CEE Property Forum & Awards Gala 2025 - Vienna, Austria

Registration & Welcome Drinks

Introduction of the Annual CEE TOP 100 List

Building on the success of country-specific TOP 50 lists, Property Forum will unveil the second edition of its CEE TOP 100, a publication listing the 100 most influential people in the CEE real estate business.

Awards Gala

Join us to celebrate the best projects, most impactful transactions, and most inspiring personalities and companies in the CEE real estate market. Nominations open until 24th October and can be submitted by filling out our nomination form.

Warm-up Party

Guests can enjoy an amazing food and drink offer, including several uniquely themed bars.

Welcome Remarks by Property Forum & Introducing the MCs of the Day

Following the welcoming words of Property Forum's CEO, the hosts of the day will introduce the agenda.

People:

• Angelus Bernreuther, Moderator / Head of Business Development, DEFAMA
• Csanád Csürös, CEO, Property Forum
• James Dearsley, CEO EMEA, Verv
• Paul Toyne, Practice Leader Sustainability, Grimshaw

The Future of CEE: Opening Interview with Zuzana Čaputová, Former President of Slovakia

In an exclusive opening fireside chat, Property Forum founder Csanád Csűrös will sit down with former President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová, to discuss the most pressing challenges and future scenarios for the CEE region.

Over the past three decades, since the fall of communism, Central and Eastern Europe has been one of the world’s most remarkable economic success stories. But the question now is what lies ahead for CEE? Which political paths will the region take? What challenges and opportunities will shape our societies in the years to come?

Zuzana Čaputová served as the president of Slovakia from 2019 to 2024, the first female president in the Visegrád Four. A lawyer by profession, she was a strong advocate for the rule of law, environmental protection, and women's rights. In 2020, she was ranked 83rd on Forbes' list of the 100 most powerful women.

People:

• Zuzana Čaputová, Former President, Slovakia

The Funding Formula: Insights into Financing Strategies

Senior banking and corporate leaders will share perspectives on how developers and investors can secure capital in a high-interest environment. The panel will explore debt versus equity strategies, refinancing challenges, and the evolving role of banks in CEE’s growth story.

Chair: Dorota Wysokińska-Kuzdra, Senior Partner, Head of Corporate Finance & Living Services CEE, Colliers

Conversation participants:

• Dieter Knittel, Head of CEE, pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank
• Florian Nowotny, CFO, Indotek Group
• Maarten Otte, Head of Investor Relations, CTP
• Marius Perșenea, Chief Operating Officer, IULIUS Company
• Gábor Pető, Capital Markets Director, Futureal Group
• Hannes Wimmer, Managing Director, Loan Capital Markets, Erste Group Bank AG

The New Investment Map: CEE’s Emerging Hubs and Shifting Capital Flows

Experts from CBRE will present the latest research on how new cities and sectors are attracting capital across CEE. The presentation will highlight the regions and asset classes with the strongest growth potential.

People:

• Daniel Bienias MRICS, Managing Director CEE & Poland, CBRE
• Gábor Borbély, Senior Director, Head of Research CEE, CBRE

The Great Capital Hunt: Who’s Buying and Who's Selling in 2026?

This panel will bring together leading investors, lawyers, and advisors to analyse the current transaction landscape. The speakers will debate who is most active on the buy side, which assets are being traded, and what to expect from cross-border capital in the year ahead.

Chair: Philipp Zschaler, Managing Partner and Head of the Real Estate Industry Group, Andersen Germany

Conversation participants:

• Victor Constantinescu, Partner, Co-Head of Real Estate, Kinstellar
• Adrian Karczewicz, Head of Divestments CEE, Skanska
• Christopher Mertlitz, Managing Director, Head of European Investments, W. P. Carey
• Benjamin Perez Ellischewitz MRICS, Principal, Avison Young in Hungary
• Andrei Văcaru, Head of Capital Markets CEE, iO Partners

Building Resilient Portfolios: Rethinking Investment Management Strategies

Investment and asset management leaders will share their approaches to navigating market volatility. The conversation will focus on diversification, operational efficiency, and strategies for sustaining long-term value in changing market conditions.

Chair: Clare Sheils MRICS, Managing Director, CBRE Czech Republic

Conversation participants:

• Charles Boudet, CEO, iO Partners
• Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Real Estate Transformation, Value & Growth Lead for CEE, Colliers
• Michał Mieciński, Partner | Real Estate and Construction Department, CMS Poland
• Marek Noetzel, COO, NEPI Rockcastle

Local & Cross-Border Capital: Unlocking New Deal Flows

Regional and international players will examine how domestic investors and foreign capital can complement each other. The panel will address pricing, competition, and the partnerships driving transactions across CEE.

