As part of our careers and mentoring programme, we are excited to launch the second event in our new series, the Business Lunch, on Thursday 19, 12:15-1:15pm. These panel-style events run once a term and are a maximum of 1 hour in the lecture theatre or online - designed to be consumed in your lunch hour. Open to the whole Shiplake community this session will focus on Property. In-person attendees can enjoy a lunch on us while Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe, hosts a panel discussion in the lecture theatre. Our panellists include parents and Old Vikings who are all experts in property with a range of specialisms and knowledge. The discussion will explore their journeys, challenges, and key lessons from their careers in property.

If you are unable to be there in person, the discussion will also be available via livestream. We hope this event will be particularly valuable to members of the Shiplake community working in/looking to develop a career in property or those wishing to connect with like-minded professionals. 

To make sure we can provide enough lunches and share the livestream link, please let us know if you will be attending (in person or online) by clicking here.

We are excited to introduce you to our panellists:

Alex Koch de Gooreynd 

With a total of almost 25 years' experience working within the residential real estate markets, Old Viking Alex (88B) joined Knight Frank in 2005 to set up a new lettings department in the heart of Mayfair. Alex's team swiftly became the experts in residential lettings for the West End offering advice to many private and high profile clients guaranteeing privacy and discretion.  

In 2008, Alex moved to the International Residential team and now runs the Swiss, Portuguese & Austrian networks. This role involves selling everything from apartments at €500,000, to breaking pricing records with some of the lakefront homes around Lake Geneva, along with being the go-to agent for clients seeking an off-market but proactive approach in the CHF50m+ price range across Switzerland.  

Alex also represents the firm as the Knight Frank private wealth ambassador for Switzerland, spending much of his time working closely with the Ultra-High Net Worth Community as well as their private banking teams, family trusts, lawyers & tax advisors. 

Angie Dickinson 

Following her degree in computer science, Angie built a successful career working with a number of major public companies, both as an employee and a consultant. While Angie gained invaluable experience and insight during this time, she always had the sense that her path was meant to take a different direction—one where she could shape something of my own from the ground up. 

That opportunity came during lockdown, when Angie launched Sparecrib. What began as a small property portfolio selling serviced accommodation quickly evolved as she identified growing demand from the event and corporate sectors for accommodation for staff when working away from home.  Driven by a desire to offer more to clients, Angie embraced the entrepreneurial challenge and scaled the business rapidly.  

Today, Sparecrib employs over 25 people, has over 120 properties locally and provides accommodation solutions to hundreds of companies across Europe. Making the leap from employee to business owner has been the most fulfilling chapter of Angie’s career so far. 

David Carlsson

David has worked in the commercial property industry for over 20 years, and specialises in the Central London Retail, Restaurant and Leisure market. 

Since graduating with a Masters Degree from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, David obtained his RICS qualification in 2000 to become a Chartered Surveyor.  From staring on the graduate programme at CBRE, David is now a Director at Global Real Estate Advisor JLL and based in their London HQ. 

David has been involved in projects such as the redevelopment of Earls Court, a 30 acre site in West London and the site acquisition and pre letting of the world's first pop up mall, Boxpark Shoreditch. He has also been involved with leasing commercial premises for the iconic Carnaby and Soho Villages on behalf of the landlord Shaftesbury PLC, and Regent Street, Piccadilly and St. James on behalf of The Crown Estate as well as advising numerous retailers including Hotel Chocolat, Costa Coffee, Leon and Oliver Bonas on their store acquisitions in Central London. 

Zara Jackson

The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games first sparked Zara’s interest in a Real Estate career, as she observed the transformational impact that the Stratford regeneration had on the London borough.  

After leaving school Zara began a Real Estate degree at Oxford Brookes University and the long university summers presented opportunities to gain industry experience.  

Following three years of study and two summer internships, Zara started her career at JLL in 2023 on the Graduate Scheme, She has rotated through Retail Agency, Asset Management and Retail Investment where she currently sits and will stay whilst working towards her APC at the end of the year. Outside of work Zara enjoys travel, socialising with friends and playing team sports.