Becky Rayner, based in the planning team in the firm’s Southampton office, is one of 16 individuals aged 30 and under from across the globe who has been chosen to attend MIPIM, a major global real estate event in Cannes, France, next March.
During MIPIM, the Challengers will have the opportunity to pitch ideas to industry leaders, join expert-led workshops, and connect with other professionals. The aim of the scheme is to introduce fresh ideas and perspectives to the industry, and promote diversity and inclusion.
Candidates were required to write an essay on key challenges in urban development and propose innovative solutions, with finalists chosen for their creativity, critical thinking, and global perspective.
Becky was selected for her essay in response to the question ‘What is one disruptive idea or experiment in your field that could significantly improve urbanisation but has been overlooked?’. Her essay, titled ‘Feminist urbanism: Reclaiming urban space through female experience’ argued that the traditional process of urbanisation has not acknowledged how women interact with and are positioned within it. A possible solution, her essay suggests, would be to actively acknowledge the impact that national and local policies have on the creation of genderised urban spaces, with the collection of emotive and personal experiences of women through consultation and collaboration feeding into planning policies, which would result in the creation of gender aligned policies and regeneration visions.
She said: “I am honoured to have been selected to attend such an influential event. As someone at the beginning of their career, this opportunity to connect with some of the leading representatives in the industry is invaluable. The chance to explore the potential for feminist urbanism within the wider MIPIM context is likewise an exciting prospect, and I am very much looking forward to all of it.”
Gavin Hall, planning director and head of Savills Southampton office, says: “We are thrilled that Becky has been chosen as one of only 16 Challengers worldwide. MIPIM provides an excellent platform for these individuals to introduce fresh ideas to the property industry. It demonstrates her enthusiasm to make her mark in the world and support better places for all.”