The first cohort of 16 Mipim Challengers, a new initiative that will invite a group of young built environment professionals to Mipim 2024 to challenge the real estate industry, have been announced.
The inaugural Mipim Challengers initiative will see 16 real estate professionals under the age of 30 take part in the full event programme at Mipim 2024 and make the case for new solutions to the biggest challenges facing the real estate industry.
The 16 Challengers were selected on the basis of a short essay question - 'What is the most crucial challenge confronting global urban development, and how can young professionals contribute to its solution?'
Over 150 essays were submitted from a total of 20 countries. Most entries came from Western Europe but the final cohort includes entries from further afield including Mauritius, South Africa and the US.
Essays were judged on their originality, understanding, critical thinking, and global perspective by an expert panel of Nicolas Kozubek, Mipim director, Muyiwa OKI, RIBA president, and Annette Kröger, chief executive officer Europe, Pimco Prime Real Estate.
At Mipim, the Challengers will take part in a full programme of events, talks and panels, and networking. Following a workshop session hosted by UNESCO Ambassador Guila Clara Kessous, they will pitch the best ideas to an expert panel of senior leaders in property development and investment.
The 16 Mipim Challengers are:
• Mats Bartels, investment manager & podcastmaker at Rockfield Real Estate & Vastgoedmarkt
• Camille Boutemy, architect at Barthélémy Griño Architectes
• Daniel Duncan, architectural assistant at EdenCoast
• Nangamso Fortune, property development analyst at Heri Prop Co
• James Lenton, investment analyst at Thriving Investments
• Jessie Leung, assistant estates surveyor at South Gloucestershire Council
• Elijah Lewis, research consultant at Remit Consulting
• Ffion Middleton, planner at Turley
• Rachel Munro, senior associate at Shoosmiths LLP
• Olasumbo Olaniyi, doctoral scholar and spatial researcher at the University of Plymouth
• Alexandre Olivier, consultant capital markets at Knight Frank
• Mohammad Ziyaad Huss Oozeer, associate architect at VISIO Architecture
• Harry Quinton, managing director at Base Tactical Disaster Recovery
• Rania Saddiqe, real estate valuer at Knight Frank
• Federica Sanchez, architect and neuroscience researcher at Lombardini22
• Lauren Shaw, structural engineer at Symmetrys
Nicolas Kozubek, Mipim director, said: 'It has been an incredibly exciting and invigorating process to read so many fantastic entries from the future of our industry on how we can solve the biggest challenges our sector faces.
'Congratulations to everyone who entered - selecting a final 16 was a real challenge in itself as the standard was so high.
'We cannot wait to welcome our inaugural cohort to Mipim 2024 to take part in a full programme of events, talks and debates.
'I’m particularly looking forward to listening and hearing from new and diverse voices. The range of professions and nationalities are a microcosm of real estate’s diversity – from architects to investors to planners through to local government surveyors and neuroscience researchers.
'Together, in one place at Mipim, our Challengers now have the platform to inform and drive forward the debate, taking us a step closer to uncovering the solutions that we all must deliver.'
