The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has appointed Ian Hawksworth, CEO of Shaftesbury Capital, as ULI UK chair.
Hawksworth will succeed Mark Collins, non-executive director at Kingdom International Real Estate and Echlin, on 1 March 2026, and will serve on a voluntary basis until June 2027.
Hawksworth has been an active member of ULI for 24 years and is currently a member of the ULI European retail and entertainment council. Previously, he was a ULI global governing trustee, was part of the original formation of ULI Asia in the 1990s, and served two terms on the global executive board.
Under Hawksworth’s leadership, the priorities for ULI UK will include a focus on enhancing the institute’s visibility and presence and convening the industry’s expert leaders to address the critical issues impacting the real estate market.
Collins said: “It has been an honour to serve as the UK chair for ULI over the past two and a half years. My journey with ULI started over 15 years ago, and while I hand over my role as chair, I will remain involved with the organisation sitting as a member of the ULI Europe affordable housing council. I have truly enjoyed leading a team of dedicated and passionate executive committee members to steer the direction of the UK national council, and as always will continue to champion our young leaders, regional growth opportunities, and mission priorities going forward. I am thrilled to be passing the baton to Ian, who brings a wealth of knowledge, long-standing ULI leadership, and valued expertise to the table.”
Hawksworth added: “I am delighted to take on the role of chair of ULI UK, an organisation I very much admire. ULI’s commitment to responsible land use, resilient communities, and thoughtful leadership has never been more important. I look forward to working with our members and partners to advance these principles and help shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for the industry and built environment.”
Anne Kavanagh, ULI Europe chair, said: “I am delighted that Ian has committed to be our incoming ULI UK chair. He brings seasoned knowledge as a leader in real estate, understands the current challenges and opportunities that we are navigating as an industry, and has a strong ambition to support ULI as it continues to share global best practice for the benefit of its members. I am confident that Ian will carry forward the momentum that the UK has been building over the past two years and will focus on amplifying our impact and our membership presence in the UK market during his leadership term.”