Chair: Dániel Ódor MRICS, Partner, Taylor Wessing Hungary

Conversation participants:

• Grzegorz Chmielak, Head of Valuation & Capital Markets, Axi Immo Group
• Álmos Mikesy, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Gránit Asset Management
• Paulius Stulgaitis, Head of Investments, Eika Asset Management
• Tim Wilkinson MRICS, Head of European Acquisitions, Indotek Group

Inside Europe’s Data Centre Boom: Trends, Demand, and Investment Drivers

This presentation will unpack the forces behind Europe’s rapidly expanding data centre market. It will explore the demand drivers, key investment trends, and the role of digital infrastructure in reshaping real estate strategies across the continent.

People:

• Nikki Venetsanakis, Partner - Head of Advanced Tech for UK & Europe, RLB

Urban Living 2.0: Residential, Mixed-Use and the Future of City Life

This session explores how changing lifestyles and demographics are reshaping urban development. Panellists will discuss residential demand, the role of mixed-use projects, and how cities can adapt to new living patterns.

Conversation participants:

• Kinga Barchon, Partner, Real Estate Leader, PwC Polska
• Bálint Botos, Managing Partner, Forestay Group
• Renata McCabe Kudla, Country Manager, Grupo Lar Poland
• Adam Pustelnik, First Deputy Mayor, City of Łódź
• Forgács Pál, Managing Director, Emonika

Anchor of Attraction: How Supermarkets Drive Retail Revitalisation

Dominik will explain how grocery-anchored retail formats continue to attract investors and revitalise shopping centres. The presentation will illustrate why supermarkets remain resilient even in times of market turbulence.

People:

• Dominik Uhe, Head of Investor Relationship Management, Kaufland International

Office, Retail, Logistics: Finding the Best-Yielding Assets for 2026

Industry leaders will compare the performance of key asset classes and share insights on where yields remain strongest. The panel will weigh tenant demand, financing conditions, and development pipelines to identify the most attractive opportunities.

Chair: James Fitzgerald, Director, Head of Industrial Agency, iO Partners

Conversation participants:

• Paul Kusmierz, CEO, Master Management Group
• Martin Polák, Managing Director CEE, GARBE Industrial Real Estate
• Carmen Ravon, Head of Retail Occupiers CEE, CBRE
• Dominik Uhe, Head of Investor Relationship Management, Kaufland International
• Erik Wafler MRICS, Senior Investment Manager, Gránit Asset Management

Reposition, Reinvest, Reinvent: Navigating the New Office Reality

Conversation participants:

• Péter Számely MRICS, Head of Real Estate Finance CEE, HYPO NOE Landesbank
• Fraser Watson MRICS, Head of Real Estate, Axelor Group
• Christian Wurzer, Head of Asset and Property Management Central Europe, Siemens Real Estate
• Tomas Zach, International Business Director, Country Manager Romania, M2C

AI at Work: Transforming Real Estate Through Data and Intelligence

James will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping real estate. His keynote will highlight practical applications of AI across project management, investment decisions, and asset operations, showing how data-driven intelligence can unlock new efficiencies and value for the industry.

People:

• James Garner, Global Head of AI & Data, Gleeds

Data, Risk, and Returns: Rethinking Investment Logic

This panel will explore how investors can better balance risk and reward in today’s uncertain environment, with an emphasis on data-driven decision-making. The session will highlight how technology and analytics are reshaping traditional investment logic.

Conversation participants:

• Jakub Adam, Partner, Head of Real Estate, Taylor Wessing Czech Republic
• Andreas Kozma, Founder & CEO, iREMS International AG
• Krystian Modrzejewski, Chief Investment Officer, Newgate Investment
• Sylwia Toczyska, Enterprise Account Management, Vistra Fund Solutions
• Jiří Vančura, Director Real Estate and Corporate Finance, Trinity Bank

Energy & Sustainability Performance in Real Estate: What to Do Now, Next, and Beyond

This presentation will offer clear, hands-on guidance on developing financially viable transition roadmaps for real estate assets. It will outline the critical steps to take before pursuing renovation passports or transactions and demonstrate how to directly capitalise on sustainability upgrades, illustrated with case studies.

People:

• Steffen Walvius, Founder, Walvius Partners

Sustainable ROI: Delivering Profits Today While Building Value for Tomorrow

CEOs and innovators will share approaches to combining profitability with sustainability. The discussion will highlight ESG-driven business models and the tangible benefits of inclusive, green, and socially responsible strategies.

Conversation participants:

• Hubert Abt FRICS, CEO, New Work & workcloud24
• Josef Malíř, Executive Director, Star Capital Finance
• Tamás Méri, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer, Access4you International

SEE Rising: Navigating Growth Markets from the Adriatic to the Balkans

This panel will examine the growth potential of Southeastern Europe, focusing on dynamic markets from the Adriatic coast to the Balkans. The discussion will cover investor appetite, capital flows, and the opportunities shaping the region’s real estate landscape.

Conversation participants:

• Mirta Ceranac Poljak, Managing Director, Martley Capital Croatia
• Michal Maco, Country Manager Slovenia, Corwin
• Boško Tomašević MRICS, Managing Director SEE, CBRE
• Maja Šubic, Partner, Senica & Partners