In this episode, Rich Stockdale sits down with Flora Harley, Head of ESG Research at Knight Frank, to explore how climate risk, regulation, and investment trends are reshaping real estate. The property market is shifting fast. Buildings that don’t meet modern sustainability and efficiency standards are becoming stranded assets, and investors who ignore ESG are falling behind.

With over a decade of experience in global property analysis, Flora specialises in ESG, sustainability, and impact investing, helping investors and developers understand what’s next. She breaks down why obsolescence is accelerating, how the retrofit revolution is changing property values, and what Knight Frank’s latest research reveals about the future of real estate in 2025 and beyond.

The future of real estate isn’t just about buildings—it’s about resilience, regeneration, and understanding where value truly lies. Are you ready?

Knight Frank 2025 Wealth Report: https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Caroline Hopper, lead consultant at Quietroom and a leading voice in responsible investment. From her early career in publishing and marketing to shaping how the financial world talks about pensions, Caroline shares how communication—and a clearer understanding of our money—can drive real change. We dive deep into the £5 trillion power of UK pensions, uncovering why only 36% of people know their pension is even invested and what that means for the future. Caroline reveals the challenges in pension investment, from navigating complex financial structures to convincing asset managers that responsible investing isn’t just ethical—it’s financially smart. She also explores the growing potential of natural capital investment, the debate between engagement vs. divestment, and why so many in finance are waiting to see who moves first instead of leading on sustainability. With a background in ESG strategy, financial education, and impactful campaigns like Make My Money Matter, Caroline highlights the critical role of trustees, policymakers, and individuals in making pensions a force for good.

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Kevin Cox, former Chair of the RSPB and a lifelong advocate for nature conservation. From his early days fishing in West London to leading one of the UK’s most influential conservation organizations, Kevin shares how his personal experiences shaped his career in publishing, governance, and land management. We dive deep into the state of UK conservation, discussing the transformation of Wallasea Island, where a once barren landscape became a thriving wetland home to 38,000 birds. Kevin also explores the Devon Swift Project, which is working to reverse a 60% decline in swift populations by installing nest boxes in churches, and the rewilding potential of Dartmoor, challenging national parks to become nature-first landscapes. With a strong belief in the power of governance and partnerships, Kevin highlights why strategy—not just passion—is key to real conservation success. He shares lessons from his leadership at the RSPB, the challenges facing landowners and conservationists today, and why hope, action, and collaboration are essential to restoring our landscapes. Whether you're a conservationist, landowner, or simply passionate about nature, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and real-world solutions for protecting the wild places we love.

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Peter Harker, partner at Saffery and head of their Natural Capital team. From his early days exploring the wild landscapes of Northumberland to his passion for kayaking and his unexpected journey into accounting, Peter shares how his personal experiences have shaped his career in natural capital.

We dive deep into the evolving landscape of natural capital, discussing the rise of biodiversity net gain (BNG), carbon credits, and the critical need for clear tax and accounting guidelines in this growing sector. Peter offers insight into the challenges and opportunities facing landowners, the importance of integrity in environmental claims, and how accounting can play a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future.

With optimism for the future, Peter highlights the potential for natural capital to transform rural estates and create long-term value for both landowners and the environment. Whether you're a land manager, an environmental investor, or simply interested in the future of sustainable land use, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

What does it take to drive real change for nature? In this episode, Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, shares his journey from a bird-watching childhood in Birmingham to shaping some of the UK’s most important environmental policies.

Richard dives into the highs and challenges of securing legally binding targets for nature, why public money must be used for public good, and how bold incentives can transform conservation efforts. He also explores the delicate balance of building consensus across diverse stakeholders and the crucial role of regulation in protecting our natural world.

If you care about the future of wildlife, policy, and the power of collective action—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Matt Walpole, Chief Executive of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, to explore his extraordinary career in conservation. From growing up on a smallholding in Cornwall to traveling the world and working in over 70 countries, Matt shares insights from his journey, including his PhD on nature-based tourism in Komodo National Park and his work addressing human-wildlife conflict in Africa and Asia.

