WASHINGTON – (Realty News Report) — Peter Ballon, global head of real estate for CPP Investments, has been named the new global chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Ballon will serve in a voluntary capacity for a two-year term and lead members as the Institute concentrates on three global mission priorities: decarbonization, education, and housing.
“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of many leaders in the real estate industry and to serve as ULI’s global chair,” Ballon said. “ULI is a member-driven organization, and I view my role as a steward of the Institute. I will concentrate on delivering our mission and shaping programs in ways that reflect what our members want to see implemented.”
“Peter is a highly accomplished real estate executive with deep experience leading global organizations,” said Ed Walter, ULI’s global CEO. “His insights and guidance will be invaluable as ULI continues to expand globally and seeks new ways to make a positive impact in communities around the world.”
Earlier this year, ULI updated its mission statement to: Shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide, supported by three mission commitments: Connect, Inspire, Lead. After broad discussions with members and staff, ULI identified three mission priorities to guide its work over the next three years: decarbonizing the real estate sector and pursuing net zero; educating the next generation of diverse real estate leaders; and improving housing attainability worldwide. These priorities will be reinforced by a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), reflecting the belief that sustainable communities must work for everyone.
Achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050
To address decarbonization, ULI will implement the “Net Zero Imperative,” a program funded by ULI’s immediate past global chair, Owen Thomas, and other member donors. The initiative will provide five Advisory Services activities annually to help cities accelerate decarbonization efforts. Best practices and lessons learned will be shared across ULI networks. ULI also intends to set an industry-wide target aligned with ULI Greenprint goals: cut carbon intensity by 50 percent from a 2009 baseline and achieve net zero carbon by 2050. ULI Greenprint membership currently represents more than 10,000 buildings worldwide with an estimated net asset value of $1.2 trillion.
Increase Housing Attainability
To expand housing supply, ULI will work to increase the number of housing permits and starts in selected cities by 2025 by equipping members with targeted, actionable best practices. ULI will launch and fund a “Focus on Housing” program that combines Advisory Services panels with research to produce a compendium of practical strategies cities can use to create more housing. ULI will continue publishing its Housing Attainability Report and will leverage the ULI Terwilliger Center’s Kemp and Larson Awards to highlight innovative housing solutions.
Educate the Next Generation of Diverse Leaders
ULI aims to connect 50,000 students and early-career professionals—particularly individuals from diverse backgrounds—to ULI and the real estate sector by 2024. The effort will expand awareness beginning at the high school level through growth of the UrbanPlan program; broaden university offerings through initiatives such as University Connections, the Hines Competition, and the Etkin Scholars Program; and support early-career professionals with ULI Learning courses, mentorship opportunities, and the Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI).
“These three mission priorities will help us focus collective efforts on a few clear, high-impact challenges where ULI can make a measurable difference,” said Ed Walter. “They will shape the programs we offer, the events we organize, the content we produce, partnerships we form, and our fundraising priorities.”
“ULI must address the most significant challenges and opportunities of our time and concentrate where we can have the greatest impact,” Ballon added. “Member feedback pointed to three priorities. Perhaps the most critical—and an area where real estate can have outsized influence—is climate change. ULI can be a thought leader, helping the real estate community meet that challenge and transform it into a meaningful opportunity for industry stakeholders.”
Affordable Housing
“Affordable housing is an increasingly urgent challenge as wealth disparities widen,” Ballon said. “Finding better ways to ensure more people can access affordable housing is both a goal and an opportunity for the real estate sector. Each city faces unique obstacles, but the need for solutions is global and immediate.”
“Education is the third priority members identified as vital,” Ballon concluded. “A core part of ULI’s mission is sharing knowledge broadly, not only among established real estate professionals. We must welcome a more diverse membership. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential for ULI to achieve its objectives and broader mandate.”
Alongside Peter Ballon’s appointment, ULI elected five new members to its Global Board of Directors, the Institute’s governing body that provides strategic direction. The five new board members are: Benjamin Cha, chief executive, Grosvenor, Hong Kong; Jon Geanakos, executive managing director, global co-head/investor client relations, JLL Capital Markets, Boston, Massachusetts; the new chair of the ULI Foundation, Faron Hill, president, Peregrine Oak, Atlanta, Georgia; the new chair of ULI Asia Pacific, Teng Chye Khoo, professor, National University of Singapore, Singapore; and Kavindi Wickremage, managing director, real estate, Bain Capital, Boston, Massachusetts.
July 20, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
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File: ULI. Peter Ballon Appointed as ULI’s New Global Chair