry?
Ffion Middleton: Absolutely. At Turley, my role and involvement in implementing GM initiatives has been multifaceted. This has included co-producing an open letter to the UK government, presenting GM concepts to local authorities and developers, plus collaborating with external organisations – such as Make Space for Girls, BPF and Real Estate Balance. These efforts have not only influenced our company strategy but also attracted significant attention from the wider property market. Notably, my research and comment piece was recently referenced in the House of Lords, highlighting the traction a gendered perspective in urban planning is receiving.
Q4: You've worked on a range of projects, from high-tech to commercial. How does your experience in these diverse projects inform your approach to urban development and GM?
Ffion Middleton: My diverse experience has reinforced my view that a holistic approach to planning that incorporates different perspectives is needed. This is more relevant to some schemes (i.e. residential schemes) than others, but GM initiatives can be incorporated into almost all projects. These not only benefit the local community once the development is complete but can also feed into the positive social value offer of the developer.
It should be noted that GM does not place women’s needs above others but rather incorporates a gendered dimension into the planning process. It recognises the multi-faceted nature of discrimination and the complexities of equality attainment, encouraging us to think about the different needs of all people. This leads to safer and more inclusive built environment for all.
GM could become a key policy direction for local and national planning policy. Indeed, Glasgow passed a motion in October 2022 to officially embed a feminist approach into the City Development Plan, following the footsteps of European cities such as Barcelona and Vienna. We are also seeing Local Plan consultations raising queries around the consideration of women and girls, as well as the recent NPPF consultation. It is critical that developers are aware of this potential policy direction and start to think about how their schemes may benefit from incorporating a gendered perspective. Turley is well placed to advise on this.
Q5: As we look towards the future, what are your specific goals for MIPIM, and how do you plan to leverage this platform to address these inequalities and challenges?
Ffion Middleton: I’ll be seeking to amplify the conversation around inclusivity in the property industry, specifically looking at how we can include the consideration of women and girls in planning, design and the evaluation of policies, programmes, and projects. This is positive for communities but can also help feed into developers’ IED and ESG objectives.
MIPIM will be key to unlocking the dialogue around this. My goal is to drive a creative, collaborative, cross-industry response, where young professionals are key to driving enacting positive change. I’m looking forward to presenting my thoughts to property industry leaders at the Challengers Conference and discussing other challenges facing the property industry with the other Challengers. I’m also looking forward to engaging in the various sessions, workshops and networking with likeminded organisations and contacts.
Reach out to Ffion Middleton to continue the conversation or schedule a meeting at MIPIM.
Visit our MIPIM 2024 showcase to learn more about our presence and focuses this year.
28 February 2024
[1] APPG-UN-Women-Sexual-Harassment-Report_Updated.pdf (unwomenuk.org)
[2] Girls and Public Parks - the right to equal play. - Friends of Rowntree Park
[3] Criado-Perez, C. 2019. Invisible women: Exposing data bias in a world designed for men. New York: Abrams Press.
[4] Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces: Global results report | UN Women – Headquarters
[5] IWD: Why the property industry needs more women | Property Reporter