Southampton Property Association (SPA) has a new chairman for 2013-14.
He is chartered surveyor David McGougan, an associate director at regional commercial property consultancy Hughes Ellard, which has offices in Southampton and Fareham.
David was handed the reins by outgoing chairman Allan Hilder of Simpson Hilder Associates, the architecture and surveying firm based at Lyndhurst in the New Forest.
The SPA, established in 1948, is an organisation for property professionals in and around the port city, with 280 members.
David, 37, who has 12 years of commercial property experience and is the industrial space specialist with 22-strong Hughes Ellard, set out his stall for the year.
He said: “Key focuses include driving up membership, initiating a ‘property sector summit’ locally and delivering enhanced CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses to members.
“Another aim is to liaise closely with other related professional organisations in the region to ensure we don’t overlap on keynote events and such like.”
The SPA began in 1948 – the year the Olympic Games were held in London and the NHS started – as Southampton and District Auctioneers Valuers and Estate Agents Association (SAVE).
It was predominantly residentially focused and took on a policing role to ensure reputable practices were adhered to.
More recently the SPA has become centred around commercial agents – and found a new role in delivering CPD.
The name changed to Southampton Property Association in 1997 to demonstrate a widening of the membership base and in 2004 the SPA widened the rules to include all whose business affairs are substantially property related.
The full 2013 committee comprises Tom Alder, Ben Bystry, Peter Cliffe-Roberts, Elise Evans, Vicky Mant, Russell Mogridge, Richard Nevines, Denise Oatham, Nella Pang, Kevin Stratford, Alistair Walton and Ben Welch.
Vice chairman is Lucy Richmond, with Richard Huffer as honorary treasurer, Chris Clark as honorary secretary and Tim Bizzey as the SPA’s benevolent fund representative.
One of the first events this year is the SPA Triathlon on Friday, March 15, starting at the David Lloyd Club, off Brownway Hill in Southampton, from 1pm to 5pm.
