Barry Fowler – Managing Director (Alternate Income Solutions), Aviva

Trustee since 2017

Barry leads the Alternative Income Solutions team at Aviva Investors. Alternative Income assets provide investors with the opportunity to gain multi-asset and single-asset class exposure to private market assets across corporate debt, infrastructure (debt and equity), real estate finance and structured finance. The business actively invests on behalf of a wide range of clients and as a result can offer highly tailored debt solutions to borrowers, in multi-currencies.

The team is based in London, Norwich, Paris and Toronto and brings together a wealth of experience and strong capabilities in each asset class. Barry is also a co-manager of our Alternative Income Solutions fund.

Barry joined Aviva Investors in 2014, having previously undertaken a variety of roles across the SME, leveraged finance and real estate debt teams in Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group.

Barry is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and is presently the chairman-elect of CREFC Europe.

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

I first rode in 2013’s Cycle to MIPIM.  I’d won a random cycling competition at a corporate event (how far can you pedal in an eyeballs-out one minute blast on a WattBike with no real cycling experience) and bought my first road bike in early 2012 to build on this.  My boss at the time persuaded me to sign up to do the ride together.  She pulled out, but I pressed on regardless, not knowing anyone else on the ride!  I joined a local cycling club to help with the training and have been a regular ever since, also completing the Cycle to MIPIM in 2016 and 2017.

How many bikes do you have?

3 – A hybrid that I used to use for commuting to the station (gathering dust now); my trusty Seven Evergreen (aka The Scaffolding, given the sheer volume of titanium needed to match my own 6’7” frame); and a second hand time trial bike that I bought on eBay and subsequently spent 3x what it cost me having it properly fitted!

What’s your best cycling memory?

The 2017 Cycle to MIPIM, when I had my first experience as a ride captain.  I loved the interaction with the team in advance – helping everyone to manage their training and preparation; soothing and encouraging and giving the odd kick up the bum where needed in the run up to the ride.  Taking a different route through France was enjoyable and we were blessed with good weather, which helped no end.  Also working with the other ride captains and enjoying the banter over the radio and assisting riders who had mechanicals – drafting riders back on over a longer distance is good fun (unless uphill!), especially being able to turn the speed up a notch or two for those who are stronger.

Have you done any business because of one of our rides?

Not directly, but the ride has given me access to a side of the industry that – as a lender – I would never normally get to see.  Riding with architects, town planners, engineers has given me a whole new insight and allows me to test some of the lead indicators in the industry – pipelines of new activity, levels of confidence and the like.  I can’t emphasise enough the benefits of getting to ride side-by-side with new contacts, chatting away and learning about their profession and business focus – Club Peloton offers unrivalled networking opportunities to create and build relationships across the industry.

Paul Burke – Partner, Maples Teesdale

Trustee since 2016

Paul is a partner at Maples Teesdale, a specialist commercial property law firm based in the City of London.  He heads up the corporate team and handle the corporate aspects of property deals from portfolio acquisitions and disposals through company structures, SPV sales and purchases and joint ventures involving all types of corporate vehicle. 

As a trustee of Club Peloton, he helps support the sterling work of the executive team, looking at ways to broaden the reach of Club Peloton, reviewing the charitable beneficiaries and assisting where possible with legal advice.

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

Following a recommendation from a colleague, I rode my first Cycle to MIPIM in 2011 and was hooked!  I’ve now completed 6 rides, 3 as a ride captain.  The organisation and support involved in putting on the rides is outstanding and it is wonderful to have raised so much money for the charities that are supported. 

I decided I wanted to give something back to the organisation that had provided me with the opportunity to push myself, make new friends and develop business contacts, all through a mutual enjoyment of riding a bicycle.  So two years ago I became a trustee.

How many bikes do you have?

I currently own 6 bikes; 2 road bikes, a track bike, a fixed wheel commuter, a mountain bike and an all-purpose leisure bike.  They all get a fair amount of use but I should probably rationalise the collection as I quite fancy getting a gravel bike….

