The Property Foundation chief executive and head of Massey's property programme, Associate Professor Graham Squires, addresses industry at the foundation's relaunch.
Massey University is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its property foundation with a relaunch and renewed sense of purpose. Rebranded as The Property Foundation at a gala event in Auckland last week, the foundation aims to foster greater collaboration between academia and the property industry for the good of society.
Associate Professor Graham Squires, the head of Massey University’s property programme and chief executive of the relaunched foundation, says countries all over the world are grappling with issues such as housing affordability and infrastructure property development.
“The best way of dealing with these challenges is through multi-disciplinary and multi-university collaboration, and working closely with industry partners,” he says. “Massey’s vision is for The Property Foundation to act as an information hub to address these concerns.
“By building better connections between those with an interest in the many economic, social and environmental concerns that relate to property, we can achieve better outcomes for everyone.”
Building on 30 years of property data
Massey University’s property foundation has 30 years of data tracking home affordability and rental rates in New Zealand, and The Property Foundation is now looking to expand its research programme significantly. Its first new research project will focus on infrastructure challenges locally and globally. It is also keen to foster better connections through industry events, jobs and internships, education programmes and the sharing of resources and information.
The foundation’s board and executive team were introduced to the industry at the launch, which took place at the Northern Club on October 4. The MC for the evening was the foundation’s new chair, Anthony Beverley, who stressed the real value of a strong practical connection between Massey’s teaching and research facilities, industry and the wider marketplace
Stephen Selwood, chief executive of Infrastructure New Zealand, and Bo-sin Tang, Professor in Urban Planning from the University of Hong Kong, then shared their insights into the property and infrastructure sectors domestically and internationally.
The Property Foundation launch was generously sponsored by CoreLogic and TelferYoung.
For information on how to become a member and/or sponsor of the foundation please visit https://propertyfoundation.co.nz/. For other information please contact Graham Squires, phone (06) 951 6552.