Honor Chapman

Chapman was appointed (by Ken Livingstone) as acting Chair of the London Development Agency (LDA) in 2003. Quite a bit of ERA's money comes from the LDA. Chapman is also a Consultant to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) where she has been a Partner and International Director since 1979. According to their web site JLL really developed in rebuilding London after the blitz:

"In 1945 the City of London remained devastated by the bombing and fires of World War II. With records destroyed and confusion over boundaries and ownership, JLW set about the complex task of locating the owners of small land parcels. By combining these small parcels of land and securing contracts for leasing and/or purchase, JLW was able to secure licenses for development. At the same time, it was also achieving agency appointments for large tracts of the City."

Drawing on some of Castells' terminology the LDA has tried to promote London as "the world's leading knowledge economy," the futuristic hype covering over the return of working conditions and rights to the 19th century. The innovation action plan for London covered the period 2003-2006, so it is ancient history now. It is not all just flinging money at consultants and big business — part of it was to "Encourage a culture of innovation amongst ordinary citizens".

Chairman of the London Office Review Panel, Member of the Investment Committee of the Goldsmith's Company and Chairman of the Burlington Gardens Development Committee for the Royal Academy. She specializes in property research, business strategy and urban development. Chapman's other board memberships include Legal and General plc, The Crown Estate, (controversial) Cardiff Bay Urban Development Corporation, a Crown Estates Commissioner) and Chair of the Burlington Gardens Development Committee for the Royal Academy. Chapman has been ahead of the game — in the mid '90's (on 'secondment' from Jones Lang LaSalle ), and in tune with the money lying ready for consultants, she established the London First Centre (now called Think London) an amalgam of the LDA, big business, City of London Corporation and UK Trade and Investment (headed by Andrew Cahn). She is currently on the Board of Transport for London, Trustee of the Design Museum, she was a partner in Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners and has a number of other Advisory and Consultancy appointments.