INREV Young Professionals Conference 2022: Highlights

Climate change is a systemic risk to our global financial system. But what steps must our industry take to positively contribute to global climate repair?

Sheun Chan believes that we have a huge role to play. Building more resilient portfolios will not only help to achieve long-term value but will generate positive outcomes for the communities that live where those assets are based.

And there are several practical steps that we can take to help us on this journey, including developing climate models to influence investment decisions, determine risk and inform future adaption plans.

But beyond the practical steps, what advice would she give to young professionals looking to help build a more sustainable future?

1. Always invest and manage assets with purpose - be aware of the impact that your work has on society
2. Have integrity and be transparent in what you do 
3. Collaborate with your peers – only with a shared and aligned vision can we create a sustainable and inclusive built environment

Do you trust your neighbour? 7 in10 of those who attended the Young Professionals Conference agreed to feeling such neighbourly love. A strong result, but according to Erika Olsén, there is one region that would boast higher levels of trust – the Nordics.

Over the last 20 years, GDP has outperformed the rest of the Eurozone and the region has become the third largest transactions market in Europe. But what is contributing to this success? 

Erika believes that behind the prosperity lies one key factor, and the gold of the Nordics is, in fact, trust. The region is known for advocating high levels of social freedoms and self-expression. All of which is supported by an emphasis on trust and welfare.  

These factors enable societies to flourish, prevent conflict, and increase openness to change and innovation. There is also a strong correlation between trust and personal priorities, including our commitment to the environment. 

Do you always feel included and comfortable? Few at the Young Professionals Conference could say that they’ve never felt excluded, but what does inclusion really mean?
According to Ernst Dekker, inclusion is about being your true self and feeling welcome and included in all groups and settings. But more than this, inclusion is connected to our basic need for safety. 
To achieve inclusion, it requires two basic needs being met – the need to be truly authentic and the need to belong. And just like in geopolitics, if you start from a position of exclusion, you receive exclusion back. 

What makes a great community? According to Charlie MacGregor, the secret mix is trust and diversity.

When you trust and allow demographics to mix, they behave differently. This trust empowers the community and creates better places.

When you trust people and ask people to get involved in the community, it gives them a sense of purpose – it keeps them engaged. And, when people help each other, you see humanity at its best.