MIPIM, the world's leading property market, has successfully completed its 30th edition in Cannes, France under the theme of "Engaging the Future". The event was held on March 12-15, 2019 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.

At this year's event, diversity, sustainable developments, proptech, mobility, the role of women and young leaders in real estate were the key issues at MIPIM 2019. In addition to the event's lecture series, French architect Jean Nouvel delivered a long keynote about his Cidade Matarazzo project in Sao Paolo, Brazil, the current largest renovation project in the country. 

MIPIM's opening keynote by Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the UN. Image © Yann Coatsaliou

The other hotly-anticipated keynote was delivered by Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the UN, opened MIPIM’s 30th edition at the first day with an inspiring keynote speech, in which he encouraged real estate leaders to further sustainability and fight climate change.

MIPIM, an annual global event, is held for the international market for real estate professionals. This 2019 edition gathered 26,800 players from all sectors of the international property industry with more than 5,400 investors, 560 political leaders coming from more than 100 countries. 

MIPIM's Start up competition. The winners. Image © S. d'Halloy / Image&Co.Courtesy of MIPIM

The role of women and young leaders in real estate

The role of women and young leaders in real estate were one the key issues of MIPIM 2019 as the real estate sector is seeking diversity, change and leadership for the future. 

While most of the sessions include at least one woman in the discussion panels, MIPIM's Women’s Cocktail was opened with Amanda Clack from CBRE and gave some advices about diversity and inclusion: "We’ve got lots of facts ad figures about how diversity and inclusion can improve business. If we all do something different, it’s about how we set the dial of individual organisations and pertain to their needs."

MIPIM 2019 Women's Cocktail/Amanda Clack. Image © E. Megret / Image&Co. Courtesy of MIPIM

In another panel reported by Global Real Estate Experts, "urbanity: establishing new rules for cities" addresses to alternative lifestyles in cities. Auma Obama (Barack Obama’s half sister) alongside leading private and public real estate figureheads, was the key figure of the discussion, alongside Amanda Clack, Debra Mountford, Jean-Louis Missika, James Alexander, Chris Marlin. 

Auma Obama also spoke powerfully on behalf of the many disenfranchised whose voices are not heard. She said: "I remember the frustration I felt at not being called to the table as a kid. As adults, we don’t really listen to children. But they’re going to take over from us, and so I’m want them to know I’m listening. If we listen carefully, the answers are there."

Auma Obama at MIPIM 2019. Image courtesy of Global Real Estate Experts

"One set of needs to listen to is that of rural communites," urged Obama. "Yes, let’s build those buidings that win us awards," she said. “But let’s also allow rural people to live as well as urban ones; then you’ll solve the problem of slums. People should not be living in slums. They should be ensured jobs that allow them to buy the houses you make."

Moreover, to support young leaders in the real estate sector for future cities, this year MIPIM launched "Young Leaders Summit", set as a major intergenerational debate on the future of cities and skills development. 

The opening session entitled "Young Leaders: Convergence or Divergence", concluded that models, coaches and a clear purpose are three key factors needed to increase the appeal of the real estate industry for the younger generation, reported Global Real Estate Experts. 

The second session, "Promoting Talent & Skills" drilled down into the real-life experiences of young professionals making their way in the world of real estate. Zofia Voda, the Czech Republic board member for RICS, said young women in particular need more role models within the sector. “They need to see themselves in five or ten years and to see that when they come back from maternity leave they have a role model to look up to,” she said.

MIPIM's Young Leaders: Promotion Talent & Skills. Image © V. Desjardins /Image&Co.Courtesy of MIPIM

Proptech needs at the core of the real estate industry

The impact of proptech in smart cities and the needs of proptech in the real estate sector were highlighted at this year's MIPIM, proving that "working hard for both landlords and tenants, delegates at the right infrastructure" is quite efficient and important. 

The session entitled "Workplace Technology: Improving The Experience" discussed employees’ and employers’ expectations of their working environment have dramatically changed in a very short timeframe. 

"Now every workplace has to take into account many different aspects including;  effective ways of working;  collaboration; agility; corporate culture and values and also provide an  inspiring environment," highlighted the panel. 

MIPIM 2019 atmosphere. Image © V. Desjardins /Image & Co. Courtesy of MIPIM

The panel hosted speakers including Andrea Jang - JLL Spark, Charlie Kuntz - Hines, Jonathan Pearce - Executive Vice President, Leasing, Office and Industrial, North America, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Anna Kulik - Project Director at Scott Brownrigg. 

In general, the discussed: why and how technology is a key factor in attracting top talent? what will the future of work look like? and qhat is the latest technology enabling  smarter, more effective working practices?.

"Just as occupiers are turning to tech to assist them with talent retention, landlords need to provide the right infrastructure to keep their tenants," said Charlie Kuntz, Innovation Officer at Hines.

"Tenant engagement apps represent the key frontier, moving forward, to get the most out of employees," Kunts added. 

Andrea Jang, head of growth Americas, JLL Spark, added: "productivity is also an issue which can be answered the new workplace tech. If you can understand what employees are doing during the day, even with their lunchbreak, you can create ancillary services. Whether that's dog walking or food delivery, it's a way of keeping employees at their desks for longer."

View from "Inclusion Forum: Inclusive Cities" session. Image © WAC

Diversity is the key aspect in urban planning

MIPIM's "Inclusion Forum: Inclusive Cities" session including speakers Alexandra Hagen - Chief Executive Officer at White Arkitekter, Rui Moreira - Mayor of Porto, Porto City Hall, Bea Sennewald - Director of Projects, Article 25, Alexandra Notay - Build to Rent (Multifamily) Fund Director, PfP Capital, stressed diversity as the key aspect in urban planning. 

The session mainly focused on the concept of inclusive cities involves multiple spatial, social and economic factors. The panelists asked: how can the industry work towards community cohesion & diversity involvement. What are the challenges when building socially inclusive cities?

View from "Inclusion Forum: Inclusive Cities" session. Image © WAC

While discussing the inclusive cities in a general framework, Alexandra Hagen said that "there four elements that should be considered for inclusive cities. First, designing housing for all people, secondly, putting needs for attractive destinations, thirdly, designing green spaces and fourthly, investing in public spaces are the key aspects for inclusive cities."

She added that "also investing in beauty and aesthetic is another factor that drives inclusive cities. "Apart from Hagen's statements, Rui Moreira - Mayor of Porto, Porto City Hall, added that "first, we need to consider by asking what do we really want to achieve while setting our own agenda." 

"Re-branding cities, of course, is very important but we also need to create two aspects in urban planning: comfortable spaces and interesting spaces." "These are the simple aspects of creating a diverse urban planning in cities."

MIPIM's outeside view. Image © V. Desjardins /Image & Co. Courtesy of MIPIM

World Architecture Community is official Media Partner for this year's MIPIM and brought you all the highlights & key sessions from the four-day event this March. Read the latest news about some selected sessions in WAC's France Architecture News page. MIPIM 2020 will be held on 10-13 March, at Palais des Festivals in Cannes next year. 

Top image: MIPIM 2019, Keynote by Jean Nouvel. Image © V. Desjardins /Image & Co. Courtesy of MIPIM.

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