2026 Jury
Decision makers recognising quality and business excellence
Underlying the market value and prestige of the CEEQA awards is a rigorous, transparent and objective judging process led by the CEEQA Jury.
The jury comprises an elite panel of business leaders in real estate investment, development, finance and consulting. Jury members are selected for their expertise and experience in all areas of the real estate market place to assess and judge nominated projects, companies and people of the sector year. The panel is responsible for reviewing all entries and selecting the eventual winners in 24 categories
CEE MARKETS: Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
See below who the 2026 CEEQA Jury members are.
CEEQA 2025: The dinner, the winners and the CEEQA Gala after-party
SAVE THE DATE: 2026 CEEQA Gala 20 May at Wyscigi race course, Warsaw
There is plenty of time to prepare your entry for submission by 6 March.
23 February publication of 2026 LONG LIST of candidates
6 March entries close
14 April announcement of 2026 SHORT LIST of candidates following the first round of judging.
19 May Jury Dinner and final voting round
20 May 20th annual CEEQA Gala
2025 CEEQA Jury members
Quality Awards
Andrew Jackson, Shareholder, Director, Quadra Underwriting
Andrew Jackson is a seasoned insurance executive and business leader with over 25 years’ experience in the European financial services and commercial real estate sectors. He has built a distinguished career specialising in title insurance, legal indemnity, and transactional risk solutions supporting complex real estate investments.
Andrew is widely recognised as a pioneer of title insurance in continental Europe. In 2003, he became the exclusive agent for a leading Fortune 500 title insurance company and, in 2005, established a full joint venture with the group. Under his leadership, title insurance became a market standard across Central and Eastern Europe. In 2013, Andrew exited the joint venture.
He subsequently joined the same Fortune 500 company as a senior executive, where he led growth initiatives across Western Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, Italy, Spain, and France. Over the course of his career, Andrew has been involved in several billion euros’ worth of commercial real estate transactions and has developed an extensive professional network across the European real estate and renewable energy sectors.
Andrew is currently a shareholder and director of Quadra Underwriting, an early-stage transactional risk Managing General Agent (MGA), where he is responsible for driving strategic growth across Europe and internationally.
In addition, Andrew was the youngest ever Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (2003–2005), supporting British businesses and promoting bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and Hungary.
Anna Chubotina, CEO, Arricano
Anna has more than 20 years of proven experience in commercial real estate management and business development, supported by strong local market expertise and extensive collaboration with international and local developers, investors, and retailers. Her portfolio includes one of Ukraine’s major shopping centers, where she played a key role in concept development, leasing, and property management.
Anna has been with Arricano for ten years, six of which she has served as CEO. In this role, she is responsible for defining and executing the company’s strategy and driving its long-term development. Prior to joining Arricano – one of the leading shopping center developers in Ukraine with European investments – Anna spent over nine years at JLL as Leasing Director and Associate Director, gaining broad local and international experience. She also worked for more than six years with a leading Ukrainian home furnishing retail.
Anna holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Marketing, as well as a Master’s degree in Romano-Germanic Languages and World Literature.
Anna Madra, Partner, Head of Poland Real Estate Finance, A&O Shearman
Anna Mądra leads the real estate finance practice at the A&O Shearman Warsaw office. She has advised on some of the most significant real estate transactions in Poland, focusing on financing, refinancing, and the acquisition and development of commercial properties, office buildings and retail shopping centres. Her clients include major national and international banks and investors. She also has extensive experience advising private equity funds on private credit lending.
Bence Sass, Deputy CEO, WING
Bence Sass is a senior real estate professional with more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. As a Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Wing Group, he is managing a team responsible for international business development and investment transactions. He is a member of the Supervisory Board of Echo Investment, Archicom S.A., Bauwert Aktiengesellschaft and of Wing International as well. To date, he has been involved in transactions with an aggregate volume well exceeding EUR 1 billion. Prior to his current employment, he was a member of the UniCredit Bank’s leading real estate financing team.
