Darren Jensen Joins Real Estate Academy as Commercial Director

China’s real estate community may soon have more opportunities to get smarter as one of the region’s best known professional training groups just brought on board former Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors leader Darren Jensen to its executive team.

Starting this month Jensen is now Commercial Director Asia with REACh Asia and its affiliate The Real Estate Academy China (REACh). Both organisations were formed by former Hong Kong University professor Keith McKinnell, together with a group of industry specialists, to provide professional development courses and programs for executives in the region’s property industry.

Jensen is well known to the property and construction industry through his previous roles with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). During the decade from 2003 to 2013 the University of Sydney graduate served with the industry association first as Director Oceania, later as Director Asia and most recently as Commercial Director Asia Pacific. Immediately before he joined REACh, Jensen held a senior management role with Oxford University Press.

Commenting on the appointment, REACh Managing Director, Keith McKinnell said “I am delighted that Darren is on board with REACh. Over the last 4 years, REACh has seen significant growth across the Asia Pacific region, particularly Hong Kong, China, India and Singapore. Darren will assist in growing the business, providing an enhanced service to our clients and increasing the scope and range of products available.”

Commenting on his new role, Darren Jensen said “I am thrilled to be back in the property and construction industry and working with Keith and the team at REACh . The need for highly trained and professional people within the industry has never been higher and companies that recognise and invest in people are at a significant advantage in attracting and retaining their most valuable asset.”

REACh Providing Real Estate Training in China and Across Asia

Through its partnership with the Research Institute of Project Management and Administration (RIPAM) at Shanghai’s Tongji University, as well as on its own and with other partners, REACh provides a variety of professional development workshops and study tours for professionals in the industry.

Among the workshops that the group has offered in the past are programs on real estate investment analysis, asset and property management, setting up real estate funds, due diligence for property transactions, corporate real estate management and sustainable real estate.

In addition to its workshops REACh has conducted a number of study tours of China and other parts of Asia to assist international real estate professionals in understanding Asian property markets.