Industry leaders and experts are preparing to gather at the University of Oxford later this year for a one-day conference dedicated to the future of the property sector. The Voice of the Agent Conference, scheduled for 20 November 2026 at the Examination Schools, will bring together estate and letting agents to discuss pivotal topics including artificial intelligence, behavioural science, and effective marketing strategies.
Organised by We Are Unchained, the event serves as the annual highlight of the 'Voice of the Agent' research programme. This initiative has published twelve reports throughout 2026, delving into various aspects of the property industry such as agency fees, recruitment challenges, regulatory changes, professional standards, and evolving consumer behaviour. The conference aims to translate this extensive research into practical insights for attendees.
The programme features keynote sessions specifically designed to explore the tangible applications of AI within estate and letting agencies. Alongside this, presentations will cover advertising effectiveness and strategies for brand development in a competitive market. Confirmed speakers for the event include prominent figures such as Kate Faulkner, Christopher Watkin, Simon Gates, Jo Bourne, Danielle Nash, and Clare Yates, with further announcements regarding additional speakers anticipated in the coming weeks.
David Mintz will host the conference, which will be filmed by PVS Media. This ensures that the insights and discussions from the sessions will be made available to a broader industry audience following the event, extending its reach beyond those who attend in person. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for interested delegates.
Simon Leadbetter, founder of We Are Unchained and author of The Voice of the Agent, highlighted the conference's purpose. He stated that while the property industry often has strong opinions, it has historically lacked sufficient evidence to underpin these views. The 'Voice of the Agent' initiative was established to provide data-driven insights, helping agents, suppliers, and leaders gain a clearer understanding of market realities. Leadbetter emphasised that the conference offers delegates not only perspectives from respected sector figures but also fresh thinking from experts in AI, marketing, and behavioural science, directly relevant to the future evolution of estate agency.