ASTL conference speakers revealed

Entitled ‘Lending in an Uncertain World’, the attendees of the event will hear from Savills property analyst Susan Emmett, alongside economist Alan Capper, and Smith and Williamson tax partner Nick Cartwright.

Other speakers previously revealed include Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) mortgage sector manager Lynda Blackwell and Lord Daniel Finkelstein, the Times columnist and former adviser and speech writer for John Major and William Hague, who will deliver the keynote speech.

Taking place at Painters’ Hall in London, the half-day conference will look at the events facing bridging and short-term lending as well as the wider economy and housing industry and what attendees can do to ensure their businesses are fit for success.

The event is open to lenders, financial advisers, intermediaries, surveyors and anyone else interested in the short-term lending market.

ASTL chief executive Benson Hersch (pictured) said: “The ASTL conference has become a renowned fixture in the calendar for lenders, advisers and suppliers to the bridging and short-term lending industry.  The conference will examine how everybody associated with the bridging industry can prepare themselves for a successful future by looking at what is around the corner that might affect our industry.”

Capper, who is former head of credit strategy at Lloyds Banking group and Lehman brothers, will look at the UK’s ageing population and what that means for UK infrastructure and finance, while Cartwright will focus on the effects of the changing tax landscape.

Lord Finkelstein, who was also a director of the social market foundation and chairman of the Policy Exchange, is expected to give insights into the current political and social arenas.

FCA representative Blackwell is responsible for monitoring developments in the mortgage market while also identifying and assessing emerging risks. Before moving to the City regulator’s supervision department, she was mortgage policy manager at the FCA for more than 10 years.