The current macroeconomic context is one of unorthodox central bank behaviour, inflated asset prices and soft forward indicators that tend to foreshadow recessions. The implications for investors are whether real estate can provide a defensive characteristic to portfolios and if so where in the capital structure to focus. This session considers the options available to investors considering equity, mezzanine and senior debt in this stage of the economic cycle.

Real estate offers a considerable breadth of options across the listed and unlisted space, domestically and internationally. This keynote session considers how investors could explore these options considering liquidity, unique access, completion tactics and to what extent difference assets are supplements or interchangeable within portfolios.

The developed world is experiencing demographics changes with lower birth rates and aging populations. This has implications for society and investors in terms of demand for housing and sources of capital. This session explores the growing phenomena of shared living and how buildings, facilities and experiences are evolving to improve communities around the world.

In Australia and many other developed nations, the population is aging and needs new solutions to housing in old age. This session will explore the themes associated with establishing best in class medical centres, retirement communities and aged care homes.

Data, technology and logistics have changed the way we all shop. This changes the viability of different real estate assets along the supply chain. This session explores the prospects for bricks and mortar retail real estate, the distribution channels utilised by e-commerce and the ancillary real estate assets that are altered by the existing trends in shopping.

Increases in outsourcing and flexible working hours which have changed the demand for CBD office space. Alongside demand, the characteristics of an office are evolving in line with tenancy requests around the psychological aspects of work. This session considers how landlords are improving lighting, noise, end of trip facilities and amenities to design the offices needed for a new workforce.

The next decade will start with the lowest interest rates in all of human history. This will influence how investors assimilate the opportunity set provided by real estate within their broader asset allocation decisions. This session will consider if real estate is best executed within a philosophy of total portfolio management, completion portfolios or through segregated baskets?

Property technology covers a broad range of different innovations from manufacturing, building safety and hardware through to search software and listings apps. This session will debate the challenges associated with these disruptive enterprises, the likely changes to market structure and the options for investors to leverage these trends.