GRI Global Committee
Student Housing Chapter (July edition)
⚬ Covid-19 impact on Student Housing
Thursday, 9th July
15:00 - 16:00 | British Summer Time (GMT+1)
Submit your interest (Non-members)
Participation is restricted to Club Members and eMembers.
If you would prefer to contact us by email, please send to [email protected].
Our team will get in touch with you soon to confirm your participation
GRI Club's Global Committees set the professional standard for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing in order to identify new trends, capitalise on growth opportunities and aid dealflow discovery worldwide.
Curated purely by members, spanning 4 continents, 25+ countries, and across all asset classes, each global committee meets once per month via zoom to share current sentiment, investment appetite and debate where the market is going.
Participation is open and welcome to all GRI Club Members, under the wing of the specific committee chapter. Be part of the global dynamic exchange and always be present for the opportune moments in your asset and region.
Covid-19 impact on Student Housing
We would like to focus our discussion on the impact of Covid-19 on the student housing sector, focusing on three points of view: (1) impact on the value proposition of purpose built student housing, (2) the impact on property design, operations and leasing strategy, and (3) capital markets appetite for investment in the student housing sector.
1. Impact on the student housing value proposition:
- Background: What are our expectations for re-start of classes next semester and demand for student housing through the end of the calendar year (a few minutes from group members to address their home markets of UK, EU, USA, Brazil, India, China)
- Are there any long-term changes to our value proposition?
- How has the value of amenities-filled properties been impacted by the pandemic? Do they present a momentary risk? A long-term risk?
- Are there cases where demand has increased due to tenants’ preference for “collective quarantine” as opposed to isolation in individual apartments? We generally assume the opposite is the case—that consumers regard shared amenity space as presenting contagion risk
- Can we make arguments in favour of our living communities as safe and pleasant environments to quarantine collectively?
2. Impact on property design, operations, and leasing strategy:
- How have we adjusted our property operations to address the pandemic?
- How have we adjusted the design of future properties?
- Is the trend of student housing owners expanding their product mix to target young professionals accelerating due to the uncertainty of the status quo ante among universities?
2. Impact on capital markets investment demand:
- Has institutional investor appetite for PBSA been impacted by Covid-19?
- Have investors’ perception of the risk related to PBSA changed? Is it a higher concentration of risk than previously believed?
- Institutional investor appetite to expand their exposure geographically
1
GRI Global Committee
Student Housing Chapter
Student Housing Chapter
Brian
Welsh
Founder/CEO
OPRE Solutions
Cervantes
Lee
Hospitality Business Faculty
UNLV Foundation
Chanakya
Chakravarti
Head of Indirect Strategies, Asia-Pacific
Ivanhoé Cambridge
Charlie
MacGregor
CEO & Founder
The Student Hotel
Douglas
Edwards
Head of Group Equity Raising
Emrys Advisors GmbH
Filipe
de Sá Pessoa
Head of Development Germany
AXA IM Alts
Horst
Lieder
Managing Partner
Audere Equity
Jeffrey
Sújar Blanco
Managing Partner, Alternative Investments
Urbania International
Juan
Acosta
CIO & Head of Spain
Rockfield
Juliano
F. Antunes
Presidente
Uliving
Julie
Skolnicki
Senior Managing Director
Greystar Real Estate Partners
Karolina
Kournossova
Co-Founder
LIVTOO
Ken
Wainer
Founding Partner
Patria Investments
Michael
Abel
Founder & CEO
GREYKITE
Michael
Hales
President - CA Student Living
CA Ventures
Michiel
Olland
Principal
Collegiate
Nick
Barker
Director
Woburn Capital
Nick
Hayes
Group Property Director
RG Real Estate
Nimesh
Grover
CEO
Good Host Spaces
Nitin
Bhandari
CIO - Treasury, Real Estate and Fund Investments
LetterOne Treasury
Paul
Oliver
CEO
Curlew Capital
Russell
Petrie
Head of Student
EQT Real Estate
Samuel
Vetrak
CEO
Bonard
Sean
Lyons
Partner & Co-Founder
Jackson Dearborn Partners
Varun
Singh
Director - Acquisitions
Allianz Real Estate
Xavier
Scheibli
Portfolio Director
Yugo
Submit your interest (Non-members)
Participation is restricted to Club Members and eMembers.
If you would prefer to contact us by email, please send to [email protected].
Our team will get in touch with you soon to confirm your participation
Brian Welsh
Founder/CEOOPRE Solutions
United Kingdom
Brian Welsh has over 14 years’ experience in the student accommodation and private rental sector markets. He has been responsible for the development and management of over 50,000 beds globally. Brian assumed the role of CEO of Nido Student in October 2017. Within this time, he has overseen the expansion of the portfolio from 2,000 to a pipeline of over 20,000 beds. Prior to joining Nido, Brian was Head of Operational Management at Liberty Living plc and then assumed the role of COO of Threesixty Developments and The Student Housing Company, where he oversaw the acquisition and delivery of over 17,100 beds across Europe, breaking into new PRS markets which have since become established, in particular Ireland and Spain.
