Real Estate Balance, the membership organisation working to improve equity, diversity and inclusion in the property industry, has appointed three new members to its board.
They are Kevin Aitchison, managing director and head of Europe at Savills Investment Management, Ross Blair, senior managing director and head of UK and Ireland at Hines, and Kate Seller, Landsec's chief people officer.
The group said its new board appointments "mark a major step-change in [its] profile and growth", following the organisation’s 10-year anniversary last year.
Jo Davis, chair of Real Estate Balance, said in a statement: "Our new board members bring an incredible level of experience and a demonstrated commitment to progressing issues like fairness and inclusion.
"Their calibre and seniority reflect the impact that Real Estate Balance is having on the industry as it enters its second decade.
"I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Kevin, Ross and Kate to the Real Estate Balance Board and look forward to working alongside them to ensure our industry is better balanced and accessible to everyone."
Real Estate Balance has supports its members to create more equitable and inclusive cultures through a range of programmes, campaigns and events. More than 130 UK companies have signed up to the group.
At the end of last year, the group's 2025 NextGen survey, which researches the experiences of industry professionals aged under 35 or those within the first 10 years of their real estate career, found that good progress is being made on issues affecting early career professionals, with fewer instances of inappropriate attitudes and behaviours being witnessed or experienced and strong optimism around the use of AI.
Aitchison said: "As an investment manager, I’ve seen how diversity and inclusion go beyond essential social commitments, they are critical to maximising performance, be it on behalf of our clients or in our own boardroom.
"Inclusive teams bring broader perspectives, sharper risk awareness and a deeper understanding of communities, leading to more informed decisions, greater resilience and ultimately, stronger outcomes for everyone involved."
Seller said: "Joining Real Estate Balance gives me the chance to extend the collaborations my role already makes possible and to build upon the cross-sector collaboration which is so important to unlocking real progress on diversity and inclusion.
"By working across the sector, we can create pathways that welcome more people into real estate and ensure they feel they belong and can do their best work."
Blair added: "...Irrespective of background, I feel strongly that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to both pursue a career in real estate and then to succeed as their career develops."