Hines, Baker Mac, Tosei Asset and Essensys Share the Future of the Office on MTD TV

Asia’s urban centres are coming back to life after more than 18 months of restrictions, lockdowns and work from home experiences, but as workforces re-congregate, many are forming new concepts of the workplace, which present challenges for developers, investors and occupiers.

To better understand evolving requirements for the workplace, Mingtiandi is holding our Future of the Office panel at 10:00 AM Hong Kong time on 26 October, and we have invited experts from US developer Hines, international law firm Baker McKenzie, Tokyo-based investment management firm Tosei Asset Advisors and office technology provider Essensys to share their views.

During the one-hour discussion, which is sponsored by Yardi, the panelists will share experiences regarding how workplace wellness, sustainability and flexible office strategies are being implemented around Asia Pacific, and you can join this second session in Mingtiandi’s Office Strategies Forum by registering via the link above.

The program will also look at ways that asset owners and occupiers in many locations are already working together to help make the transition back to the workplace as safe and appealing as possible, while incorporating important lessons on collaboration learned during the pandemic period.

Strategies for a Changed World

Representing Hines in the program will be David Warneford, the Houston-based developer and fund manager’s head of Australia, whose company developed the One Museum Place project in Shanghai and is currently building the world’s tallest timber office tower in Melbourne.

Baker McKenzie partner Rico Chan, who heads the firm’s China practice and is co-head of its Asia real estate group, will be adding his perspective from having advised on some of the region’s largest office transactions, including Hysan’s formation of a joint venture with serviced office specialist and Regus parent firm IWG in August of this year.

Joining from Tosei Asset Advisors will be Midori Suzuki-Tshushima, a more than 30-year veteran of Japan’s real estate finance industry, who heads client relations for the asset management division of Tokyo-based developer Tosei Corporation.

To provide insights on flexible office strategies, Eric Schaffer, chief executive for Asia Pacific at technology provider Essensys will also be joining. Schaffer is currently setting up the Silicon Valley tech firm’s Asia Pacific operation, and will be sharing from the company’s experiences working with landlords and asset owners which are developing the services that increasingly make prime projects stand out from the rest of the office field.

Two Shows in One Week

Following Tuesday’s session, Mingtiandi’s Office Strategies Forum will continue just two days later, on Thursday, 28 October. with a panel titled Asian Capital & Australian Offices, featuring SC Capital Partners managing director Andrew Heithersay; JLL head of capital markets for Australia, Fergal Harris; Real Capital Analytics head of analytics for Pacific, Benjamin Martin-Henry; and David Scalzo, managing director of Melbourne-based developer Perri Projects.

Then the forum will conclude on 2 November, with a panel titled Assets for Asia’s New Economy, which will look into the ways that the rise of Asia’s tech industry is reshaping office markets. Joining that event will be Danny Phuan, head of acquisitions for Asia Pacific at Allianz Real Estate; Tim Graham, head of capital strategies for Asia Pacific at JLL; Terence Seah, director and head of Hong Kong, Singapore and Shenzhen for global design firm Benoy, and Augustine Chin, a director with Swiss private equity fund manager Asia Green Real Estate.