Cervantes Lee
Hospitality Business FacultyUNLV Foundation
USA
Chanakya Chakravarti
Head of Indirect Strategies, Asia-PacificIvanhoé Cambridge
India
Chanakya (Chan) Chakravarti is the MD for India, responsible for implementing in his territory, the investment and asset-management strategies outlined in Ivanhoé Cambridge’s annual business plan and strategic plan. He works closely with the Growth Markets team and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to put in place and consolidate strategic partnerships for major projects in India. Mr. Chakravarti is a seasoned manager with more than 27 years of experience, including over 20 years in real estate, investment and development. Before joining Ivanhoé Cambridge in 2018, he was Managing Director, Global Alternatives, Asia, at J.P. Morgan Chase. Chan has previously held country management roles at Actis Capital and C&W.
Charlie MacGregor
CEO & FounderThe Student Hotel
Netherlands
As founder and CEO of The Student Hotel (TSH), MacGregor has reimagined the concept of ‘luxury’ city centre accommodation for an expanding customer base of internationally-minded students, entrepreneurs and travellers who seek more than the anonymity of a box room in a building that sits in grand isolation from the community that surrounds it.
Douglas Edwards
Head of Group Equity RaisingEmrys Advisors GmbH
Germany
Douglas Edwards is Managing Director and Head of Group Equity Raising & Client Services at Corestate Capital Group. He has 35 years of experience in international real estate, with a key focus on European markets. Douglas also has proven investment & asset management credentials, with a solid background in structuring debt and equity products for real estate investors. Additionally, Douglas has a deep understanding of sourcing & closing strategies and a strong international institutional sales network. Before he joined Corestate he was Managing Director and Head of Institutional Business International at KGAL Capital and Managing Director and Head of International Clients at Corpus Sireo.
Filipe de Sá Pessoa
Head of Development GermanyAXA IM Alts
Germany
Filipe, who is based in Frankfurt, brings 15 years of experience in real estate development, investment management and design. He will be responsible for leading AXA IM Alts’ development activity across Germany, as well as further expanding the business and strengthening AXA IM Alts’ network of partners. Prior to joining AXA IM Alts, Filipe spent nearly five years at MPC Capital, where he held various senior roles including Head of Acquisitions and Development for Micro-Living and Real Estate Investment Director. He also previously held the role of Acquisitions & Development Manager at DC Developments.
Horst Lieder
Managing PartnerAudere Equity
Germany
Jeffrey Sújar Blanco
Managing Partner, Alternative InvestmentsUrbania International
Spain
Jeffrey holds a Degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and more than 20 years’ experience in Management and Business Development in the Real Estate area. In 2018 he joined Urbania International as CEO of Syllâbus, Urbania subsidary, leading the company’s operations as well as strategy, investment advisory and structuring. Syllâbus is a Property Development Company specialised in the delivery of prime Student Accommodation. Nowadays, he is also Proffesor at IE School of Architecture and Design. Prior to Syllâbus, Jeffrey held a position as Vice-President and Managing Director at Hill International and he was Development Director of Shopping Centre Specialist at Sonae Sierra.
Juan Acosta
CIO & Head of SpainRockfield
Spain
Juliano F. Antunes
PresidenteUliving
Brazil
Founder and CEO of Uliving, bringing the concept of Purpose Built Student Accommodation to Brazil. Graduated in Civil Engineering from Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia and Post-graduated in Business Management and Strategy from Instituto de Economia at Unicamp. Juliano is a mentor at Learn To Fly, helping people to understand and pursue their purpose. He is also an Advisor at Smartus, an organization that promotes knowledge and innovation in the real estate market.
Julie Skolnicki
Senior Managing DirectorGreystar Real Estate Partners
USA
With over 20 years of University Public Private Partnerships Transaction and Development Experience, Julie has focused her career on creating dynamic mixed-use environments driven by institutional objectives. - Delivered over $5 Billion in mixed-use campus communities - Oversees $2 Billion Development Pipeline - Focused on structuring complex multi-phased student life developments for colleges and universities - Expertise in building and managing large planning, design, construction, finance and operations teams - Structures innovative project financing and implementation strategies - Regular speaker, moderator, subject-matter expert for industry organization, conferences and publications.
Karolina Kournossova
Co-FounderLIVTOO
United Kingdom
Karolina has worked across the real estate investment and property development for over 12 years with a strategic focus on living sector: PBSA, Coliving and BTR. She has launched several real estate platforms and co-founded a few property ventures: STUDENLIV - a student accommodation placement agency (with a coverage across 16 countries) and LIVTOO - a property advisory and asset management firm focused exclusively on living assets across the UK and Europe.
