On the eve of International Women's Day 2024 on 8 March, Rachel Wylde, partner in Carter Jonas' infrastructure team, says the real estate sector still has "considerable progress" to make on gender equality. This is despite a "significant shift" towards inclusivity over the 18 years she has worked the industry, as she notes more women hold senior positions.

Wylde, an infrastructure specialist, joined Carter Jonas at the beginning of this year to head up its new Southern Coastal team, moving across from Knight Frank with four others. Her team will be responsible for managing The Crown Estate's coastal portfolio covering the south coast of England from Bristol to Kent.

With 18 years' experience in the sector, Wylde says she first got into commercial real estate due to its "people-centric" nature, as well as the opportunity it provides to cover a wide and diverse range of areas. She tells CoStar News that diversity within top jobs in property could be boosted by increased flexibility.

"The industry should prioritise promoting inclusion for everyone, regardless of their race, gender, or background," Wylde says. "To enable women to attain top positions in commercial real estate businesses, the industry needs to be more flexible in terms of work arrangements.

"Senior roles in this industry can often be full-time or highly demanding, which can discourage women with young families from pursuing such positions. By offering more flexible working arrangements, such as part-time or job-sharing options, the industry can support women in accessing top roles in commercial real estate businesses."

Grosvenor UK has appointed Rachel Dickie to lead its merged investment and development teams, after it brought the two together to support a major investment in the regions and develop its pipeline. Dickie, who becomes the executive director of investment and development and starts next month, will continue to manage the portfolio, as well as the development pipeline, which includes the £500 million South Molton scheme. Anna Bond, executive director for development, leaves the firm later in the spring after a 16-year career at Grosvenor.

European sale-leaseback and build-to-suit investment specialist LeadCrest Capital Partners has hired Assi Toivakka Kelly as its head of investments for the Nordics. Toivakka Kelly, who has nine years' experience working for investment and real estate firms in Europe and Asia-Pacific, is responsible for sourcing and executing sale-leaseback investments at the company. Prior to joining, Toivakka Kelly was a vice-president at Jalon, a real estate investment and development business based in Finland. Before that, she was a senior analyst at Victorian Funds Management Corporation in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on unlisted real estate investments, and worked in capital markets advisory at CBRE.

Avison Young's EMEA principal and president Jason Sibthorpe has left the business and is reportedly setting up his own consultancy practice, while the firm has promoted Michał Ćwikliński to Europe, Middle East, and Africa regional managing director. Sibthorpe stepped up to the role of principal and president, EMEA in June 2022, while Nick Walkley took over from Sibthorpe as principal and president in the UK. Canadian real estate adviser Avison Young bought GVA, one of the best known names in UK consultancy, from Swedish private equity group EQT, in 2018. Avison Young said Ćwikliński will work closely with its country management teams to oversee and assist business development, sales management, and strategic initiatives across the EMEA region.

Worcester-based property specialist Centrick has grown its building safety and compliance team by appointing four recruits, while promoting an existing member of the division. James Capper becomes group director for building safety and compliance, having been with Centrick for more than four years. He has more than a decade of experience in the property and built environment across his career, and holds member status at the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Institute of Residential Property Managers. Connor Scherer, Bettina Winger, Elaine Birkley and Louise Rillie all join Capper in the division.

UK chartered surveyors and property consultant Graham and Sibbald has recruited Adam Fotheringham as a director in its petroleum and roadside team in London, adding an experienced operator to the firm after more than a decade at CBRE. Fotheringham has around 12 years’ experience in the roadside sector, starting his career at CBRE as a graduate surveyor and working his way up to director. He covers roadside acquisitions, disposals, valuation and landlord and tenant. Fotheringham has "worked with an extensive range of clients in the roadside sector", including oil companies, funds and independent operators. The company has also recruited Stuart Blyth as an associate in its business rates team, who joins its Edinburgh-based office from Lothian Valuation.

Katie Balderson, corporate director and estate secretary at The Portman Estate, confirmed that the London property business has chosen Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity as a corporate charity partnership. The charity was selected following a vote by the estate’s employees, who will raise funding and awareness for the charity during a three-year partnership. It provides specialist nurses and support for seriously ill children across the UK, as well as financial and emotional support services for families. Balderson said: "We hope our efforts will help raise awareness for the incredible and specialist work that Roald Dahl Nurses provide for children in the UK."