About
Renaissance Newcastle is an annual magazine dedicated to the regeneration and development of Newcastle upon Tyne. This blog accompanies the magazine, hosting the musings and considerations of some of the leading figures of the city’s regeneration community.
Adam Serfontein is the managing director of Hanro Group, a private North East property investment and development company. A graduate of Northumbria University, with an MBA in 1995 from Middlesex University, Adam has worked throughout the North East and had spells in London and Madrid. He is a chartered surveyor with over 20 years experience. Hanro’s two flagship developments are a mixed-use scheme at Strawberry Place next to St James’s Park and the nearby Citygate office scheme.
Before joining Hanro in 1999, Adam was with Chesterton for 12 years and was responsible for their Newcastle office. A former chair of Governors of Newcastle Church High School, Adam is on the Board of Governors of Northumbria University and is heavily involved in their substantial development programme.
David Slater is director of environment and regeneration at Newcastle City Council, taking the post in February 2008. He was previously executive director of regeneration at South Tyneside Council, where he has overseen the redevelopment of South Shields town centre. Before that he worked in the Government Office for the North-East, where he led on the region’s economic development and European agendas.