Ken Wainer
Founding PartnerPatria Investments
Brazil
Ken co-founded VBI Real Estate in 2006 and has been involved in all of VBI Real Estate’s investments since inception. Prior to the formation of VBI Real Estate, Ken was a founding partner of Vision Brazil and was responsible for establishing the real estateprivate equity practice. At Vision Brazil, Ken was responsible for investment origination, transaction structuring, and portfolio management for investment funds with an AUM of U.S.$2 billion. Ken’s professional experience has included twenty years of investmentmanagement and M&A advisory work based in New York and São Paulo. Ken received a B.A. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Michael Abel
Founder & CEOGREYKITE
United Kingdom
Dr. Michael Abel is a private equity investor with over 20 years of experience, specialised in buying and building leading real estate companies across asset classes in Europe. He is the Founder & CEO of GREYKITE, an independent European investment firm established 2023 in London. He oversees GREYKITE’s strategy, capital formation, and investment business, and serves as Chairman of the Executive and Investment Committees. Prior to founding GREYKITE, Michael was an Equity Partner at TPG, a leading global investment firm with ca. $239 billion of assets under management. During his decade at TPG, he helped establish TPG Real Estate’s efforts in Europe and was a member of TPG Europe’s Executive Committee and TPG Real Estate’s Investment Committee. He has served as Chairman of several portfolio companies across multiple sectors and is a Co-Founder of the stART Foundation. He holds a PhD in Management Sciences, speaks 5 languages and serves as Adjunct Professor at ESCP Business School.
Michael Hales
President - CA Student LivingCA Ventures
USA
Michael Hales serves as President of CA Student Living. He manages the investment, development and operational strategy for CA’s North American student housing division. Hales drives the platform’s investment strategy, utilizing its unique range of student-specific investment vehicles including core, opportunistic, acquisition, value-add and public-private partnerships. Michael provides the vision and direction for CA Student Living’s growth through the creation and execution of a robust pipeline of investment and development opportunities in strategic, top-tier university markets across the United States.
Michiel Olland
PrincipalCollegiate
Netherlands
Nick Barker
DirectorWoburn Capital
United Kingdom
Nick is a director and founder of Woburn Capital. Nick led the FTSE 250 GCP Student Living Plc for 6 years to its exit in 2021. In addition to being the fund manager he was a shareholder, EXCO and IC member of Gravis. Prior to this, Nick was Head of Alternatives for Schroders Real Estate and a member of the fund management team for the Schroders Capital UK Real Estate Fund. Nick also worked at Cushman & Wakefield and JLL and has over twenty years investment experience. Nick is a qualified chartered surveyor.
Nick Hayes
Group Property DirectorRG Real Estate
United Kingdom
Nick heads up the Groups property business and is responsible for all aspects of Unite's real estate activities including property development, asset management and investment. He joined Unite in 2007 and has held a number of roles within the business. Nick sits on the Unite Students Executive Committee and is also a member of the BPF Student Accommodation Committee.
Nimesh Grover
CEOGood Host Spaces
India
Nimesh has over 24 years, experience in successful investing across multiple asset classes. He has extensive experience in working closely with founders and other shareholders in growing companies, setting up teams and delivering results to all stakeholders like clients, shareholders, etc. He has worked in marquee organizations like IDFC Alternatives, Citi Property Investors and UBS Global Real Estate in senior roles. At IDFC Alternatives he was one of the early investors in India to identify the opportunity of investing in income producing office assets, he also ideated the opportunity to create an independent student housing company.
Nitin Bhandari
CIO - Treasury, Real Estate and Fund InvestmentsLetterOne Treasury
United Kingdom
Nitin has over 25 years of rounded investment experience spanning private equity, private debt, capital markets and M&A. From 2013-2022, Nitin was Head of Direct Investments at L1 Treasury, responsible for all private equity, private debt and special situations investments within L1 Treasury. From 2013 -2019, Nitin was also a Partner in Pamploma Capital Management responsible for private debt and special situations in the credit opportunities fund. Prior to that, Nitin led the European Real Estate and Principal Finance businesses of Nomura and Bear Stearns. Nitin started his career at SG Warburg & Co (now part of UBS) in M&A.
Paul Oliver
CEOCurlew Capital
United Kingdom
Paul is currently CEO of Curlew. He has over 40 years’ experience in development and investment management in both the UK and Europe. He has been at the forefront of the establishment of unlisted property funds since 1991. He spent the 1980′s leading development teams on predominantly shopping centre schemes, following which, he moved to head up Dusco alongside Chairman Dik Dusseldorp, founder of Lend Lease plc. Paul then established Equity Partnerships promoting and managing collective investment schemes, which merged with the Teesland Group in 2000. In 2002 he launched Teesland plc on the London Stock Exchange, building funds under management to €6.5 billion before sale to Valad in June 2007.