Bence graduated with a BA from the Budapest Business School and an MBA from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He speaks Hungarian, English and German.
Benoit Charles, CEO, Apsys Poland
Benoît is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apsys Poland – a leading developer and manager of retail and mixed-use real estate projects in Poland. He has held this position since 2016, being responsible for the company’s strategy, development, and operational performance. Previously, he served as Director of Development, Promotion and Construction at Immochan (2013–2016) and as General Director of Immochan Poland (2007–2013). He began his career at Apsys France (2002–2005), later becoming Promotion Director at Immochan France (2005–2007).
Under his leadership, Apsys carries out and manages key assets on the market – including Posnania, an icon of Poznań’s retail landscape.
He emphasizes sustainable development, local integration, and innovative property management approaches in all Apsys initiatives.
In recent years, he is also actively involved in partnership initiatives and industry dialogue concerning the role of developers in shaping sustainable, “urban” projects, emphasizing the importance of combining retail, services, entertainment, and social functions.
Brendan Long, Head of Commercial Real Estate, Santander
Brendan is Head of Commercial Real Estate for Santander Bank Polska. Santander has the largest CRE portfolio and the largest team of professionals in the Polish Banking market. The team is an experienced long-term, relationship focused partner in both Development and Investment projects across all CRE sectors. Based in Warsaw, Brendan has over 30 years of experience in financing Real Estate in Europe, including almost 20 years of experience in the Polish market.
Charles Taylor, MRICS, CEO Poland, Knight Frank
Charles Taylor is the CEO of Knight Frank Poland, bringing over 25 years of experience in Central Europe’s real estate markets. Prior to this role, he served as Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield Poland. Charles started his career as a retail agent in London, has extensive experience of investment, leasing and property & asset management across all commercial asset classes. He has a significant track record of investment sales in Poland and the wider CE region, across all commercial sectors and proven leadership in transforming large and mid-sized real estate consultancy businesses.
Christopher Merlitz, Managing Director, Head of European Investments, W. P. Carey
Christopher Merlitz joined W. P. Carey’s European Investments Team in 2011 and was appointed Managing Director and Head of European Investments in 2021. Chris oversees W. P. Carey’s European investment activity including the sourcing, underwriting, negotiating and structuring of all European transactions. Since joining W. P. Carey, Chris has focused on sale-leasebacks, build-to-suits, forward take-outs, cross-border and multi-party transactions.
Chris graduated summa cum laude from Oxford University with an M.Eng. in Engineering, Economics and Management where he was also a scholar. He is fluent in German.
David Musil, Managing Director Czech Republic, Penta Real Estate
David works at Penta since 2008, he is the longest serving member of the team. He was responsible for the first development project of Penta Real Estate in the Czech Republic (Florentinum), which has won several prestigious awards, including the 2014 CEEQA Award for the Best Office Project in Central and Eastern Europe. For several years he managed major residential and hospitality projects that helped Penta Real Estate rank among the largest residential builders in Prague. Currently he serves as the Country Managing Director for Czech Republic.
In the past David also worked for Knight Frank in Prague, as well as PJ Hegarty & Sons and Laing O’Rourke in Dublin, Ireland.
He’s occasional lecturer at Czech Technical University in Prague, where he also graduated.
Dieter V. Knittel, Managing Director, Head of CEE , Pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank
Dieter Knittel is Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Finance International Clients CEE at pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank. Dieter is responsible for the bank’s lending portfolio in the region. The regional focus is on Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Dieter has been active in the CEE market for more than twenty years, including five years based in Warsaw as Head of Credit and Senior Risk Management.
Phone: +49/89/288028-270
Mobile: +49/172/8618807
Email: Dieter.Knittel@pfandbriefbank.com
Dominik Stojek, MRICS, CCIM, Partner, Head of Real Estate Poland, Deloitte Advisory
Dominik provides comprehensive advisory services in the real estate market.
He has nearly 30 years of broad experience in consulting, with over two decades dedicated to the real estate industry. During this time, he has worked at Deloitte as well as in international real estate agencies.
