Welcome

Sadly this will be the last time that I welcome you to the IQ magazine. I am now on gardening leave, although I’m glad to say that from October I will still be able to keep in touch with many of you, at that point on behalf of an INREV member firm rather than as part of the management.

Until a new CEO has been appointed, you can expect to receive the same high level of service from the entire INREV team, under the capable leadership of our three directors, Henri Vuong, Jeff Rupp and Maurits Cammeraat.

Looking back on my seven years as INREV CEO, I’m proud to say that it has been a time of significant achievement and growth across all our areas of activity.

I was very pleased that INREV created a Public Affairs function soon after I joined in 2010. Jeff Rupp and his team at the Brussels office have subsequently played a major role in promoting the interests of non-listed real estate to policy makers.

Globalisation has also been a big theme over the past seven years. This particularly applies to Professional Standards, where we have started co-operating with NCREIF and PREA to produce worldwide data standards, while all INREV’s annual research reports now have a global coverage. At the same time we have broadened the reach of our events, launching a halfday conference and full-day training course in North America. We have also focused on the next generation in our Young Professionals events (see article in this IQ) – especially the Link and Learn series for local networking – helping to ensure INREV stays relevant to the industry well into the future.

Meanwhile INREV’s training offer has continued to evolve, with many of our growing range of courses now coming together under the INREV/Henley Training Certificate, an initiative that promises to set the industry standard for combining academic rigour with practical relevance.

In marketing and communications, many of you will be aware of the advances that we have made with this IQ publication. I hope you will agree that it has gained a more engaging look while still keeping you abreast of everything we are doing. Meanwhile our membership has continued to flourish, and we are now approaching the milestone of 400 members.

None of this would have been possible without the great efforts of INREV’s members and staff. I would like to thank you all for making my time here so fulfilling. I’d particularly like to thank Neil Harris, the outgoing INREV Chairman, for his support, and to wish Marieke van Kamp success as our new Chair.

I’d also like to wish my successor as INREV CEO, whoever they may be, the very best in leading the organisation to still greater heights. I have no doubt that with the continuing support and open-spiritedness of the membership – which I have come to value so much in my time here – the organisation will further cement its leading role in the industry.