Russell Petrie
Head of StudentEQT Real Estate
United Kingdom
Russell Petrie serves as the Head of Student at EQT Real Estate in London, driving the firm's strategic expansion within the European student housing sector. He was instrumental in EQT's acquisition of a significant portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation assets in the UK, notably growing the firm's European student bed count to over 7,500. Russell's approach emphasizes securing assets in undersupplied markets and prioritizing an exceptional tenant experience to foster environments where students can thrive. His role is central to EQT's thematic investment strategy in direct-to-consumer real estate solutions.
Samuel Vetrak
CEOBonard
Austria
Founder and CEO of BONARD and has over 20 years’ experience advising real estate investors, funds, developers and operators. Since 2007, under his leadership, his staff of 50 researchers and analysts operating in four offices around the world have been providing the highest level of secondary and primary in-field data, making BONARD a leading provider of independent and reliable research and solutions. Samuel, an individual member of the world's leading professional research association ESOMAR, is a frequent speaker at the major global real estate stages, attending dozens of conferences a year and sharing latest insights backed by his long-term industry experience
Sean Lyons
Partner & Co-FounderJackson Dearborn Partners
USA
Sean is a Partner and Co-Founder of Jackson Dearborn Partners. His primary areas of focus in The Student Housing sector include fundraising, investor relations, and marketing. Sean has over 20 years of experience including the last 16 as a real estate broker and principal participating in well over $1 billion in real estate transactions. Sean started his real estate career with Marcus & Millichap in 2003, eventually founding his own brokerage company, Triad Real Estate Partners, in 2010. Moving to the principal side, Sean went on to found JDP where he utilizes creative marketing and an extensive network to build a portfolio of real estate and relationships within the Student Housing space across The United States.
Varun Singh
Director - AcquisitionsAllianz Real Estate
Singapore
Varun Singh is a Director in Allianz Real Estate Asia Pacific and heads the India & Southeast Asia business. Prior to joining Allianz in 2019, Varun was leading Singapore real estate acquisitions for JPMAM. He was directly involved with and led investments in Singapore across all sectors for JPMAM’s flagship Strategic Property Fund Asia, an open-ended core fund focused on Asia Pacific gateway cities. Previously, Varun spent 9 years investing in Indian real estate market focused on equity and debt investment opportunities. Varun graduated from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and received his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.
Xavier Scheibli
Portfolio DirectorYugo
United Kingdom
Since 2018, Xavier Scheibli is Portfolio Director at GSA, based out of Frankfurt. He has more than 17 years of experience in multiple RE sectors, both on the equity & debt sides. In his current role, he’s responsible for managing portfolios of PBSA assets in Germany & UK, maintaining a close relationship with all players in the capital stack. Prior to GSA, Xavier was a Director at LNR/Hatfield Philips, leading NPL underwriting activities in Continental Europe & the firm’s co-investment opportunities. Before joining LNR in 2013, Xavier served as VP at Hudson Advisors & held posts in the RE division of UBS Wealth Mgt, where he was involved in fund structuring, acquisitions & distributions to high net worth individuals & inst. investors.
Participation is restricted to Club Members and eMembers.
If you would prefer to contact us by email, please send to [email protected].
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Club Partners
Duff & Phelps
London, United KingdomDuff & Phelps REAG offers independent, specialized consultancy in connection with real estate investments, valuation, asset and portfolio management.
Grupo Souza Lima
São Paulo, SP, BrazilGrupo Souza Lima is recognized in the national market of security and outsourced services (concierge, cleaning and facilities) as a company of operational excellence with complete and innovative solutions and that has a special care with all employees. With 29 years of market and operating in 15 branches in 11 states, it is considered to be the fastest growing company in its segment with more than 22,000 trained and prepared employees who help in the efficient delivery of the services offered using the best market practices. Whether they are Patrimonial Security, Armed Escort, Electronic Security or other services known as facilities. Grupo Souza Lima DNA is directly linked to the commitment with the employees who make the difference in the day to day. In each action they carry all the values that brought the company to the current level of recognition. This attitude, attention and care make Souza Lima a different company. After all, our purpose is People, Caring for People.
Regus Mexico
Ciudad de Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico State, MexicoRegus is a global provider of work environments. Its network of more than 3,000 business centers in more than 104 countries. It provides convenient and high-quality spaces for people to work on, whether for minutes or years.
SIL Grupo
Lisbon, PortugalThe SIL Group is a consortium of several independent companies, complementary to each other and often working in collaboration. The SIL Group has over 60 years experience in the Portuguese real estate sector.
Knowledge Partner
REAL ESTATE
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