Dominik specializes in brokerage services, handling real estate transactions (representing both the buyer and seller), due diligence processes, and negotiations. He also acts as an advisor on the commercial aspects of the real estate market.
Dominik holds the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation and is a member of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
Emil Holub, Partner, Head of Real Estate CEE, Clifford Chance
Emil Holub is the head of Prague’s real estate practice and is widely recognised as one of the top real estate lawyers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the wider CEE region.
Over the past two decades, Emil has been involved in most of the significant large-scale transactions in the Czech Republic and CEE, earning him a great recognition and expertise in the markets. He has extensive experience across all areas of real estate law, including M&A and development projects in the Czech Republic and the broader CEE region, and advises on a broad range of corporate and real estate transactions, with particular specialisation in real estate investment and complex transactional work.
Emil is also actively engaged in the real estate sector through his roles as a member of the board of directors of Association for Real Estate Market in the Czech Republic (ARTN), a member of the Economic Council of the Archbishopric of Prague and its investment platform X-Place, and as a member of the expert jury for Best of Realty, ThePrime and CEEQA.
He was recently named one of the 50 most influential people in the Czech and Slovak real estate markets by Property Forum.
Horatiu Florescu, Chairman & CEO Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Knight Frank
Highly specialized in office agency and client representation services, Horatiu has a wide breadth of property experience, gained in his 20 years’ career by advising the main developers as well as the most prominent multinational companies operating in Romania.
Named ‘Most Successful Broker’ on Romania’s market, several times, Horatiu is reputed for his cutting edge and professional consultancy services to tenants, developers and investors alike.
Widely acknowledged for his pre-lease expertise, Horatiu has been involved in the largest real estate office projects, having leased over 1 mil. Sq M office space.
Ian Worboys, CEO & Co-Founder, European Green Logistics Space (EGLS)
With more than 40 years’ experience across 13 European countries, Ian is a recognized leader in the logistics and industrial real estate sector.
Before co-founding EGLS, Ian served as CEO of P3 Logistic Parks from 2009 to 2019, where he led the company’s growth from a €265 million platform to €4.2 billion, overseeing development and management of around €10 billion in assets and 8 million sq m of logistics space.
He was also Managing Director for Europe at Trammell Crow Company (2021–2023), where he established a development platform with more than €0.5 billion of projects under way in just 22 months.
He is a former Chairman of the UK Industrial Agents Society and was named Industrial Professional of the Year in 2016 by the Financial Times and CEEQA.
Mobile: +420725079620
Email: ian.worboys@egls.com
James Turner, Group Managing Director, Balmain Group
Prior to establishing the Balmain Group in 2003, James held various senior positions with Westfield over a ten-year career, culminating in establishing their European shopping centre business in London in 1998. James has been directly involved with 2.7 million sqm and EUR 10.5 billion of shopping centre assets over his thirty-six-year career in real estate. James leads the strategy and investments for the Balmain Group.
Janusz Dzianachowski, National Managing Partner, Head of Real Estate, Poland, Addleshaw Goddard
Janusz Dzianachowski is a Polish-qualified lawyer with over 20 years of experience. He provides strategic guidance to global and domestic corporations, investors, and developers on real estate transactions in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe. His track record includes advising on high-value acquisitions and disposals, including portfolio transactions, sale and leasebacks, joint ventures, and property developments. He is particularly distinguished in sale and leaseback agreements and net lease investments. He is recognised as a top-tier real estate expert by leading legal directories.
Jonathan Hallett MRICS, Head of CEE & Nordics, Cushman & Wakefield
Jonathan is an Executive Partner at Cushman & Wakefield, overseeing the CEE & Nordics regions. He manages operations overseeing 2000 staff in 6 core CEE & Nordics markets, as well as 12 Alliance offices.
Jonathan is part of the European Management Leadership Team of Cushman & Wakefield and the Managing Partner of Cushman & Wakefield in the Czech Republic. He is a member of the RICS and an IBF Board Member.
