Investor Event: The challenges for institutional UK balanced real estate funds in attracting global investors

John Benham, Managing Director, is a member of BlackRock's Real Estate team. He is the Portfolio Manager of the BlackRock UK Property Fund and is responsible for client relationships, managing the team, setting strategy, overseeing the transaction of acquisitions and disposals and the creation and delivery of asset management initiatives.

Mr. Benham's service with the firm dates back to 2012. Prior to joining BlackRock he worked as an Assistant Fund Manager in the Real Estate Team at Aegon Asset Management. He has worked within the UK Property Industry for 18 years, focusing primarily on fund management and investment.

Mr. Benham is a member of the RICS (qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 2007) and holds the IMC. He is a graduate of Loughborough University with a BSc in Geography, subsequently earning an MSc in Real Estate Management from Oxford Brookes University.

Lindsey Hammond is a Global Senior Portfolio Manager within the CBRE Investment Management Indirect Private Real Estate (“Indirect RE”) team. Based in London, Lindsey is responsible for client relationships, portfolio management and sourcing and undertaking due diligence on UK investment opportunities.

Lindsey joined CBRE IM Indirect RE in June 2013. Prior to this she has worked at CBRE in their Real Estate Finance department providing investment and asset management advice to Pension Funds and landed estates. She also joined RBS in their Global Restructuring Group on secondment in 2010 whereby she worked on disposal strategies and implementation of distressed portfolios.

Lindsey is a member of RICS and also holds the Investment Property Forum diploma. She is a graduate of the University of Glasgow with a BSC in Physiology and an MSC in Property Management and Investment from Napier University, Edinburgh.

Melville's practice focuses on the launch and operation of funds, including funds which hold underlying real estate investments in the UK as well as internationally. The funds have attracted institutional, private and retail investors.

In addition to servicing clients, he has been involved in representing industry bodies in their dialogue with the Treasury and the FCA. He is a regular contributor to the real estate press. Melville is the honorary legal adviser to the London Doughnut Economy Coalition.