What Makes a Smart Building Smart: A Roundtable Discussion
A smart building can understand how it is being used, respond to the needs of its occupiers, and continually improve its performance over time. This roundtable brings together facility managers, fit‑out specialists and wider industry voices to explore how useful that intelligence is, how it is created, how occupiers expectations are shifting, and how the industry can deliver smarter outcomes.
The discussion will also examine the evolution of smart buildings, and the impact of AI in buildings, all while analysing the close collaboration between facility managers, fit‑out and end‑user experience in order to not only support the occupier, but the building itself.
By uniting these perspectives, this roundtable aims to clarify what truly makes a building ‘smart’, highlighting the future potential of AI and demonstrating how joined‑up thinking from construction to delivery can enhance outcomes for clients.
Session Speakers
Anna is CEO and Founder of INFORMARE. a PR and marketing communication business specialising in the built environment. Headquartered in London, Informare manages clients with its partners in UK, Europe, North America, the GCC region, and Australia, to support the increasing need for a global perspective. The workspace design sector is an important part of the Informare business and the potential of business to impact people, economies, the environment and society.
Anna began her career in-house at WPP, and grew Informare from a few freelancers to its current size with a robust team of experts across the sector. The company represents developers and occupiers, through to manufacturers and everything in between, working with the best-in-class in every segment.
A regular contributor in the trade press, Anna can also be found speaking at events such as the Future Worktech Forum, Workspace Design Show, Surface Design Show, Women in Office Design, Modern Woman and Top Drawer where she offers advice on marketing strategies.
Anna is the a new and active member of the Saudi British Joint Business Council , member of the Design Guild Mark committee, IWFM Risings committee, former President of Exchange Club and an active supporter and ambassador for a number of charities including Helen Bamber Foundation, 65 Degrees North, Freddie Farmer Foundation, and Furnishing Futures.
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Steven Clarke is the Head of Technical Excellence, Sustainability, and Innovation at WPS FM, where he leads the development of technical standards, sustainable solutions, and innovative service delivery strategies across the business. With over nine years at WPS FM and an electrical engineering background, Steven brings extensive technical expertise and operational experience to the role. He is passionate about driving continuous improvement, enhancing asset performance, and supporting clients in achieving their sustainability and facilities management objectives through practical, forward-thinking solutions.
Rex Conyers-Silverthorn is Vice President of Leasing for BGRE in London specialising in leasing and pre-leasing transactions and working with both existing and new occupiers to optimise the performance of BGRE’s office portfolio.
With over 25 years of experience, Rex is part of a team that has secured many of London’s leading leasing transactions. Having previously held advisory roles to both landlords and occupiers, Rex has a broad perspective to bring to the delivery of occupational and experiential quality. Rex is also a chartered member of the RICS.
Simon is a Director at LOM with over 20 years of experience in delivering innovative projects across a range of sectors including Workplace, Education & Hospitality. He also leads the practice’s Sustainability, EDI and Wellbeing agendas, and contributes to industry thought and design leadership.
I began my career in 2002 as an Electrical Engineering Apprentice, progressing through NVQ Level 3, BTEC, HNC and ultimately a First‑Class Honours Degree in Building Services Engineering. Over more than 20 years, I’ve advanced from subcontractor roles into senior technical leadership within main contracting, most recently culminating as Senior Technical Services Manager for Wates Fit Out.
I specialise in leading MEP delivery on major complex projects such as Stonecutter Court (£165m), Microsoft Research Cambridge (£65m), Waltham Forest Town Hall (£25m) and multiple commercial and government schemes in central London.
I oversee full technical delivery from design coordination to commissioning and closeout, working closely with consultants, clients, and specialist supply chains.