What’s your best cycling memory?

So many to choose from! Cresting Ditchling Beacon with my 9 year old son for the first time.  Flying around the Olympic Velodrome with Jens Voigt. Hurtling down Sa Calobra. That first beer at the finish of the Cycle to MIPIM!

Have you done any business because of one of our rides?

I have made many useful business contacts through the rides. It has enabled me to develop my network of contacts in the industry and increase my profile and that of my firm.

Jennifer Ross – is a director and founding partner of Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, a multidisciplinary firm of architects planners and urban designers, based in Southwark.

The focus of Jennifer’s work has been in London and she has led a number of the practice’s complex regeneration and planning jobs, including the development of planning frameworks for Elephant and Castle, Enfield and Ilford and securing planning consents for a number of large scale, multi phased developments including the award winning Brentford Lock West, Sellar’s development in Canada Water, a number of high profile schemes for PegasusLife, co-working spaces for Second Home and Workspace and Derwent’s White Collar Factory and the regeneration of a number of significant Council owned estates in Hackney, Camden, Enfield and Tower Hamlets.

Working with her other directors we have recently managed the transfer of Tibbalds to an Employee Ownership Trust.

Trustee since 2014

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

I always knew about the ride to MIPIM but thought I could never do it BUT with the help of a number of veterans of the early rides I was persuaded . I did my first ride in 2011 and then did four other MIPIM rides in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. As part of the experience I was always struck by how few women participated and yet I felt many of my female friends could do it and would benefit greatly from the experience of riding and of networking with other people from the industry. So we set up the pedElle in 2013 and 25 of us, with the help of Club Peloton (then C2C),  rode from London to Paris. Five annual rides followed on from the first ride and the ride has grown from strength to strength. 

Over the course of all of this riding  many of the riders talked about all of the rides being brought under one banner and becoming more of a membership club. After much conversation Club Peloton replaced C2C and a strategy was formulated to take Club Peloton to the next stage and the rest is hopefully history!

How many bikes do you have?

Three, two identical road bikes (Condor Barrachi) – one for the country and one for town (way overindulgent, but too stressful trying to put a bike on South west trains every weekend) and a sit up and beg dutch bike for riding around town.

What’s your best cycling memory?

Hmmm probably the first pedElle and to see so many people who have never ridden before ride into Paris and complete our first big journey and then the ride I most look forward to doing every spring  is the northern coastal ride from Pollenca to Andratx in Mallorca.

Have you done any business because of one of our rides?

Yes many of my friends and business colleagues are drawn from cycling. I have worked on projects with Paul Karakusevic, Alex Ely, Joe Morris, Pat Hayes, Brendon Walsh, Chris Horn and John Nordon – relationships that directly and indirectly can be traced back to Cycle to MIPIM.  In relation to pedElle, however  I joined forces with five other women riders  and entered an International Competition run by the National Infrastructure Commission to come up with innovative ways to deliver new, well designed housing growth in the Oxford to Cambridge corridor in 2017. Based on many conversations had on the bike we came up with VeloCity, which seeks to grow a series of linked and connected ‘smart’ villages around new rail stations. A central part of the strategy involves a shift to more sustainable modes of transport- a key part of which obviously  involves the delivery of a high quality, safe and well designed cycle infrastructure, the delivery of integrated digital networks, local energy generation and measures to limit the consumption of resources, whilst at the same delivering high quality places to live and work. The ideas competition has struck a chord and we have been speaking at a number of high profile events about how to deliver the strategy. I think the process has also helped to raise the profile of the pedElle, Club Peloton and women working in the industry generally.

Dom Millar – CEO, The Completely Group

Trustee since 2015

After ten years working in the London design and advertising industry Dom Millar started The Completely Group in 2001, a marketing and events business which predominantly works within the real estate sector.

Dom and family live in Guildford in the shadow of The Surrey Hills where he spends a lot of his weekends. On a bike mostly.

