The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is delighted to welcome three new Board Directors to the business. The new board directors are Shuen Chan, Legal & General Investment Management, Sonal Jain, Workspace and James Manning, Grosvenor. The BBP Board are responsible for helping to lead and shape the BBP’s ongoing business strategy and work programme for the membership.
Shuen is Head of ESG, Real Assets at Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) and is responsible for LGIM’s responsible investment strategy and integration across the portfolio covering real estate equity, infrastructure equity and private debt. Shuen has been working for over a decade in the intersection of sustainable finance, climate change and impact investing, following a successful career in asset management and capital markets.
Sonal is Head of Sustainability, Workspace Group and is responsible for ensuring the business delivers significant positive environmental and social impact, alongside shareholder returns. Sonal oversees the creation, implementation and monitoring of sustainability strategy, along with stakeholder engagement and communication on sustainability matters. As the Chair of the ESG committee, Sonal also operates Workspace’s ESG governance structure, ensuring there is leadership oversight and accountability on sustainability matters.
James is Senior Transformation Manager – Sustainability & Innovation, Grosvenor and is responsible for helping deliver the cultural change needed to embed sustainability across Grosvenor’s UK property business whilst activating an innovative culture that supports the business in becoming more progressive and agile. He leads on the tenant engagement for sustainability working with commercial occupiers and residents to help transform their own organisations and lives to create a more sustainable future for the historic neighbourhoods of Mayfair and Belgravia.
They join the following existing board members:
- Janine Cole ( Board Chair), Sustainability and Social Impact Director, GPE
- Dan Grandage, Head of ESG, Private Markets and Real Estate, abrdn
- Nina Reid, Head of Responsible Property Investment, M&G Real Estate
- Neil Pennell, Head of Design Innovation and Property Solutions, Landsec
- Abigail Dean, Head of Strategic Insights, Real Estate, Nuveen Real Estate
- Quinten Babcock, Environnemental Manager, TfL
- Jane Wakiwaka, Head of Sustainability – Real Estate, The Crown Estate
The newly elected directors will collaborate with existing Board members to continue the BBP’s efforts in finding and delivering practical solutions to the ever-growing sustainability issues of our industry.
Sarah Ratcliffe, CEO, Better Buildings Partnership said: “The BBP is a member-led organization with the Board playing a vital role in reflecting member needs and shaping the programme of work. The BBP is delighted to be welcoming these three new Board members who all bring different perspectives and skills to the BBP, ensuring that we can continue to amplify our impact for the benefit of the whole industry.”
Janine Cole, Chair of the BBP and Sustainability and Social Impact Director, GPE said: “To continue to provide the industry leadership that the BBP is known for, it is essential that we have a Board that is able to provide oversight, challenge and diverse thinking. We are therefore excited to welcome James, Shuen and Sonal to the Board and look forward to working with them to ensure that the BBP continues to drive the pace of change in the property industry, as we work together to tackle the climate crisis."
James Manning, Senior Transformation Manager in Sustainability and Innovation, Grosvenor said: “I am delighted to be joining the BBP board and I look forward to working with the other board members to build on the significant impact that the BBP has already brought to sustainability in the built environment through its convening power, ability to inspire and as a source of collaboration.”
Shuen Chan, Head of ESG, Real Assets at Legal & General Investment Management said: “I am delighted to join the Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) Board. The built environment is critical in facilitating the UK’s sustainability ambitions and transition to net zero; as real assets investors, we have a pivotal role to play. To deliver real impact at scale, the real estate sector must commit to radical collaboration. The BBP is exemplary of this, as it continues to act as a key industry coalition across the commercial real estate sector, catalysing strategic collaboration and partnerships in driving greater sustainability. I look forward to working with the BBP team and fellow board members to support this mission.”
Sonal Jain, Head of Sustainability, Workspace said: “The BBP has done excellent work in setting best practice standards and I feel very privileged to join the Board. I am particularly excited about extending the leadership to cover all aspects of real estate, especially at a time when there is a real momentum towards net zero and sustainability within the sector.”
For enquiries, please contact Sophia Tysoe: s.tysoe@betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk