“Our ‘Internet moment’ for the physical world” - Alain Waha - Executive Series #5

02/05/25 • 80 min

Alain Waha is the Chief Technology Officer at Buro Happold, a global engineering and consultancy firm with a portfolio of 15,000 projects across 190 countries, including iconic landmarks such as the Museum of the Future in Dubai, Battersea Powerstation renewal, and the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.
In his role as CTO and co-Chair of the Global Technology board, Alain drives strategic technology investments that enhance client relationships, project performance, and the scalability and resilience of their business platforms. Externally, Alain is a driving force behind the digital transformation of the built environment as an advocate of systemic change and improvement. Previously, he co-founded technology ventures and led outsourcing and BIM services firms, advising multinationals on growth, risk management, and digital strategy. With extensive experience across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he also advised VC-backed ventures and multinationals on growth, risk management, and digital strategy.
Tune in to this session to gain insights into the topics of:

The digital transformation of the built environment;
BIM adoption beyond compliance;
The role of AI in construction efficiency;
How data and digital twins improve asset management;
The impact of sustainability targets and strategies on real estate business models;
How technology can enhance project delivery, risk management, and asset value.

And so much more!

Interviews with inspiring Founders, Investors, and Real Estate Executives will be shared weekly on this podcast series - follow the PropTech Talks interview series and stay tuned!

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-maltzoff/

The digital transformation of the built environment;
BIM adoption beyond compliance;
The role of AI in construction efficiency;
How data and digital twins improve asset management;
The impact of sustainability targets and strategies on real estate business models;
How technology can enhance project delivery, risk management, and asset value.

And so much more!

Interviews with inspiring Founders, Investors, and Real Estate Executives will be shared weekly on this podcast series - follow the PropTech Talks interview series and stay tuned!

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-maltzoff/

Previous Episode

undefined - “Don’t waste a good crisis. It’s in those moments of challenge that you have to take steps to improve—and often, that’s when the best opportunities arise.” - Duncan Garrood - Executive Series #4

“Don’t waste a good crisis. It’s in those moments of challenge that you have to take steps to improve—and often, that’s when the best opportunities arise.” - Duncan Garrood - Executive Series #4

Duncan Garrood, Chief Executive Officer at Empiric Student Property plc.

Empiric Student Property, a £1 Billion+ FTSE 250 portfolio and owner of Hello Student, manages over 80 purpose-built student accommodation buildings in 28 UK cities, housing 8,000+ students and providing a community-focused living experience.

Duncan Garrood is an experienced executive with over 40 years of leadership across industries including consumer goods, real estate, and hospitality. He began his career at Unilever, where he managed international business expansions, including establishing operations in China. At BAA, he oversaw global airport assets and delivered major projects like Heathrow’s Terminal 5. In the Middle East, he scaled a food and beverage business from $150M to $1.7B. In the UK, he led transformations at Punch Taverns, Bill’s Restaurants, and Ten Entertainment Group, focusing on operational efficiency and strategic growth. Currently CEO of Empiric Student Property, he focuses on optimizing assets, customer experience, and sustainability.

Tune in to this session to gain insights into the topics of:

Scaling businesses in global markets through customer-focused growth;
Building effective leadership teams;
Navigating cultural challenges in international business;
Managing stakeholder relationships in high-stakes negotiations;
Leveraging dynamic pricing models for revenue growth;

And so much more!

Interviews with inspiring Founders, Investors, and Real Estate Executives will be shared weekly on this podcast series - follow the PropTech Talks interview series and stay tuned!

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-maltzoff/

Next Episode

undefined - “Culture eats strategy for breakfast - Why digital transformation is about more than just choosing the right tech” - Emily Hamilton - Executive Series #6

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast - Why digital transformation is about more than just choosing the right tech” - Emily Hamilton - Executive Series #6

Emily Hamilton is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Savills Investment Management, a leading real estate and real-estate debt specialist with over 30 years of experience, managing €26.1bn across 15 global locations, offering flexible strategies across office, logistics & industrial, retail, living, and debt sectors to meet diverse investor needs.

Emily is a leader in sustainable investment, driving Savills IM’s ESG strategy across debt, equity, and natural capital, with the goal becoming a restorative business, putting more back into society and the planet than they take out. As Chief Sustainability Officer and a member of the Global Executive Committee, she ensures sustainability is embedded in investment decisions. With over 16 years of experience, she champions environmental and socio-economic impact through a systems-thinking approach. She has built Savills IM’s global ESG team, chaired industry-wide sustainability initiatives at INREV, and led major sustainability integration projects at Grosvenor Property UK. Committed to authenticity, integrity, and transformational change, she works closely with investment teams to align financial performance with positive real-world outcomes.

Tune in to this session to gain insights into:

Building a high-impact ESG team;
Navigating key real estate regulations like SFDR and EU Taxonomy;
Leveraging technology for sustainable asset management;
Scaling net-zero strategies;
Integrating natural capital into investment decisions;
Optimizing stakeholder engagement for impact;
Driving industry-wide change through collaboration, policy advocacy, and strategic prioritization, and so much more!

Interviews with inspiring Founders, Investors, and Real Estate Executives will be shared weekly on this podcast series - follow the PropTech Talks interview series and stay tuned!

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-maltzoff/