Nous avons le plus grand plaisir à vous inviter à une soirée de réseautage destinée aux professionnels les plus performants, les plus avertis, les plus éthiques et les plus productifs du secteur - des courtiers et acteurs immobiliers comme vous.
La soirée commence à 19h30 et aura lieu à “The Travellers”, 25 avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris. Tenue de ville exigée (une veste et cravate pour les hommes) selon les règles du club.
The SIOR Europe Diversity and Inclusion Committee held a webinar to mark International Women's Day, which this year has the theme of ‘break the bias’. The inspirational discussion focused on championing women in real estate and finding positive ways to empower more women to join the industry and stay to build fulfilling careers.
Chaired by Andrea Carpenter, Director of Women Talk Real Estate, we welcomed an expert panel of women who shared their unique perspectives and experiences – Katie Whipp, head of Deepki, Sonja Beier, Counsel at DLA Piper, Nicola Mottershaw, Partner at Vail Williams, and Małgorzata Kalinowska - Klimek, VP Franchise Operation Poland & Eastern Europe at Accor.
The session kicked off with participants relaying what prompted them to enter the industry and find their own place within it. We heard how Nicola was encouraged to become a chartered surveyor by her father. She wanted variety, problem solving and transactional work, and occupier advisory ticked all the boxes. Małgorzata studied hospitality in Poland, being promoted over many years as she worked for numerous hotels. For Katie, it was not a conscious decision – her real estate journey stemmed from being open to opportunities she came across in London. Sonja, too, was not aware of the industry before her internship as a corporate lawyer, which led her to the real estate team.
They shared the changes they have seen for women in their part of the market. All agreed that there has been positive progress.
Nicola noted that, from 100 people on her college course only ten were women, so the pool of women from that generation of trainees is small. However, this has changed dramatically since
Katie, whose work in real estate encompasses ESG and technology, cited the stat that, out of 3m people employed in technology in the UK, only 26% are women – noting that the tech industry faces a similar challenge to improve gender diversity
At the intersection of law and real estate in Germany, Sonja sees positive development in both industries, which were male dominated when she began. At law firms there is a 50/50 gender split when recruits first join, but this thins out as positions become more senior
Małgorzata shared that the hospitality space is very diverse but agreed that, once you come to the highest level, there are fewer women. She mentioned some challenges women can face when it comes to promotion – they may be offered a bigger role in another city but this throws up difficulties in relocating children and families
Real estate remains an unknown profession for many. The perception is that it falls into two basic categories – builder or estate agent – with little realisation that there is a tremendous variety of roles in between. If we do not address this issue through accessibility and knowledge sharing, the risks are manifold – the sector would lose resilience, be unable to adapt to the future, and fail to attract and retain talent
There is wider recognition that women bring a huge amount of value. As the typical customer base becomes increasingly diverse, the industry must be equally diverse to meet changing requirements, innovate and create. It was mentioned that companies that are top for diversity are also proven to perform better financially
The younger generation of women is seeking purpose and cares about the bigger issues – our panel thought that highlighting the built environment’s potential contribution to meeting global sustainability ambitions can help attract more women and engage young people in general
We then explored what is hindering more female participation and progress in real estate.
Panellists agreed that a series of issues is responsible, one of which is imposter syndrome, afflicting women who are not supported enough in an institutionally male culture. There was consensus that real estate should feel like a natural habitat for women rather than something to ‘break into’. For new generations entering the workplace, gender balance is standard
On the back of the pandemic, more women are either stepping back in their careers or looking to leave the workforce completely due to the stress associated with managing domestic and work life. Katie referenced the UN, which warns that this could set us back in terms of gender progress by 25 years. Małgorzata also saw many talented female experts leave the hospitality industry. Nicola added that, while the pandemic ushered in more flexible working it also showed that, if there is domestic pressure too, women are the ones more likely to take a career break
We heard at length about the crucial importance of role models and mentoring in creating more robust support structures to help women thrive. Our panellists shared stories of how they benefited hugely from mentorship in their careers, and their current efforts to mentor others
We spoke about pressing issues such as maternity leave. Sonja noted that, in Germany, she is glad to see parental leave becoming more common, with men also starting to take leave
While we aim to attract more talented women, it is important not to push the bias the other way as many men work in the industry too – we should strive for diversity in its fullest sense
Looking ahead – the panel agreed that we must act to encourage more women into the industry. When asked what advice they would give their former selves and other women, responses ranged from remembering to celebrate achievements, to finding what you are most passionate about and not doubting yourself because it is not a traditionally female-dominated area. Recognise that you have a voice that matters, talk to people and seek the necessary support along the way.
