Build-to-Rent in Ireland – What Is Next for The Resilient Asset Class?

Margaret Sweeney is the Chief Executive Officer and a Board Director of Irish Residential Properties REIT Plc (I-RES). I-RES is the leading provider of quality private residential rental accommodation in Ireland with almost 4,000 homes in communities across Dublin and Cork. I-RES’s vision is to be provider of choice for the Irish living sector, known for excellent service and for operating responsibly, minimising its environmental impact and maximising its contribution to the community. I-RES shares are listed on the Main Securities Market of Euronext Dublin. Margaret has wide-ranging board experience, having been a Non-Executive Director of several regulated entities and listed companies, most recently Dalata Hotel Group Plc. A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Chartered Director, she is also the Chair of the Industry Advisory Board and an Adjunct Professor at Dublin City University (DCU) Business School. Margaret is a Past President of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer of daa Plc (Dublin Airport Authority) and Postbank Ireland Ltd. Margaret has a wide range of personal and professional interests, particularly relating to sustainability and the development of women leaders.

Mike has 18 years of Real Estate experience covering the UK and Europe, with the last 12 years focused on Investment. He joined DWS in 2017 and since then has been leading investment into the BTR sector, in both the UK and Ireland. In the past 4 years he has overseen the investment of over €2.5BN, the majority of which was targeting Residential and Student Housing. Prior to DWS, Mike was an Investment Director at PATRIZIA and previously held positions at Macquarie Bank and BNP Paribas Real Estate. He is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Patrick Phelan is the Managing Director of Ballymore in Ireland – a real estate professional with broad experience in real estate in the UK, Ireland and the US, acquired over a twenty-five year career. During his tenure, Ballymore has created new headquarters for major corporations and institutions including the Central Bank of Ireland, Microsoft, and the National Treasury Management Agency. Patrick along with his team were responsible for a forward fund of 435 units in 8th Lock, the last piece of the puzzle in Royal Canal Park in Ashtown, Dublin. Under Patrick’s leadership Ballymore acquired a landbank for over 4,000 units in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, including Sea Gardens, Seamount Rise, Stonehaven, River Walk, Aster Park and Station Walk.

David Cantwell is a Director of Hooke & MacDonald and has been with the company since 1982. A Fellow of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, David is highly regarded for his expertise and track record in residential development, design, planning, property management, asset reviews, investment and realisation. As part of the Hooke & MacDonald team that has lead the Multi-family / BTR investment sector in Ireland and sold over €2 billion in properties over the last 5 years, David has a deep knowledge of residential capital markets and investor expectations and requirements in the living sector.

Robert is CEO of Activate Capital.  Prior to joining Activate Capital, Robert was a Director with KKR and led the firm’s credit investment activities in Ireland, including promoting the firm’s investment in Activate.  From 2005 to 2011, he was an Executive Director of Ulster Bank, where he was responsible for the corporate and business banking franchises. Robert led the European leveraged finance and project finance businesses at Allied Irish Banks and has also worked at Citibank and KPMG. From 2009 to 2011, he was a board member of the European Banking Federation and president of the Irish Banking Federation. Robert is a Chartered Accountant and holds a B.Sc. from University College Dublin.