The Annual Dinner 2023

28 Sep 2023

On Tuesday evening, some 400 luminaries of the UK’s real estate investment industry gathered at the Savoy Hotel to celebrate the year’s accomplishments, at the 21^st annual AREF dinner.

The evening also saw the annual awards, now in their 12^th year, and kindly sponsored by Crestbridge, go to:

Outstanding Fund Achievement: The Patrizia Hanover Property Unit Trust
Research Award: JLL
Outstanding Individual Contribution: Melville Rodrigues, APEX
Affiliate of the Year: Carey Olsen

But before any awards were handed over, AREF chair Adrian Benedict shared his thoughts on the year and the challenges ahead.

He commented that his was a year in which all had striven for improved industry professionalism and transparency – at a time when disruptions from the crisis appear to be easing.

However, if the pandemic and all that came in its wake were disruptive, then the challenges ahead – what Adrian termed the industry’s social licence – are tests indeed.

As he said, “Very soon, if not already, our industry will be measured by society in gigatons of green house gases. And we must do everything in our power to maintain our social licence.”

He added that, inevitably, real assets mean real responsibilities. But while our industry contributes significantly to carbon, by adapting our built environment, we can save what Canada emits.

By working on issues such as retrofitting, we can encourage funding, and help make money for the sector.

And while policy is rowing back on net zero – there is every confidence to believe the income generation will compel the pendulum to swing back in a more favourable direction.

Adrian left the stage to applause – and a suggestion from the evening’s guest entertainer, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, that the latter would be more than happy to have a go at being chair for the coming year!

As the evening turned into night, with Brigstocke’s jokes, ringing in attendees’ ears, there was much achievement to celebrate, but perhaps more future trials to contemplate.

Thanks to magician, Jamie Seagrave for spellbinding guests during the dinner in the Lancaster Ballroom and to the jazz band, provided by Masters students attending the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

We would like to thank everyone who worked together to deliver such a great event, including Aztec Group, the sponsor for the dinner. Our thanks too, to all our Members and their guests for making the night so special.

Plans for next year’s Annual Dinner & Awards are already underway!