The aim of The Specialist Lending Event is to help advisers boost industry acumen, product knowledge and enable strategic thinking for their business.
You can expect a packed agenda of presentations and panel discussions at any of our four event venues, which will help deepen your understanding and knowledge of the specialist parts of the market in which you currently operate or might consider in the future. The entire event also prioritises time for first class business networking between attendees, speakers and exhibitors in the specialist lending market.
Please email david.adjei@ae3media.co.uk if you are interested in attending our 2026 event.
09.35 – 09.55
Redefining the mortgage landscape – putting specialist at the forefront
The UK’s property and lending landscape is being affected by economic, social and regulatory changes. Key economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and unemployment will play a continued role in shaping borrower behaviour, affordability and access to finance. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, with stagnant wage growth and rising household expenses, consumers will continue to rethink their approach to debt, property ownership and financial planning. This session will explore the economic shifts, evolving borrower profiles and regulatory reform that are affecting specialist lending and advice.
09.55 – 11.00
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
11.30 – 12.00
The new rules of engagement – positioning and competitiveness within the specialist market
Scott Howitt, sales director, Chartwell Mortgage Services
Alex Swan, deputy head of underwriting and head of AI, SDKA
Moderated by: Jason Berry, group sales director, Crystal Specialist Finance
12.00 – 13.05
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
13.10 – 13.30
AI, automation and the customer journey – what can technology do for you?
Frazer Campbell, co-founder and CRO, Brickflow
09.35 – 09.55
Redefining the mortgage landscape – putting specialist at the forefront
The UK’s property and lending landscape is being affected by economic, social and regulatory changes. Key economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and unemployment will play a continued role in shaping borrower behaviour, affordability and access to finance. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, with stagnant wage growth and rising household expenses, consumers will continue to rethink their approach to debt, property ownership and financial planning. This session will explore the economic shifts, evolving borrower profiles and regulatory reform that are affecting specialist lending and advice.
09.55 – 11.00
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
11.30 – 12.00
The new rules of engagement – positioning and competitiveness within the specialist market
Hiten Ganatra, managing director, Visionary Finance
Scott Howitt, sales director, Chartwell Mortgage Services
Alison Newsome, portfolio manager, SDKA
Moderated by: Jason Berry, group sales director, Crystal Specialist Finance
12.00 – 13.05
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
13.10 – 13.30
AI, automation and the customer journey – what can technology do for you?
Frazer Campbell, co-founder and CRO, Brickflow
09.35 – 09.55
Redefining the mortgage landscape – putting specialist at the forefront
The UK’s property and lending landscape is being affected by economic, social and regulatory changes. Key economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and unemployment will play a continued role in shaping borrower behaviour, affordability and access to finance. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, with stagnant wage growth and rising household expenses, consumers will continue to rethink their approach to debt, property ownership and financial planning. This session will explore the economic shifts, evolving borrower profiles and regulatory reform that are affecting specialist lending and advice.
09.55 – 11.00
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
11.30 – 12.00
The new rules of engagement – positioning and competitiveness within the specialist market
Hiten Ganatra, managing director, Visionary Finance
Scott Howitt, sales director, Chartwell Mortgage Services
Kunal Mehta, managing director, SDKA
Moderated by: Jason Berry, group sales director, Crystal Specialist Finance
12.00 – 13.05
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
13.10 – 13.30
AI, automation and the customer journey – what can technology do for you?
Frazer Campbell, co-founder and CRO, Brickflow
09.35 – 09.55
Redefining the mortgage landscape – putting specialist at the forefront
The UK’s property and lending landscape is being affected by economic, social and regulatory changes. Key economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and unemployment will play a continued role in shaping borrower behaviour, affordability and access to finance. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, with stagnant wage growth and rising household expenses, consumers will continue to rethink their approach to debt, property ownership and financial planning. This session will explore the economic shifts, evolving borrower profiles and regulatory reform that are affecting specialist lending and advice.
