Populate provides a vital 'customer oriented' role in shaping Socius developments and in supporting the long-term investor in creating a successful management regime which allows the buildings and spaces to maximise their potential.
People's expectations about the space that they occupy have fundamentally changed. Where developers make promises about what the place will be, they tend to have no long-term role in this.
At the same time, occupiers, visitors and investors want the place they saw in the CGIs but they also want community, experiences and places that are aligned with their ESG ambitions.
This misalignment is where Populate is perfectly placed to address.
Populate, a company by Socius is focused on supporting our investors to maximise the potential and value from buildings and spaces; always with people in mind.
Populate ensures that the quality of the experience is embedded into the thinking and design of developments at an early stage. Working alongside the development team, Populate delivers place management encompassing tech, innovation, social impact, sustainability, retail and F&B and activation.
For more information about Populate, please email hello@populate.dev
Olaide leads the Populate team as Managing Director and sits on the Executive Board at Socius.
She brings extensive expertise in urban regeneration, ensuring that developments achieve commercial goals while delivering substantial social value.
Joss is a dynamic and innovative place-maker, celebrated for shaping, managing and driving value across a wide range of developments.
As Head of Activation at Populate, Joss plays a key role in curating and delivering engaging experiences that transform spaces and strengthen communities. At the London Cancer Hub, he is leading a broad programme of activation initiatives, including the introduction of new padel courts which opened in October 2025, the Moon Bloom art installation in the Community Garden, improved wayfinding, curated site tours, and London Festival of Architecture events held across the site in summer 2025, all designed to bring energy, engagement and a strong sense of place to the development.
With previous experience at Bow Arts Trust, Joss has successfully integrated art and culture into new developments, helping to drive footfall, enliven places and increase long-term value. His work continues to shape vibrant, thriving environments that encourage community interaction and support sustainable growth.
A serial entrepreneur and innovation expert, Claire specialises in real estate innovation and placemaking. She has co-founded and led numerous innovation centres, including Plexal, Level39, and LORCA. Claire’s work involves designing and delivering business services, accelerator programs, and events to foster collaboration among start-ups and established businesses.
With decades of experience in commercial property, Neil has played a key role in leasing major retail developments such as Liverpool One and Bluewater.
At Populate, Neil curates and manages a diverse mix of retail and F&B offerings creates tailored retail strategies and partnerships to enhance tenant and visitor experience.
Barry, Chairman of Populate and Managing Director of Socius, is a leader in the realm of sustainable mixed-use development and the growth of vibrant ecosystems. With over 25 years of experience, Barry has left an indelible mark on landmark projects such as Bluewater, Chapelfield, and Greenwich Peninsula.
Nathalie brings to Socius over 18 years of sales experience from both London and the South East. She is skilled in navigating both agency and developer roles, often merging these capabilities to drive strong sales results.
Before her tenure at Socius, Nathalie worked with renowned developers such as Ballymore and First Base, where she contributed to a variety of projects, from high-end schemes to large-scale multi-tenure regeneration initiatives. Most recently, she spent four years at Pocket Living on their leadership team, leading both the affordable and open market sales teams. There, she played a crucial role in accelerating the sales pipeline and collaborated closely with project teams to ensure the developments were well-suited to market demands.
Nathalie has also held significant sales and consultancy positions at leading firms like Savills and Knight Frank, enhancing her deep industry knowledge and expertise.
Track Record
Ray, a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS), brings over 30 years of experience to his role, having worked with various blue-chip UK organisations such as INTU, M&G, Lendlease, and Hammerson. His expertise spans asset management, property management, and facilities management, particularly on numerous mixed-use schemes.
Throughout his career, Ray has provided both hands-on and strategic advice for existing and new complex mixed-use estates, such as Cribbs Causeway, Bristol; Liverpool ONE and London Designer Outlet, Wembley Park.
Ray’s work at Populate involves structuring and delivering high-quality management services that enhance the customer-focused experience of retail developments. Ray collaborates with development and operations teams to ensure the seamless integration of physical infrastructure and tenant needs.
Nik is the Building & Community Manager for Populate at the Innovation Gateway, part of the London Cancer Hub in Sutton. He leads the day-to-day operation of the building, supporting tenants and visitors while helping to create a welcoming, connected and engaging community.
Nik brings more than eight years’ experience in workspace operations, facilities management and customer experience. Before joining Populate, he held operational and community-focused roles at FORA, Queens House and The Partnership Group, where he managed buildings, led teams, delivered events and developed strong relationships with members, suppliers and stakeholders.
At the Innovation Gateway, Nik combines his operational expertise with a passion for creating professional, community-driven spaces where businesses and people can thrive.
Louis joined Populate in September 2026 for a six-month internship as part of his Human Geography degree at the University of Plymouth.
Working across Populate’s portfolio, Louis supports project activation, community engagement, events, marketing and content, social impact and business development. His role includes work across Edward Street Quarter and the London Cancer Hub, including the Innovation Gateway.
Louis has a particular interest in sustainable urban development and previously gained experience with Bristol City Council’s urban planning team and Cityscape Digital in London.