Renata Osiecka, Managing Partner at AXI Immo Group, concluded the session by highlighting that, while it is uplifting to see more women in business and leadership positions, there is still room for improvement in encouraging young women to join the sector. We must lead by example and show that diversity is an asset that adds value to companies, the industry and society.
To view the webinar online, visit our YouTube Channel here.
Thursday, 7th April 2022, 9h30 CEST to 22h30 CEST in Paris, France.
The SIOR European Chapter committee have the pleasure of inviting you to attend our second business generation and best-practice event, to be followed by a networking event at the infamous "Travellers", a private members club on the Champs-Elysées.
Mind Your Own Business – a one-day conference for members to be held in the centre of Paris, France.
Thursday 3rd March 2022, 18:00 CET, 17:00 GMT, 12 noon ET, 09:00 PT
To mark International Women's Day on 8th March, the SIOR Europe Diversity and Inclusion Committee are holding this webinar to have inspirational discussions from women in the real estate sector on topics including what prompted them to get involved in real estate, finding their place in what can be perceived as a “white, male and stale industry”, mentoring programs, personal experiences and ways of empowering women.
This event is open to SIOR members and anyone with an interest in the commercial property sector, office and industrial & logistics, in Europe. We want many voices, views and opinions so please secure your place now and be part of the conversation.
We have the pleasure of inviting you to the SIOR Leadership Reception at MIPIM on Thursday, March 17 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Vallauri's Cave à Vins (wine bar).
SIOR’s Global President Patrick Sentner SIOR FRICS will be in attendance accompanied by Past Presidents Mark Duclos SIOR FRICS and Robert Thornburgh SIOR FRICS, now SIOR’s Chief Executive Officer.
They will be supported by SIOR colleagues:-
Brandon Hensley, Chief Operations Officer.
John Manganiello, Senior Vice President of Business Development.
Craig S. Meyer SIOR FRICS, SIOR International Member Oversight Group.
Matthew Leguen de Lacroix, SIOR, FRICS, Director of SIOR Europe.
We encourage you to bring a colleague who may be interested in learning more about SIOR.
Vallauri's Cave à Vin is located at 10 Rue des Halles behind the Marché Forville, Cannes's local food & flower market, just a short walk from the Palais des Festivales.
With thanks to Blackbird Real Estate for their support of the SIOR Leadership Reception.
At Tuesday 23rd November's SIOR Europe webinar on climate change and sustainability, we welcomed a group of specialist participants representing a broad spectrum of disciplines within the real estate sector from across Europe.
What followed was an illuminating discussion – asking key questions on what needs to happen next for the built environment to deliver on the goals made at COP26, with our panellists sharing their unique perspectives, experiences and solutions to shape a way forward.
Introduced and hosted by Renata Osiecka, Managing Partner at AXI Immo Group, andexpertly moderated by Greg Borel, Founder & Director of Ampersand Partners and organiser of CUBE in the UK, we were joined by Laura Kelly – Director at PwC, Ann Marie Aguilar – SVP EMEA at International WELL Building Institute, Fabian Mühlen – Partner at DLA Piper, who spoke to us from Frankfurt, and Jennifer Taranto – Director of Sustainability at STO Building Group.
The workshop kicked off with the vital question. Given that one of the major takeaways from the recent COP26 climate summit was the need for immediate action rather than talking about commitments to sustainability, the webinar started with what needs to happen now? How do we translate the grand plans made at COP26 into tangible impact in the short-term?
Our participants agreed that collaboration is a huge focus. Net zero is transformative and companies acting by themselves are not enough to counteract the climate emergency – it requires change at policy as well as market level.
CUBE and WELL are two initiatives that deliver impact. The CUBE competition, run in the UK by Ampersand Partners after marked success elsewhere in Europe, focuses on the user experience and behavioural change to drive reduced energy consumption. It also feeds into closer collaboration and engagement between landlords and occupiers. WELL, meanwhile, highlights how human health and wellbeing is inextricably linked to the health of the planet – which means creating people-first places as a way to address environmental challenges. Offices seeking to encourage people to return must ensure inviting environments with characteristics such as air quality, access to natural light, provision of healthy food choices and more.