09.55 – 11.00
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
11.30 – 12.00
The new rules of engagement – positioning and competitiveness within the specialist market
Hiten Ganatra, managing director, Visionary Finance
Scott Howitt, sales director, Chartwell Mortgage Services
Alison Newsome, portfolio manager, SDKA
Moderated by: Jason Berry, group sales director, Crystal Specialist Finance
12.00 – 13.05
Roundtable discussions
The roundtable discussions, hosted by our event sponsors, will offer advisers the opportunity to hear directly from lenders and providers on the latest developments shaping the specialist lending market, from emerging trends and regulatory changes to innovative products and evolving customer needs.
13.10 – 13.30
AI, automation and the customer journey – what can technology do for you?
Frazer Campbell, co-founder and CRO, Brickflow
Suffolk Building Society
Website
Suffolk has been writing mortgages since 1849, although its flexible approach and can-do attitude to lending mean it seems younger than 175.
It’s manual where it counts (underwriting), but it knows that time is money, so it is continually working on its intermediary journey.
Award-winning proposition:
Frazer Campbell is the C0-Founder and CRO of Brickflow. During Frazer’s time at Brickflow, the company has gone through a period of remarkable achievement and growth and he has demonstrated relentless dedication, passion and hard work, playing a pivotal role in shaping Brickflow into what it has become.
Frazer has always been fully committed – not only to driving the business forward but also to fostering a company culture grounded in collaboration, innovation and continuous growth. His unwavering belief in Brickflow’s potential and his tireless efforts in every aspect of the business set him apart.
Frazer shares a bold vision for the future of Brickflow with his co-founders, which is what led to his appointment as a Co-Founder. His alignment of ideas and passion for innovation fuels the company’s progress, enabling the team to explore new opportunities, tackle challenges head-on and work relentlessly to expand Brickflow’s impact.
Hiten has worked in property finance since 2008, building a strong reputation for insight, integrity and results. He leads both Mortimer Street Capital and its sister company, Visionary Finance – a well-regarded mortgage brokerage known for its reach across the UK and international markets. Together, the two firms serve a wide range of clients, from private individuals to large property companies and portfolio investors, across the full mortgage and real estate funding markets.
Hiten is a regular voice in industry media and was recently named a Change Maker at the British Mortgage Awards, recognised for his efforts in shaping a more inclusive and balanced sector.
With over 25 years’ experience in the financial services mortgage sector, Scott spent the majority of his career at Mortgage Talk heading up various divisions of the business.
He then joined Meridian Mortgages in January 2013, specialising in new build mortgages and working alongside some the UK’s biggest new homes developers.
He is now the Sales Director at Chartwell Mortage Services, where he has been since 2019.
Kunal’s passion for service and delivery stems from his previous career as a commercial airline pilot. With a strong personal interest in property investment and development, he founded SDKA in 2016 and the business has continued to grow under his leadership. He drives the team with a clear focus on supporting clients and enabling their business growth.
At SDKA, Kunal ensures that everyone is given a fair opportunity. When the team identifies genuine business acumen, they provide support regardless of experience, remaining open-minded and focused on potential rather than barriers.
Kunal finds it incredibly rewarding to see the value his team brings to clients – helping them expand their portfolios, strengthen their businesses and build long-term wealth.
Alison is passionate about developing strong client relationships while overseeing the servicing of loans. Working collaboratively with stakeholders and the wider SDKA team, she is responsible for effectively managing loan book redemptions.
With an extensive background in financial services – spanning roles from Bank Manager to Risk Manager and Commercial Relationship Manager, as well as experience in Portfolio Management – Alison brings the depth of expertise needed to manage a diversified portfolio for SDKA.
In her approach to portfolio management, Alison leverages her interpersonal skills alongside her problem-solving and planning abilities to build professional relationships. She thrives on working with clients to help turn their ambitions into reality and is genuinely passionate about nurturing the meaningful connections she forms with them.
Alex holds the position of Deputy Head of Underwriting and Head of AI, where he is responsible for structuring loans and guiding them through to completion. He provides support throughout the application process, ensuring all necessary documentation is in place. Having entered the specialist lending sector as a graduate, Alex has valued the opportunity to apply his logical mindset to decision-making across a wide range of deals.
In his work, Alex thrives on the analysis and practical reasoning that specialist lending demands. He appreciates moving beyond tick-box processes and instead applying clear, logical thought to each decision. Every application presents a unique combination of properties, borrowers, and circumstances – an aspect of the role that Alex particularly enjoys.
