Professor John Ratcliffe joins Hillbreak
PRESS RELEASE
27 January 2016
Eminent professor joins forces with Keeping and Lovell at specialist training and advisory firm, Hillbreak
Professor John Ratcliffe
Professor John Ratcliffe, a globally eminent chartered surveyor and consultant, has joined Hillbreak, the specialist training and advisory start-up fronted by former Deloitte duo, Jon Lovell and Miles Keeping.
Ratcliffe joins the growing firm, whose client book includes marquee real estate organisations including TH Real Estate, British Land and BMO Real Estate Partners, as Head of Strategic Foresight.
With over forty years of working in academia and industry, Ratcliffe brings a wealth of experience to Hillbreak.
Until 2007 he held the position of director at the Dublin Institute of Technology, where he remains Emeritus Professor, as well as being a visiting professor at Henley Business School and the University of Salford,
He has worked as a consultant to countries, cities, companies, colleges and communities in the area of strategic foresight and is currently conducting several projects on the future of sustainable cities and sustainable real estate development.
Currently, he acts as president of the Futures Academy, an applied research and strategic consultancy organisation that was established in order to promote a fresh and more effective approach towards long-term planning.
His work has gained global recognition as a new way of encouraging business and investment management leaders to strengthen their focus on strategic foresight as a means of future proofing policy and leadership strategies.
Ratcliffe will lead the firm’s work on anticipatory leadership through strategic foresight, helping business leaders prepare for a range of future scenarios and making sure their business plans are both adaptable and resilient.
His appointment comes at a time when the firm is expanding both its advisory and training services, particularly in the field of Responsible Property Investment strategies for international asset owners and investment managers.
Professor Ratcliffe said:
“With unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty an acute issue for businesses across all sectors and financial markets, the need for CEOs and their Executive teams to take a more structured and anticipatory look at future operating scenarios has never been greater. Investors and other stakeholders expect rigorous and inclusive approaches to risk management. The volatility, complexity and ambiguity we are witnessing demands exceptional adaptability which can only be realised with a solid approach to strategic foresight.”
For most of my professional career in and around real estate, cities and the built environment, I have championed the cause of thinking farther, wider, deeper and differently about tomorrow’s future, so as to take better decisions for today’s business. Joining Hillbreak is a very special opportunity to promote strategic foresight and anticipatory leadership for the advancement of the real estate industry and the betterment of the communities it serves. I am genuinely very excited at the prospect.”
Miles Keeping, co-founder of Hillbreak and Chairman of the Green Property Alliance, said:
“We are delighted to combine forces with John, whom we have known for and collaborated with over many years. Responsible investment practices and resilient business models require an ever deeper understanding of futures trends and operating scenarios, and John’s knowledge and talent are a perfect fit for Hillbreak in this regard. We’re really excited about the added depth of capability that he will bring to our clients”.
Notes to Editors
About Hillbreak
Hillbreak provides training and advisory services to organisations seeking competitive advantage in a changing urban world. Its mission is to expedite the transition to a sustainable policy, business and investment environment by bringing intelligence, challenge and inspiration to its clients and stakeholders.
