Global engineering and sustainability consultancy appoints Richard Linacre and Ivana Poparic as Directors in its Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals teams Ramboll has today announced the hires of Richard Linacre as Director (Pharmaceuticals) and Ivana Poparic as Director (Business Development & Strategic Advisory). Richard and Ivana bring complementary expertise that further strengthens Ramboll’s presence across the UK Life Science and Pharmaceuticals market, following a number of recent wins for the business.  With over 30 years of engineering experience, Richard brings a wealth of market insight and pharma-sector expertise, underpinned by a proven track record in building trusted client partnerships, leading complex programmes and shaping high-quality outcomes across pharmaceutical and life science environments. In his role Richard will be focusing on co-ordinating Ramboll’s multi-disciplinary capabilities on projects across Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals. This will include work both in the UK and internationally across the sector, delivering innovation with a focus on design excellence and sustainability. As Business Development & Strategic Advisory Director, Ivana will leverage Ramboll’s multidisciplinary expertise to support the delivery of complex projects and provide strategic counsel to clients across the life sciences sector. Having previously held positions at King’s College London, The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and MedCity, Ivana is a highly respected scientist and a well-known expert in life sciences infrastructure development and ecosystems. She will bring considerable strategic advisory experience and a strong track record to Ramboll, having built partnerships across industry, investors, government, academia and real estate to support Ramboll’s growth and innovation. Together these appointments further enhance Ramboll’s ability to create new opportunities for collaboration and growth, enhance the company’s offering, and reinforce its commitment to supporting its clients across the Life Science and Pharmaceutical sector. Commenting on the appointments, Jason Layfield, Executive Director – Buildings, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Richard and Ivana to Ramboll. Both arrive with a well-earned reputation for excellence in their fields and a proven track record of delivering commercial success. They will provide an important focal point and leadership for our pharmaceutical and life sciences teams in the UK. I am looking forward to working closely alongside them both.” Richard Linacre, Director – Pharmaceuticals added: “Ramboll’s track-record in delivering the highest quality of work speaks for itself and I’m excited to be joining a company that shares my commitment to providing across-the-board excellence to clients. I have been impressed by Ramboll’s expertise, collaborative approach and use of creativity to develop novel solutions, which provide real impact for projects of significant scale and the breadth in the sector. It’s a timely moment to be joining with both life sciences and the business experiencing growth and I’m glad to be here to help maximise the opportunity.” Ivana Poparic, Director Business Development & Strategic Advisory – said: “I am pleased to be joining Ramboll to help deliver further growth in life sciences and pharma in the UK. Ramboll already has a first-class reputation in this space, which is part of what made me so keen to take on this role. I have seen firsthand both the challenges and opportunities for life sciences development in the UK and Ramboll’s ability to exceed expectations to meet them through its holistic approach. I’m looking forward to delivering positive outcomes for our life sciences clients as their sustainable partner for change.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Railpen, manager of the around £36bn railways pension scheme in the UK, has appointed Paul Hunt, a seasoned senior asset manager with multi-sector experience, to lead the asset management of its 1.9 million sq ft Innovation Cluster in Cambridge. Railpen’s Innovation Cluster is a geographical eco-system comprising real estate, direct investments into innovation companies, and strategic partnerships, with the goal of creating sustainable economic and social growth for the UK at scale and pace, while also delivering long-term returns to its members. Paul has almost 30 years’ experience in real estate portfolio, asset, and development management in the UK, Europe and Australia, spanning offices, retail, industrial and logistics, residential and hospitality assets.  He joins from Gaw Capital Advisors, where he was Head of UK Portfolio and a Senior Director, and has also worked at Hutchinson Property Group and Landsec, the latter on its London estate. Paul is the latest in a series of strategic hires by Railpen for its Innovation Cluster.  Under the leadership of Railpen’s Head of Property, Matthew Howard, it has created a senior team with the skills, experience and network to drive the successful delivery of the Cluster.  The team also includes Emma Goodfood, consultant Head of Leasing, Parminder Singh, Development Director, and Neil Crawford, Senior Development Manager, all of whom have joined Railpen in the last 18 months. Commenting on Paul Hunt’s appointment, Matthew Howard, Head of Property at Railpen, said: “Railpen is one of the UK’s most active investor-developers, and nowhere better exemplifies this than our Cambridge Innovation Cluster.  Our ambition is bold, but with the appointment of Paul Hunt alongside Emma Goodford, Parminder Singh and Neil Crawford, we have the very best combination of expertise, experience and drive to deliver our vision.” Paul Hunt, Head of Cambridge at Railpen, added: “This was a hugely attractive opportunity to work on a portfolio that has longevity, sustainability, and is truly customer and neighbour focused.  Railpen is fully committed to building on its existing portfolio, making it even more successful by aligning our ambitions with those of Cambridge as a wider eco-system.  I have joined a very strong but lean team that has a great mixture of talent and capability.  Together, we are going to deliver market-defining assets and environments that will make a lasting positive contribution to our members, Cambridge, and the UK more widely.” Railpen’s Cambridge Innovation Cluster comprises 11 high-quality assets conceived to reflect existing and emerging occupier demands, including offices, life sciences and innovation space.  Mill Yard, its unique 180,000 sq ft mixed-use campus adjacent to the station completes in Q1 2027, with Botanic Place, its 325,000 sq ft global standard headquarters development at the heart of Cambridge’s commercial core, completing in Q1 2028.  Railpen also has consent for a 112,000 sq ft Grade A office development at 230 Newmarket Road, and the one million sq ft Beehive innovation hub on an adjoining site. These are complemented by existing offices on Station Road, the Bracks solar farm to the north of the city, and direct investments in several Cambridge-based innovation businesses.  Railpen is also an active contributor to several strategic partnerships in Cambridge, with Anna Rule, Director of Real Assets and Private Markets, serving on Innovate Cambridge’s Innovation Council and the Cambridge-Manchester Innovation Partnership’s board.  Railpen has also created the Glasshouse, a hub for innovators and entrepreneurs in Botanic House, in partnership with Innovate Cambridge. Beyond Cambridge, Railpen is underway with a major refurbishment and development program of its 600,000 sq ft of commercial space in London and Birmingham, focused on repositioning existing assets to meet the flight-to-quality demand from occupiers.  In total, it has over three million sq ft of space under construction or consented, making it one of the most active investor-developers in the property sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals