About Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)
The real estate funds industry thrives on the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and skills that its people bring. Embracing this diversity is not just the right thing to do—it’s a business imperative that drives innovation, strengthens decision-making, and ensures sustainable success.
At AREF, we are committed to helping our members champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their organisations and across the wider industry. We believe real change starts with awareness and collective action, and we are here to provide the tools, inspiration, and support needed to make that change a reality.
Our DEI Campaign: Educate, Motivate, Celebrate
Through our Educate, Motivate, Celebrate campaign, we’re empowering our members to embed DEI into the heart of their organisations. This initiative focuses on:
- Educate: We provide guidance, insights, and resources to deepen understanding of DEI and its importance to the real estate funds sector. Through workshops, case studies, and research, we aim to equip members with the knowledge they need to drive meaningful progress.
- Motivate: By sharing success stories and highlighting the tangible benefits of inclusive practices, we encourage members to take proactive steps toward fostering equity and inclusion within their organisations.
- Celebrate: We showcase and recognise the efforts of our members who are leading the way in DEI, shining a spotlight on achievements to inspire others to follow suit.
Our Commitment to Supporting Our Members
AREF is here to help our members create lasting change. Our DEI efforts include:
- Raising Awareness: Sharing the latest research and best practices to build understanding of how DEI enhances business performance and industry resilience.
- Providing Practical Tools: Offering guidance to assist members in embedding DEI principles across their organisations.
- Fostering Collaboration: Creating spaces for members to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other as they navigate their DEI journeys.
Recent DE&I Initiatives from AREF:
Collaborating with others
We recognise that there is only so much that we can do through our day-to-day activities, which is why we support the following organisations and are proud of the vital work they do:
Organisations who our members work with in DE&I
AREF collected, through a member survey, the names and details of around 20 organisations working in DE&I in our industry who already help many of our member firms (download logos and links here). We’d encourage members to reach out to these firms, as everyone needs to start somewhere to create the change. Click the image to view the logos and links to their websites:
A Shared Vision for Progress
We are passionate about building a real estate funds industry that reflects the diversity of the society it serves. Through Educate, Motivate, Celebrate and our ongoing initiatives, we are proud to stand alongside our members as they lead the way towards a more inclusive, equitable, and successful future for all.
DE&I Taskforce Members
Interested in joining?
We are looking for new members. If you are interested in joining the Taskforce, please email us at [email protected].
If you’d like to contact our DEI Taskforce, we’d be delighted to hear from you, in the first instance, please email us at [email protected].