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

In 2015 I fancied challenging myself on my newly purchased road bike. I was put on the waiting list for the MIPIM ride, and got called up just a few weeks before. Most people will remember 2015 as ‘The cold one’, but there was a great bunch of fellow cyclists and the amazing Club Peloton team really looked after us. Like many others before me, I was instantly hooked.

How many bikes do you have?

I think I’m more reserved than most. Just the four I think (not including the monocycle). Though I’m always on the look out for the next one…

What’s your best cycling memory?

Seeing the Mediterranean for the first time on the last days of the MIPIM and MAPIC rides is always a very welcome sight. Climbing Mont Ventoux last year was pretty special too.

Have you done any business because of one of our rides?

Hard to quantify but I would have thought so. I’ve certainly made a lot of friends which happens when you’ve shared an epic adventure.

Steve Whyman – CEO, Broadgate Estates

Trustee since 2015

Steve joined Broadgate Estates in April 2010 as CEO, establishing the company as a leading property management company in the UK.  He expanded Broadgate Estates’ existing portfolio of management to include some of London’s newest remarkable locations such as King’s Cross, East Village and the Leadenhall Building.

Prior to this his experience includes management consultancy with Coopers & Lybrand, Operations Director of an apparel business, ten years in operational and commercial roles with DHL, and five years on the Executive Board of the retailer Halfords.

Steve is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), a Trustee of Club Peloton and a Governor of Coram.

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

I joined Broadgate Estates in March 2010 from outside the Property sector and went straight to MIPIM which was rather a shock! I saw a group of cyclists arrive in Cannes and thought that joining the ride would be a great way to meet colleagues from the property world (which it is).

How many bikes do you have?

Depends who is asking – more than one, less than 10.

What’s your best cycling memory?

Going “all the way” to MIPIM and the first beer in Cannes. And of course breaking the £1m barrier for donations to our supported charities in particular Coram.

Have you done any business because of one of our rides?

The real value is from the shared experiences and network that you develop taking part and supporting Club Peloton. This has been central to our business over the last 8 years.

Sarah Cary – Executive Director for Regeneration and Environment, Enfield Council.

Trustee since 2017

Sarah leads services that are central to Enfield residents’ quality of life, such as waste collection, recycling, street cleaning, building control and planning. She is also responsible for Enfield’s longer-term development plans: the team is well underway with the regeneration of Ponders End, and has ambitious plans for Meridian Water, which aims to bring 10,000 new homes and thousands of jobs to the borough.

Sarah has a PhD in town planning and was previously at British Land, where she worked in the development team on major projects such as Regents Place, The Leadenhall Building (“Cheesegrater”), Canada Water, and Glasgow Fort before becoming Head of Sustainable Places with responsibility for environmental and social matters across the company. 

At Club Peloton she aims to broaden participation across the industry, encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to love the sport, broaden their network, and raise money for charity. Alongside Club Peloton, she chairs a charitable property company, The Bootstrap Company, and is a trustee of Public Practice, a social enterprise placing a new generation of planners within local government to shape places for the public good.

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

Back in 2008, a colleague at British Land heard I was interested in cycling and suggested we cycle to MIPIM

How many bikes do you have?

Four,  although there is another on the way…

What’s your best cycling memory?

Day 6 on Cycle to MIPIM, where you start in the cold dawn and ride up over a beautiful pass into a sunrise, and then downhill into short sleeves, suntans and a big evening party.

Nick Searl – Partner, Argent LLP

Trustee since 2013

Nick is a Partner of both Argent and Argent Related. Having spent almost 10 years working on King’s Cross, where his main priority was leading the commercial team dealing with the definition, strategy, leasing and management of the office and retail components, Nick now leads Argent Related’s 10 million sq ft Brent Cross South development in north London. At a corporate level, Nick is also involved in securing new development opportunities for Argent Related and is responsible for the marketing and promotional activities of the business.

