Sabine Georgi Appointed as ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland Executive Director

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has appointed Sabine Georgi as executive director of the ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland National Council. She will replace Stephanie Baden, who left the organisation to pursue other opportunities. Sabine joins from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) where she worked as a country manager Germany and will start her new role in May 2021.

ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland is ULI’s second largest European National Council with over 900 members from both the private and public sectors, representing all disciplines within the commercial and residential property market. Georgi plans to continue the work of ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland (DACH) and further raise ULI’s public profile in the German, Austrian and Swiss real estate markets, particularly emphasising the Institute’s role as thought leader on promoting resilient cities as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. 

In her role as executive director, Sabine Georgi will be working closely with the ULI Germany Executive Committee and the chair of ULI Germany, Gero Bergmann, who was previously member of the board of management at Berlin Hyp AG and joined the BayernLB board earlier this month. “This is an exciting time for Sabine to join ULI,” said Bergmann. “Accelerated by Covid-19, our towns and cities are facing major challenges and opportunities, with climate change, social inequality, and changes in how we work, play and live. As there is no silver bullet, the sharing of knowledge and best practice is absolutely crucial. Sabine’s extensive experience in the property industry, and relationships with key players in the market, will help us to leverage the expertise of our members to inspire innovative solutions.”

“I am a big believer in the concept of thinking globally and acting locally,” said Georgi. “With the help and influence of ULI’s membership network from around the world, we can shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in local communities. The value of sharing ideas in the real estate profession and learning from best practice from around the world cannot be underestimated.”

“To provide practical solutions, it is important that we address regional differences in our industry to make sure that best practice is appropriately localised. By tailoring ULI’s highly valued and respected research, we can jointly address the main challenges in our industry and further develop ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland as the leading real estate membership organisation in German-speaking areas.”

“Coming from a membership organisation background, Sabine understands the importance of putting our members at the forefront of everything we do,” said Lisette van Doorn, CEO of ULI Europe. “She will play a critical role in further advancing the efforts of ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland to add value to our members, by providing them with unique opportunities to make a positive difference to the industry and in local communities. In a post-pandemic world, this is more important than ever. Sabine’s proficiency and understanding of the real estate industry and member needs will enable the National Council to expand further and increase both individual and corporate membership, as well as adding to the, already very active, programme of activities.”

Georgi has more than 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, with senior positions at prominent membership organisations. As country manager for RICS Germany, her focus was on business development, the establishment of globally applicable standards and political consulting in order to advance the concerns and goals of the international organisation in Germany. Previously, Georgi worked for the German Property Federation (ZIA) as head of the real estate and capital markets department. She was responsible for real estate valuation, financing, market transparency as well as office properties. 

As a graduate in business administration (BA), Sabine Georgi has worked for BBT GmbH and the Association of Berlin and Brandenburg Housing Companies (BBU. She is also a founding member of FRAUEN !N FÜHRUNG (F!F), an initiative of the German real estate industry that advocates for more women in leadership positions.