Kinga Nowakowska, COO & Board Member, Capital Park Group
Since 2007, she has been associated with the Capital Park Group, where she is a member of the management board and the operational director. She is involved in the largest projects carried out by the Group, including Royal Wilanów and Norblin Factory.
Kinga Nowakowska is responsible for managing the company’s asset management department. She is the author of the Biuro Plus concept, according to which individual solutions are implemented in each of the Capital Park Group’s projects to support the needs of tenants. The idea is based on high-quality architecture, ecology and sustainable development, greenery and quality of the surroundings, promotion of sport and physical activity, art and culture in common spaces, a wide range of services and a creative approach to asset management.
She invests in start-ups from various industries. One of her most interesting investments is BioBazar – the first organic, certified food market in Poland – which has been operating on the Warsaw market for 15 years.
Kristof Bárány, CFA, Founding Partner, Chairman of the Board, Adventum Group
Founding Partner of Adventum Investment Fund Management Ltd, Adventum International Ltd, GRW Invest Ltd and Chairman of the Board at Shopper Park Plus. Kistof has gained 15+ years of experience in real estate at numerous fund managers, and his expertise in venture capital at Flashpoint Venture Capital, SmartWareTech and other vC Funds.
He has outstanding structuring and financing expertise with exceptional acquisition, management and exit experience regarding the institutional real estate market in the CEE region. His attention is currently dedicated to Adventum Group and SPP whose secondary public offering this November was the largest offering on the Budapest Stock Exchange in almost three decades. Funds from the SPO planned to be used to acquire retail parks in Poland.
Kristof has a master’s degree in economics (2004, Budapest University of Economics) and he is also a CFA Charter holder (2009, CFA Institute).
Krzysztof Misiak, MRICS, Executive Partner, Head of Poland, Cushman & Wakefield
With unparalleled track record, expertise and pulse on the Polish market Krzysztof is one of the best-known professionals in the Polish commercial real estate sector and has worked for C&W for more than 18 years. He was appointed Head of Regional Cities in the Office Agency team in 2012 and successfully launched the C&W brand in Poland’s core regional markets. In 2018, he became Head of the Office Agency, and just two years later he took on the role of Head of C&W Poland. Despite market challenges during the pandemic, his strategic decisions helped to maintain and improve business profitability. With his energy and innovative management approach, Krzysztof inspires not only clients and partners, but also his employees whom he treats as equals irrespective of their position within the organization.
Krzysztof ‘s priority is to develop services supporting RE participants in achieving ESG objectives. In 2022 he oversaw the creation of the company’s ESG Hub, and ESG services are now an integral part of the company’s offerings for each market segment.
Lukas Hejduk, Partner, Head of CEE Real Estate, CMS
Lukáš Hejduk is a partner and Head of Real Estate, CEE in CMS. He advises on all aspects of real estate mandates including real estate M&A, construction projects, development, leasing, sale and lease-back transactions or greenfield investments. He specialises in complex property transaction and has extensive experience of acting for funds, private investors, developers, insurance providers and banks.
Additionally, Lukáš heads the CEE Hotel & Leisure practice and advises on sector specific matters such as hotel management agreements.
Marek Noetzel, COO, NEPI Rockcastle
Since June 2022, Marek Noetzel has been COO of NEPI Rockcastle, Central and Eastern Europe’s largest owner, operator and developer of shopping centres, with a portfolio of over €8bn across eight CEE countries comprising 60 properties. He is responsible for the company’s operations and is a member of its Investment Committee.
He joined Rockcastle Global Real Estate in 2016, establishing its offices in Poland and expanding its activities abroad. In 2017, Rockcastle, a real estate company with a significant portfolio in Poland and Czech Republic merged with NEPI, which had most of its assets in Romania. Prior to this, Marek was Polish Head of Retail at Cushman and Wakefield.
Under his operational leadership, NEPI Rockcastle’s portfolio has undergone a programme of strategic developments, asset modernisation and retail mix optimisation – helping the company to deliver strong growth in net operating income. The group is the first point of call for international retailers wanting to open and expand in the region. Well-known brands such as Primark, Rituals, Lefties, Sports Direct and Wendy’s have marked their entry to the region by opening stores with NEPI Rockcastle.
Martin Holler, Founding Partner, Giese & Partner
Martin Holler is a founding partner of Giese & Partner and has served as lead counsel on numerous high-profile cross-border transactions. With over two decades of legal experience, he advises a wide range of clients – including international banks, listed companies, family-owned businesses, and financial investors – on complex legal matters across multiple jurisdictions. He also frequently acts as an arbitrator in international disputes.
Martin’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of practice areas, including M&A, real estate, corporate law, employment law, litigation and arbitration, project financing, energy law, and pro bono cooperation. He is recognized as one of the Czech Republic’s leading legal experts in real estate projects, consistently ranked by Who’s Who Legal. He has been acknowledged by The Legal 500 as a “Recommended Lawyer” in real estate and construction (since 2017) and in banking, finance, and capital markets (since 2019).
He played a key role in expanding the firm’s regional presence by opening Giese & Partner’s Bratislava office in 2009. His earlier career includes working at a prominent law firm in Frankfurt am Main.
Martin is a member of several legal associations. He is admitted to practice law in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and is an active member of the International Bar Association (IBA), whereas he regularly participates as panel speaker in the real estate section. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of DAV Tschechien.
holler@giese.cz
www.giese.cz
Martin Makovec, MRICS, Managing Director M&A Central Europe, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Martin Makovec was appointed Managing Director, M&A, Central Europe at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) in July 2024. URW is an owner, developer and operator of sustainable, high-quality real estate assets in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States.
In this role, he is responsible for implementing the company’s strategy, with a focus on Mergers & Acquisitions as well as investments and divestments in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Austria.
His career at URW began in 2012, with positions including Director of Investment Central Europe as well as Director of Operations & Investment/Divestment Central Eastern Europe.
He started his career in Auditing and Consultancy at KPMG and Ernst & Young.
Martin Makovec holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Real Estate Finance and Corporate Finance from Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze (University of Economics, Prague) and a MRICS / RICS certificate.
Monika Bronicka, Director, Head of Valuation and Advisory, Member of the Board, Avison Young
Monika is a recognized valuer and team leader with over 18 years of professional experience in valuation and consulting services in Poland. She joined Avison Young in 2021 to establish and develop the company’s Polish Valuation and Advisory Team. In recognition of her achievements, she was appointed Board Member of the Polish branch in 2024. Since then, she has been leading a team of market professionals specializing in valuation, research, and technical advisory services.
A member of RICS, Monika also holds the German HypZert MLV license, qualifying her to estimate Mortgage Lending Value. She has acted as an expert witness in various cases, including arbitration proceedings at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, and lectures at the Cracow School of Business, Cracow University of Economics.
At Avison Young, Monika is responsible for coordinating complex valuation projects – both local and cross-border – and driving the business development of the company’s Polish operations.
Neringa Rastenyte-Janciuniene, Partner, Head of Capital Markets Baltics, Newsec
Neringa Rastenytė-Jančiūnienė leads Capital Markets for the Baltics at Newsec, the leading full-service property house in Northern Europe. With over 20 years of experience in real estate investment and advisory, she manages cross-border transactions in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, advising institutional investors, funds, and developers on office, retail, and logistics assets.
Known for her professionalism and market insight, Neringa is a recognized voice in Baltic capital markets and plays an active role in shaping the region’s investment landscape. Her team consistently delivers over 50% of all investment transaction volumes across the Baltic countries almost each year.