We heard about the increasing importance of the ‘S’ in ESG, and Ann Marie outlined how social impact is now influencing portfolio-wide decisions, and businesses that prioritise wellbeing see a stronger return on investment.
Panellists shared interesting insights on industry trends they are seeing:
Laura spoke of how some clients remain on the fence about climate issues, while others have put it at the heart of their operations. She noted that clients are growing aware that there is a commercial – not just moral – imperative to embedding sustainability credentials into their businesses. What will be the main drivers to get the late-comers to join the climate agenda? Policy and market dynamics will play a part. Companies are realising that, for their next round of fundraising or to achieve the next level of their expansion plans, they need to be ESG-compliant to attract investors.
Jennifer shared how her organisation is mirroring the same values as its clients. The pandemic, too, has been a huge disrupter and accelerated the climate discussion. In the construction sector, given that 11% of all greenhouse gasses come from building materials, they are looking at how to manage the impact of embodied carbon and transportation. Electrification is another major theme. With embodied carbon, concrete, metal and insulation of water proving big contributors, timber is becoming a key consideration in terms of the schemes STO is working on.
Fabian, who spoke from the point of view of not only a legal advisor but a corporate enterprise and a tenant, said that he’s increasingly asked by clients about how to integrate ESG into real estate transactions and the due diligence that comes with that, plus the rising popularity of green leasing agreements, sustainable facilities management, and SPAs. He’s seen an evolution in the past 15 years, from when ESG was barely on the radar to now becoming front and centre. Deals have moved away from singular agreements, to the transaction as a whole being ESG-compliant – it’s a more holistic approach. He’s also asked to analyse the social aspect of schemes, and governance in terms of AML, KYC, anti-corruption and the drive for greater transparency. DLA Piper is seeing a big trend for carbon-neutral or carbon-optimised funds and buildings, both for existing and new developments. These buildings will generate better demand and command higher prices.
Industry players are cognisant that, while ESG can bring financial pay-offs, it requires investment up-front. However, the longer-term value, for both the environment and for their exit scenario, is worth it. Tenants are also more enthusiastic about the sustainability agenda than five years ago.
Webinar participants noted that there is still a lingering risk of greenwashing with some, and agreed on the need to elevate the level of transparency and reporting. That involves more data and knowledge-sharing, to demonstrate the measurable effects of climate initiatives to others.
There was consensus that the route to effective industry-wide collaboration is early engagement and having those critical conversations from the outset, the design stage, thus setting the right foundation for construction and other latter phases of projects.
Apart from the big corporations embedding these measures, there is also considerable opportunity for small and medium entities, which are much more agile and can transform organisational culture more easily.
The session closed with the question of where is collaboration needed most? Answers ranged from co-operating with third party ESG frameworks and environmental ratings bodies, more R&D into electrification and other energy efficiencies in construction, setting mutual climate objectives with tenants, transparency with the market and peers, and leading by example with responsible procurement and client intake (i.e. working with those who demonstrate their commitment to climate and ESG factors).
The overarching conclusion? We all need to think beyond our own organisations, as the only way to deliver on the promise of COP26 is through collective endeavour.
You can see the full webinar here – 60 minute watch
The much-awaited Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day took place on 11 November, rounding off two intensive weeks of COP26 and highlighting the big role that the built environment – which is responsible for 40% of carbon emissions – can and must play in delivering on global net zero ambitions.
We were encouraged to see a number of notable take-aways, announcements and conversations emerging from the day’s focus on our industry.
The SIOR Europe Chapter AGM will take place virtually on Zoom at 11am GMT and 12 noon CET on Friday, 28th January 2022.
Registration is necessary. Please email admin@sioreurope.com for further details.
The formal part of the meeting will be immediately followed by a fireside chat with SIOR Global President Patrick Sentner SIOR FRICS. Please stay with us online following the adjournement of the meeting.
FOREWORD BY THE EUROPEAN CHAPTER PRESIDENT
As the second week of COP26 comes to a close and with a day dedicated to the built environment, we publish the second part of SIOR Europe’s Members’ and Industry Insights, this time focusing on the experiences of our members across the UK & Europe.
Our report provides insight into how different countries are responding, shares solutions that can be applied elsewhere and demonstrates how climate change is increasingly integrated into the transactional process as a means to add value.
