Asia's Return to the Office in Focus on MTD TV

: Nadia Zhu, Regional Managing Director, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, The Executive Centre

: Claude Touikan, Co-founder and Executive Director, Lead8

: Anshul Jain, Head of Asia Pacific Tenant Rep & Managing Director, India & Southeast Asia, Cushman & Wakefield

: Eric Schaffer, CEO, Asia Pacific, essensys

With staff in most Asian countries now back at the workplace, led by Singapore’s return to the office with much fanfare on 26 April, asset owners and occupiers are adapting to a labour force that grew accustomed to the greater flexibility of hybrid work during the pandemic.

To talk about how this story could play out in Asia Pacific, four experts will join MTD TV on Tuesday 22 November for the final session of Mingtiandi’s Office Strategies Forum sponsored by Yardi. Sharing their insights into the future of the office will be Nadia Zhu of The Executive Centre, Claude Touikan of Lead8, Anshul Jain of Cushman & Wakefield and Eric Schaffer of Essensys.

A McKinsey survey of US workers reveals that 58 percent of employed respondents have the option to work from home for all or part of the week, but reports from here in Asia tell an often different story of the region’s workplace practices.

On Tuesday’s programme, the panellists will discuss the implications of this office transformation as it relates to APAC markets, including how Asia’s cultural characteristics — like smaller home sizes and a focus on teamwork — are influencing workplace strategies around the region.

Flexible Frontiers

As regional managing director of Hong Kong-based The Executive Centre, Zhu has seen companies turn to flexible leasing strategies as they grapple with employee demands for remote work and the escalating ratio of staff per desk.

The Executive Centre’s AIA Central location includes more futuristic elements than most offices

The Executive Centre is the third-largest serviced office business in Asia, operating more than 165 locations in 34 cities. Zhu and her team oversee the Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan segments of the business.

Touikan, the co-founder and executive director of the Hong Kong-based Lead8 studio, manages architectural design teams on predominantly mixed-use developments in partnership with some of the world’s leading property developers, owners and operators.

Lead8’s projects include 11 SKIES in Hong Kong, MixC Shenzhen Bay, The Ring in Chongqing, One Bangkok, the Shangri-La Mixed-use Development in Fuzhou and the recently announced Site 3 of the New Central Harbourfront in Hong Kong.

Delivering Solutions

Singapore-based Jain heads Cushman & Wakefield’s India and Southeast Asia subregion, drawing on more than 26 years of experience in commercial leasing, capital markets, tenant advisory, and property and facility management.

The veteran exec has advised and delivered solutions to investors, developers and occupiers across the region and Europe to optimise their real estate objectives.

From his office in Hong Kong, Essensys Asia Pacific CEO Schaffer seeks to fulfil his firm’s mission of transforming the occupier experience in a flexible workspace. Partnering with flex brands and landlords, Essensys provides self-service, software automation and digital infrastructure to meet the needs of occupiers across the region.

Ready for More in 2023

After airing 31 shows in 2022, MTD TV will take a much-needed break until the APAC Residential Forum kicks off next year. The March event will feature a spotlight interview with a market leader in the residential space and three sessions covering multi-family investment in Greater China, Japan and Australia.

For a rundown of Mingtiandi’s scheduled events in 2023, click here.