In November, I will conclude my year as Nareit’s 2022 chair. It has been an honor to represent this industry over the past year, and I wish my successor the very best in continuing to provide leadership for Nareit’s many programs and outreach efforts.
As we move further into the second half of the year, it becomes increasingly clear that volatility is likely to be with us for some time, given increased concerns about a slowing economy, higher inflation, rising interest rates, and increased geopolitical risk. Yet given all these potential challenges, REITs appear well positioned for strong relative performance and stability—a testament to the hard work our industry has done in past years to prepare for possible market challenges
One of the highlights of this year for me has been the fact that we could finally meet again face to face across a number of Nareit conferences, starting at REITwise in March.
Indeed, for one Nareit conference, REITworks, this year marks the first time it has ever been held in person, as it was created in early 2020 and until now has existed only in a virtual format.
For those attending REITworks this month, the conference is a testament to the vast array of work that Nareit is involved in on behalf of this industry-with topics ranging from climate change reporting and risk assessment to creating supplier diversity and the future of ESG investing.
While the context around ESG may evolve in the years ahead, REITs have laid a solid foundation in this area and are poised to continue supporting their communities, pursuing investments in renewable energy sources, and seeking out ways to benefit shareholders and stakeholders while anticipating the needs of our future generations.
As you can read in this issue, REITs are playing an active role in the adoption of green leases and more than 20 REITs earned the 2022 Green Lease Leaders designation. REITs are sure to play a key role in the expanded scope of green leases in the coming years.
When we meet in November at REITworld, I anticipate we will continue to discuss the important issues facing this industry, while making and renewing the personal connections that bind us together
Looking ahead, I believe the issues that have been at the forefront of Nareit’s work to date—educating investors, providing essential market analysis, staying ahead of regulatory developments, increasing diversity and inclusion, promoting knowledge and collaboration on environmental risks, and ensuring that the message of our industry is heard—will be even more important going forward.