Introduction
Welcome to the first GRESB Oceania newsletter!
This isn’t “a Christmas Carol” but rather, an overview of “GRESB Past, Present, and Future.” It’s almost December and we still have some important events waiting in the Christmas stocking before wrapping up 2023. To make sure you’re aware, up to date, and won’t miss out, we bring you this inaugural quarterly newsletter.
We look forward to connecting with you once more before the summer holidays and/or to reconnecting with you in the new year.
Thank you for your support, hard work, and collective progress – let’s make 2024 even better and greener!
Ruben Langbroek
Head of Asia Pacific
GRESB Past
It has been a busy and engaging time of the year for the global and regional GRESB team:
2023 GRESB Results
As you’ll have seen by now, GRESB launched the 2023 benchmark results in October, including our annual public results. Do have a look at our interactive public results pages to discover key trends and developments in ESG for the real asset industry and see who received Regional and Global Sector Leader recognition this year. View the 2023 public results.
“Australia’s leaders have played their role in setting high sustainability standards and the rest of the market is now moving at speed. This is how we get sustainability at scale.” – Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia
“Australia and New Zealand again demonstrate global leadership in transparent, credible ESG reporting. With infrastructure’s highly catalytic role in economies, and sustainability a significant predictor of fund returns; the continued growth in participation and performance is positive progress for people, nature and thriving nations.” – Ainsley Simpson, CEO, Infrastructure Sustainability Council
“Australian property leaders play an international leadership role in building sustainability. It is heartening and necessary that we remain in the front rank of global innovation and performance in creating sustainable cities.” – Mike Zorbas, CEO, Property Council of Australia
Regional Results Events
A massive “thank you” to everyone who joined us at our recent GRESB Real Estate results events in Sydney, hosted by Colliers, and GRESB Infrastructure results event in Melbourne, hosted by GHD Advisory. These events offer a great opportunity to connect and celebrate our industry’s progress on best practices in ESG, but also to hear from both industry leaders and those that have just started their green journey.
We’d also like to thank the event hosts for their support and all speakers for sharing their valuable insights, including from AMP Capital/Dexus, Cbus Super Fund, Green Building Council of Australia, HMC Capital, Infrastructure Sustainability Council, Melbourne Airport, Scape, State Super, Transurban, and Victoria Funds Management Corporation. View the public results events calendar.
GRESB Foundation Roadmap
The GRESB Foundation recently published its forward-looking 2024 Roadmap, which reflects upon future priorities for the Standards. It describes key drivers for development and areas of work prioritized for 2024, along with issues under consideration for 2025 and beyond. Read the Foundation Roadmap and let us know what you think about the priority areas.
GRESB Present
Actually, we already gave you some GRESB presents at our recent events: kazoos and modern-slavery-free chocolate bars. But there’s more:
GRESB Team Expansion
The GRESB Oceania team just doubled in size: Sarah Blankfield joined GRESB as Manager Member Relations. Sarah most recently worked at Charter Hall as Investor Relations Manager & Sustainability Lead. Prior to that, she worked at the global real estate industry association RICS. Sarah and Ruben are kindly hosted by GBCA at their (very green) office in Sydney International Towers, Barangaroo.
Sarah: “I’m excited to represent GRESB in Oceania and to connect and engage with regional GRESB Members and Partners. Feel free to reach out to us for a catch-up on all things GRESB. We’re happy to host you at our Barangaroo office or to come to your office. In case of the latter, you’ll be included in our (unofficial and semi-confidential) GRESB Member Office Index: subjectively rated on key criteria such as quality of coffee, view, and atmosphere. Seasonal bonus points are available for most sustainable Christmas decorations.”
Online Town Hall Session | November 29, 2023 | 6pm AEDT
Join us for an online presentation and live Q&A on the Foundation Roadmap. We will also dive into the much-anticipated 2024 Standards changes. You can leave your questions on the registration page, which we’ll compile for the Q&A. No worries if you can’t make it, we’ll share a recording afterward. Register here.
In-person GRESB Update & Drinks | Harper Rooftop Bar, Sydney | December 12, 2023 | 4pm AEDT
Looking for an informal end-of-year get-together at Sydney’s newest and biggest open air rooftop bar? Like to speak with GRESB reps on the imminent changes to the Standards, the Roadmap, and on opportunities for engagement? Want to meet, greet & toast with GRESB’s Aussies that are normally based out of our Amsterdam HQ?
Then join us for a GRESB update & drinks event at Harper Rooftop Bar on December 12, kindly hosted by Pro-Invest. The GRESB Oceania team will be joined by Roli Agrawal, Manager Business Development Investors, and Steven Pringle, Director Member Relations. Also, back by popular demand, a festive season trumpet performance, so make sure to bring your kazoos (we’ll have some left for those that missed out). Christmas attire is optional but strongly recommended. Register here.
GRESB Future
Besides the obligatory new year resolutions (which are so 2023 anyway), there’s more to look forward to in 2024:
In-person & Online GRESB Foundation Roundtable:
We will host an in-person GRESB Foundation roundtable session in the week commencing March 11. GRESB’s Chief Innovation Officer Chris Pyke will be in town, and we’ll have our overseas team members joining us virtually to offer updates and allow for a constructive dialogue. You can also join us online, but that does mean missing out on the traditional Dutch homemade brownies we’ll serve. Register here.
New Products and Services:
We’re working on exciting new products and services that support transparency in ESG and offer you actionable insights. Think interactive dashboards with useful (Christmas) bells and whistles. We can’t disclose too much yet but watch this space as well as gresb.com for more information.
More Events
Make sure to check our advent event calendar for upcoming regional events in Australia and New Zealand. Check here.
GRESB Reads
What GRESB Oceania is reading:
Sustainable Finance Guide – GBCA:
Sustainable finance is here to fund the (just) transition gap. GBCA’s new Sustainability Finance Guide is your practical go-to repository for everything on green loans, green and social bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and other debt instruments that can help unlock the value of sustainable real assets. Read the guide here.
Embodied Carbon Public Consultation – NABERS:
Developing a consistent method for measuring, benchmarking, and verifying embodied carbon is a critical step towards enabling Australia to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050 (at the latest). NABERS ran a public consultation on ten proposals for developing an Embodied Carbon tool. Read the outcomes here.
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens:
A must-read to get in the mood for family gatherings, seasonal food and drinks, dancing on crutches, and a festive generosity of spirit(s). Deck the halls, put on your flip flops, and read the book here.