Speakers Café, February 2026, women only

Free event | Women only

Speakers Café is an informal get-together for women in real estate to practice public speaking, hear the latest market trends and network. This is a free event, thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, Orion Capital Managers, and venue hosts.

Each session provides a relaxed platform to hone your panel or moderating skills, gain confidence and receive feedback in a supportive environment.

You can sign up to be on a panel, either taking the role of a panellist or moderator, or register as an attendee to listen to the discussions, learn industry trends and support our speakers. During the session we provide tips and techniques on public speaking as well as feedback for the panellists.

Event format

Speakers Café comprises two panel discussions, moderated by an industry volunteer or Diversity Talks Real Estate co-founder and director, Andrea Carpenter. Where possible, we do our best to match panellists with similar expertise and organise a briefing call beforehand to discuss themes and questions for the panel.

Please consider joining us as a volunteer to practice participating in a panel discussion, a panel moderator or as an observer.

Benefits

• Practice presenting in a group setting

• Gain constructive feedback

• Improve your public speaking skills

• Build self-confidence and self-awareness

• Networking in a supportive environment

• Discover industry trends

• Learn presenting tips from experts

Programme

08:30 Registration & networking breakfast

09:00 Welcome & introductions

09:05 Panel discussion #1

09:30 Panel discussion #2

09:55 Wrap up

10.05 Networking

10:30 Close

Registration

You are welcome to join Speakers Café sessions as either an active participant in one of the panel discussions, as a moderator or as an observer.

6 panellist and 2 moderator places are available for this session.

Attendance is free.

Speakers Café sponsor

With thanks to our generous Speakers Café sponsor:

Speakers Café host

With thanks to our generous host:

Speakers Café moderator

Andrea Carpenter, Co-founder and Director, Diversity Talks Real Estate

Andrea Carpenter is a Director of Diversity Talks Real Estate, and a writer and communications consultant in the property industry.

As a Director of Diversity Talks Real Estate, Andrea helps raise the visibility of under-represented groups in the industry through the stage and media. This includes training and other women-led initiatives through DTRE’s women in real estate community.

On the writing side, her book about the history of the modern European property industry, High Rise and Fall, was published by Routledge in September 2018.

Andrea began her career as a journalist at Property Week before moving on to be editor of EuroProperty for seven years. Following this she worked for various industry bodies including the Urban Land Institute, INREV in Amsterdam, and its sister organisation ANREV in Hong Kong. On returning to the UK, she worked as Head of Marketing and Communications EMEA at CBRE Global Investors.

FAQs

What will the panel discussions be about?

The overarching theme for the panel discussions is market trends, with each panel focusing on the specific sectors and areas of expertise of its panellists. This will allow the panellists to speak on a subject which they are familiar with and provide a broad and interesting discussion.

Do I need to prepare ahead of the event?

Volunteer panellists and moderators - we will arrange a 30 minute call with you and your fellow panellists ahead of the event to help prepare.

Spectators - if you are a general attendee (i.e. not a panellist), preparation is not required.

Who should attend the event?

This event is designed for women in real estate.

Further questions

Please contact liz@diversitytalks-re.org

About Diversity Talks Real Estate

Diversity Talks Real Estate is a non-profit with a mission to increase the visibility of under-represented groups in the European built environment industry. We have a particular focus on women and ethnic minority professionals. Our speaker platform connects these professionals with speaking opportunities. We also provide a series of “in the spotlight” courses on public speaking, confidence and communications skills mostly for women in real estate, with some open to all.

Visibility brings opportunities, challenges stereotypes and provides role models. It also helps us to work towards a more diverse and inclusive industry which best serves the cities and communities in which we live and work.

www.diversitytalksrealestate.org