2025 was the first year of 'CAF 2.0' - an evolution of the Forum responding to the new era opening up in the City of London, and to look ahead to 2026, our 35th anniversary since we were founded in 1991. So, what has changed?
Our new Operations Director Jenny Adler-Potts joined us in late 2024, who you will all have met by now. Jenny has quietly and efficiently been able to action the Forum Committee’s ambitions to up our game and build our profile through the year.
We have also, with Jenny’s help launched this new website - one that is fully functional and easy to navigate. It is packed with information on forthcoming events and reports on previous site visits and building tours and you can easily book events online and renew subscriptions.
Usefully for members wanting to reach out, you can also create and update your own professional profiles – so, if you haven’t already, please take advantage of this new facility.
We’ve been able to significantly expand our events programme because of this improvement in operational efficiency. By the year end we delivered an unmatched 19 events, with a mix of talks, building tours and site visits.
The year’s programme concluded with the final part of the very successful Gracechurch Series, brilliantly conceived and hosted by JJ Sarralde of The Townscape Consultancy and, another first, a joint drinks party with The London Society at the Reform Club.
Highlight of the year was another sold-out highly enjoyable annual dinner in November at The Mercer restaurant with two fantastic speakers demonstrating the Forum’s continuing relevance and reach – Tom Sleigh, chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee, and, on his first public outing, Robin Dobson, the new chief executive of Platform4, Network Rail’s new property company. A lively Q&A ensued.
Your committee will build on this change in momentum in 2026.
We plan a mixed programme of site and building visits across the City including further talks at Temple Bar and a number of events already secured for the first part of the year – including on 15th January a tour of the Grade-1 listed Custom House overlooking the Thames.
And of course we will be marking our 35th anniversary with a party - further details in due course.
Thank you for your support throughout the year and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
My best wishes for the festive season.
Andrew