At the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Matt developed global biodiversity indicators, tools and assessments for UN agencies, member states and multinational corporations and led the delivery of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, the first of its kind to document the value of nature to society. Matt also had two stints working at Fauna & Flora International, including four years as part of the leadership team overseeing FFI’s strategy and expanding its in-country field operations worldwide.

Prior to joining Cornwall Wildlife Trust as Chief Executive in September 2022, Matt worked as a strategic advisor for WWF International. He has been a trustee of several conservation charities and is currently Deputy Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership.

Matt discusses the challenges of balancing conservation with local economies and highlights innovative strategies like using pigs for habitat management. He reflects on leadership, team-building, and the power of storytelling in fostering community engagement.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about conservation, leadership, and creative approaches to tackling the environmental challenges of our time.

This week, we sit down with Sylvain, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Mozaic Earth, to explore how technology, community, and a deep respect for nature are converging to fix the human-nature relationship. By combining cutting-edge tech with large-scale community engagement, Mozaic Earth delivers highly accessible and low-cost ‘ground-truth’ nature data to the companies that need it most.

With over a decade of experience as a sustainability strategist, Sylvain has guided senior leaders in the energy industry to transition their portfolios towards low-carbon, sustainable solutions. Frustrated by the fragmented approach to tackling the climate crisis and the slow pace of change, Sylvain recognised the urgent need for a more systemic perspective that values nature’s interconnected role in addressing global challenges. This led him to found Mozaic Earth, which provides affordable and accurate site-level habitat, biomass and biodiversity data to drive the growth of nature-positive markets, regulations, and behaviours.

Originally from France, Sylvain’s career has spanned the US, South America, the UK, Europe and the Middle East. An adventurer at heart—the gnarlier, the better—and a die-hard Arsenal fan, his long-term goal is to empower one billion people to become custodians of our most valuable asset: nature!

In this engaging episode of The Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with James Farrell, Partner at Knight Frank and Head of Rural, to celebrate Knight Frank becoming official sponsor of the Shoot Room Sessions Podcast.

We delve into the transformative potential of the natural capital market, exploring how it can create sustainable income streams, jobs, and thriving rural communities. James offers insights on transitioning traditional farming practices, the importance of functional markets, and fair compensation for environmental stewardship.

Reflecting on his passion for collaboration, team culture, and innovation, James emphasises the countryside’s vital role in addressing global challenges. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of rural economies and James’s vision of a balanced, sustainable, and prosperous tomorrow.

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we explore Ed’s journey to founding Great Yellow. Before launching his venture, Ed spent five impactful years at Grosvenor, where he led asset financing and sustainable debt initiatives, eventually helping to manage their carbon credit procurement program. His work there reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and the evolving carbon markets.

Ed’s career foundation was built at Slaughter & May and Bloomberg. At Slaughter & May, he mastered corporate finance, while Bloomberg provided him with firsthand exposure to trading platforms and the fast-paced financial world.

Tune in to hear Ed discuss how his unique background inspired Great Yellow and his vision for integrating finance with meaningful environmental impact.

George Eustice was a Minister in DEFRA for nine years including almost three years in Cabinet.  He brought into law the Agriculture Act 2020, the Environment Act 2021 and the Fisheries Act 2020 which together established the main policy frameworks for the post EU era.  He also developed most of the policies under the Future Agriculture Programme including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Landscape Recovery Fund.  Before entering politics he worked for ten years in the family farming business in Cornwall and he studied horticulture at Writtle College.  He campaigned to leave the EU but resigned from Theresa May’s government in order to make the case for a compromise built around membership of EFTA and the EEA.  Since leaving Government he has built his own consultancy business, Penbroath, which specialises in the environment and agri-tech.