Nick is the chairman of Club Peloton trustees of the BCO London awards panel.

How did you first get involved with Club Peloton?

I first rode in 2011 and was a bit of a ‘Billy-no-mates’ to begin with, because I didn’t know anyone. Others at Argent had done it before and when the chance was offered I just fancied the challenge. I’m glad I did, I have made so many friends through the ride I can’t count them.

How many bikes do you have?

I have 4 bikes. My ride bike is a Colnago CX0 and my second bike is a Focus Cayo. I also have a (recently refurbished) 18 year old Holdsworth and a mountain bike for muddy days out.

What’s your best cycling memory?

The 5 times I have ‘flown’ down those final hills into Cannes with a cold beer waiting.

Have you done any business because of one of our rides?

Yes. We have commissioned both Duggan Morris and Coffey architects to work with us at King’s Cross (image below). I met both Joe (Morris) and Phil (Coffey) on the ride. Not only are they both now professional colleagues, I’m delighted to count them both as friends.

Emma’s role is to bring the Club Peloton brand to life within the different industry sectors in which we work. Together with the rest of the Club Peloton team, industry partners as well as new and existing riders, Emma is always looking for opportunities to add value and increase the reach and influence of the Club Peloton community.

“I used to enjoy cycling my mountain bike along the river near Hampton Court…leisurely. Within three months of joining Club Peloton, I’d bought a road bike and within 6 months (and after a lot of training!) I rode the ‘Cycle to MAPIC’ in November 2016. I love travelling and tend to escape to some far flung places. I love seeing new places on the rides and I’m also a photographer, so you may well see me with a camera pointing your way from the side of the road.”

Theresa works closely with the Office team and alongside the Accountant to help keep the financial engine of Club Peloton ticking over smoothly. This ranges from raising invoices or processing expenses to dealing with enquiries from organisations, riders or suppliers. Theresa is also a fantastic crew member supporting riders whenever possible.

“I did the London commute on a bike for years but now I’m lucky enough to live in the Blackdown Hills where cycling for leisure is a must being surrounded by such beautiful scenery. I have picked up a few extra hints and tips while on Club Peloton events and also from having three cycling enthusiasts for brothers. I love a challenge and would love to join a ride at some point in the future!”

To follow…

Working alongside the Events Director, Rhian helps to develop and deliver all Club Peloton events. She is also the first point of contact for all event related enquiries as well as keeping riders consistently updated, involved and engaged with event related information, training, socials and briefings.

“After jumping on a road bike for the first time last June at our pedElle event, I’m now a converted cyclist and enjoy falling off at junctions throughout London! You’ll often find I’ll jump at the chance to join you on the road at an event, as well as on training rides. I look forward to seeing you on one of these soon.”

Chris works with a huge range of people, from across many sectors, to develop and deliver all of the Club Peloton events. This is a role that encompasses a wide variety of work, and takes him to some stunning locations. Chris has the opportunity to work with an incredible group of people who are all motivated to make Club Peloton events memorable for all the right reasons.

“Cycling’s a personal passion, so any opportunity to get out on a bike I’ll take. I hope I bring a rider’s perspective to our events, and try to have at least ‘two hats on while planning and developing a ride. I love the network that Club Peloton has created, with more and more familiar faces being spotted both on and off the road. When not on my bike, you might find me being ‘Dad’s Taxi’!”

Nick spends most of his time meeting and talking to people with a passion for cycling, networking and charitable fundraising from the property, music and motor industries. Together they help shape his vision for Club Peloton. Nick is supported by three great teams – the office who delivers the ever-growing, year-round activity, the industry companies and individuals that engage with Club Peloton, and a committed group of Trustees that inspire and guide Club Peloton’s journey.

“I have loved travelling since I was a child. Now with three kids of my own I’m keen they too see and experience the world. Cycling is one of the best ways to explore a new place so we’ll hire bikes if we don’t have ours with us. I’m always the one towing a trailer full of the family clobber packed around the dog.”