APREA Opening New Doors for Investments in APAC: Investing in Australia

Sigrid is the Chief Executive Officer of Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA). Based in Singapore, she is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, initiatives and operations of the association across Asia Pacific.

Sigrid joined APREA’s executive team in January 2019. A recognized expert in global economic, public policy and real estate issues, Sigrid is a frequent speaker at industry events. Her commentary on commercial and residential real estate markets is also regularly featured in a wide array of global publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, New York Times and Reuters. Additionally, she has made several television appearances on financial networks and radio such as CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, National Public Radio and Channel News Asia.

Sigrid brings to APREA more than 20 years of experience in economic and real estate research, consulting and business strategy. From 2010 through 2018, she served as Managing Director of Asia Pacific Research and Advisory Services of Cushman & Wakefield (C&W), where she was responsible for research, thought leadership, strategy formulation and client management. Before relocating to Singapore, she was based in Washington, D.C. and led C&W’s U.S. research group in the Mid- Atlantic region, overseeing all aspects of market research activities in the Washington, DC; Virginia; Suburban Maryland, Baltimore; and Philadelphia areas. Prior to joining C&W, Sigrid served as a Senior Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In that position, she developed NAR’s office, warehouse, retail, multi-family housing, and international research programs.

Sigrid holds a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and a Master’s degree in Economics from Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of several civic groups including the Rotary Club of Raffles City in Singapore, where she has served in various leadership positions.

Trevor Cooke is one of South Australia’s most highly regarded property and finance leaders.

As CEO of Commercial & General, Trevor has an outstanding track record in funds management and developing profitable real estate, infrastructure and securities businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

His previous roles include former Managing Director - Global Head of Real Estate Asia Pacific for UBS and Managing Director of AMP Capital Brookfield, a globally listed joint venture with $8 billion assets under management. In addition to his directorship of two Japanese real estate investment trusts with assets under management in excess of $10 billion and Executive Director (International Capital and Markets Division) of the Property Council of Australia.

Trevor has a Bachelor of Laws Hons (LLB) from the University of Adelaide and currently sits on the Board of Junction Australia and the South Australia Division Council of the Property Council of Australia.

矢野　秀樹（やの ひでき）

住商リアルティ・マネジメント㈱

代表取締役社長
住友商事にて30年以上にわたり、国内外で不動産ビジネスに従事。
日本では、住宅、オフィス、商業、物流といった幅広いアセットクラスにて、開発、投資、アセットマネジメント、コンサルティングビジネスを推進。
1992年から2001年、そして2010年から2013年の間は、米国にて、現地法人の責任者として、オフィスビル投資や住宅開発事業を指揮。
1983年京都大学建築学科卒。一級建築士、不動産証券化協会認定マスター、英国王立チャータード・サーベイヤーズ協会フェロー（FRICS）。
 

President and CEO
Sumisho Realty Management Co., Ltd (Sumitomo Corporation’s group company)
He has over 30 years’ experience in real estate business with Sumitomo Corporation locally and globally.
In Japan, he held several key positions responsible for real estate developments, investments and asset management as well as consulting service business in all kinds of asset class such as residential, commercial and logistic sectors.
In US, he had senior managerial positions between 1992 and 2001, and between 2010 and 2013, being responsible for office investments and residential developments.
He received Bachelor of Architecture in 1983 from Kyoto University
He is a licensed architect in Japan, an ARES Certified Master and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Since joining Savills in 2008, Jacey’s role has focused on cross border investment transactions. She is currently based in the Sydney office and working with APAC and global investors.

Prior to joining the Sydney office, Jacey was based in Seoul and continues to work closely with Korean capital. Some of Jacey’s key leading projects during her time at Savills include the sales of an asset located in Beijing, China on behalf of Samsung Life Insurance, AIA Life acquisition of HQ office in Seoul CBD (first market entry) and Pontegadea first acquisition in Asia Pacific.

She also had a key role in a strategic consulting project for a Korean retailer launching in Hong Kong and Macao. Other projects include the disposal of Twin Tree Tower (Pramerica), Bundang Square (Morgan Stanley), Noon Square (Pacific Star), M Plaza (Invesco) as well as consulting on the Tesco asset portfolio in Korea (Affinity). 
Before Savills, Jacey spent over 3 years with Property Group & Site Research at Samsung Tesco.

With over 25 years in the real estate industry, Michael specialises in providing high value market intelligence for the industrial sector.

As National Head of Industrial & Logistics at Savills, Michael is responsible for industrial real estate operations and strategies across the country. As Managing Director of NSW, Michael overseas the operations of the New South Wales business.

He has successfully completed many major investment transactions, such as the sale of GIC's Australian logistics portfolio to Ascendas for AUD$1.037 billion, Equity Commonwealth Portfolio to Propertylink for AUD$303 million and Woolworths' new state-of-the-art automated distribution centre at Dandenong, Victoria for AUD$218 million.

During the course of his work he has completed more high value deals (over AUD$50 million) than any other agent in Australia. He has also received awards from Goodman and Dexus for achieving outstanding results when representing them on transactions.

His analysis reflects a deep understanding of the major players in the industrial sector, including listed and wholesale property trusts, sovereign wealth funds and syndicates.

George Rolfe is the Executive Director, Property at Plenary Group based in Sydney and is responsible for expanding Plenary’s property activities across Australia. Plenary is an independent long-term investor, developer and manager of public infrastructure with a portfolio of 71 assets under management worth more than $44 billion across Australia, Canada and the US.

He is a dedicated property professional with over 23 years of national and international experience focused on large-scale urban renewal and transit oriented developments. George held previous development and investment roles with John Holland, Lendlease and Multiplex in Australia and the United Kingdom.

George is also a member of the APREA Regional Advocacy Committee and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Australia, has completed a Corporate Finance Programme at London Business School and a Bachelor of Construction Management from the University of Technology Sydney.

Wissam is a corporate M&A partner with a specialist focus on the real estate industry, acting for both domestic and international clients. In particular, the establishment of incorporated and unincorporated joint ventures, consortia, capital partnerships and wholesale funds with a real asset focused investment mandate as well as on the acquisition, disposal and restructuring of real assets.

Simon was a partner with Herbert Smith Freehills and KPMG. His time with KPMG included 5 years in Singapore ending in December 2018. Most of his career involved dealing with real estate transactions. He has worked with listed entities, fund managers, private equity investors, family offices and developers. In the Australian context, he was involved in the initial development of the MIT rules as an industry advocate and remained involved in their ongoing development.

He has now retired from partnership but remains a strategic consultant to KPMG, a global SWF and several proposed real estate platforms across the industrial, education, medical and debt sectors.