In the first half of September, the INREV Academy has been busy bringing together professionals from across the industry for two courses: Effective Due Diligence in Amsterdam on 9 and 10 September and Portfolio Management in Madrid on 16 and 17 September.
Participants in Effective Due Diligence kicked off the programme with a property tour at Boat & Co, a flagship asset in Bouwinvest’s hotel fund, followed by a networking dinner at De Willem. The full-day course provided a practical overview of the due diligence process from both investor and investment manager perspectives.
The programme covered a wide range of topics, including investor selection criteria, manager requirements and how to build trust between both parties, gaining a well-rounded understanding of how strong investor-manager partnerships are built. Participants also explored specialist areas such as sustainability due diligence, operational due diligence and legal due diligence.
The course ended on a high note with a real fund due diligence exercise. Working in subgroups, participants assessed a fund opportunity, identified key risks and considerations and presented their findings, putting the day’s learning into practice.
A week later, participants gathered in Madrid for Portfolio Management, one of the INREV Academy’s most popular courses. The programme began with a networking dinner at Posada de la Villa, offering an opportunity to connect with fellow participants and exchange views on current market challenges and portfolio strategies.
This year’s course also marked a special milestone, with Christian Delaire and Maarten Jennen (PGGM) celebrating their tenth anniversary as course leader and speaker respectively.
Throughout the day, participants explored how investors monitor portfolio performance, assess risks and opportunities and make informed buy, hold and sell decisions. Sessions also covered governance frameworks, operational management and reporting, liquidity considerations and secondary market trades.
A particular highlight was the panel discussion featuring Marta de Azlor (Meridia Capital), Neil Harris (UBS Unified Global Alternatives – Real Estate) and Pedro Duarte (Fidelidade), who shared their perspectives on current portfolio management challenges and opportunities.
The programme concluded with a hands-on case study in which participants reviewed an existing portfolio, identified its strengths and weaknesses and proposed actions to optimise performance. Each group presented its recommendations to a jury of speakers, with the highest-scoring team taking home a prize.
If you are interested in joining a course, explore the INREV Academy calendar for upcoming courses and find the right one for your professional development.