Oleg Fedulin, Associate Director, Senior Banker, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Oleg Fedulin is an Associate Director / Senior Banker in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Real Estate team, focused on debt and equity investments in sustainable real estate. He has 15+ years of experience in CEE/CIS markets and a strong track record of sourcing, structuring and executing complex transactions, including senior debt, mezzanine, JV/equity, real estate funds, and capital markets. In 2024, Oleg relocated from London to Warsaw to deepen his focus on Poland, while continuing active coverage of Ukraine and the Baltics. He works across all sectors of commercial and residential real estate, with a particular focus on living/housing and industrial & logistics.
Peter Morris, Owner & Managing Director, Gage Partners
Peter has developed and acquired over 200 million Euros worth of real estate in Estonia, Lithuania, Czechia and Portugal.
Through its subsidiary Golden Visa Property Investment, Gage Partners is investing in and developing Portuguese properties to be sold to foreigners seeking to benefit from Portugal’s unique visa and personal tax incentive programs, as well as Portugal’s surge in popularity as a tourism destination.
The most recent investments are the five star Lumiares Hotel and Spa in Bairro Alto neighbourhood of Lisbon, and the five star Vintage Lisboa Hotel, as well as a handful of 18th and 19th century residential properties in Lisbon under redevelopment as apartment buildings.
Gage Partners owns retail real estate in the Baltic States, including Sikupilli Shopping Center in Tallinn. Gage Partners sold NØRDIKA Shopping Valley in Vilnius in 2016.
Peter managed Ober-Haus Real Estate Advisors in four countries from the company start-up in 1994 through its sale in June 2007. At the time of its sale, Ober-Haus Real Estate Advisors was the largest property brokerage and advisory firm in Central and Eastern Europe with more than 35 offices and 350 real estate professionals in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, offering asset acquisition and disposal, property valuations, property asset
Radomyr Tsurkan, Managing Partner, EXPANDIA
Radomyr Tsurkan is the Managing Partner of EXPANDIA, CBRE’s Country Service Partner in Ukraine and Moldova, and has been leading the company since its launch in 2008. In this role, Radomyr oversees the general management and leads the Office and Industrial Property Team. His expertise lies primarily in office project development and brokerage of professional properties. With a wealth of experience in project concept development, coupled with his extensive portfolio of office transactions and comprehensive understanding of land issues, Radomyr offers unparalleled insight and expertise in the Ukrainian market. Radomyr’s professional experience in Ukrainian commercial real estate market totals more than 26 years. Under joint leadership with Sergiy Sergiyenko, EXPANDIA team grew from 2 to over 300 people in 17 years to offer the most comprehensive range of real estate services in Ukraine, including country’s strongest integrated facility management team.
Radu Boitan, FRICS, Partner and Investor, Phoenix Properties Holding
Radu Boitan is a seasoned investment professional and FRICS Chartered Surveyor, with 30 years of market experience across 8 different CEE markets, known for navigating market cycles, executing large-scale transactions, and fostering long-term value across the real estate spectrum.
As Partner and Investor with Phoenix he co-leads the investment strategy and execution across value-oriented transactions, especially where value can be created, recovered or special situations generate opportunity, focusing on selectively acquiring, repositioning, managing, financing, and divesting prime commercial real estate, asset class agnostic, across EU/CEE. Phoenix invests its own capital and works alongside lenders, co-investors, occupiers, and communities to create and unlock value across diverse EU/CEE geographies and asset classes. A special focus is placed on themes that offer growth alongside liquidity, downside protection, and income resilience in a rapidly evolving market environment.
Before Phoenix Properties, Radu held senior roles including Partner, Head of Investments at the UK-based recovery fund Revetas Capital, Head of Capital Markets at JLL Romania, and founding MD of King Sturge Romania. He has been involved in raising multimillion rounds of capital, allocating, investing, divesting and managing a massive cross-border portfolio of standing and developing assets and arranging complex debt and equity financing. His industry leadership includes serving as Chairman of RICS Romania for two consecutive mandates and advising institutions on best practices and investment strategy.
Rafał Proczek, CCIM, Managing Director & Head of Asset Management Poland, INVESTIKA
Rafał Proczek is a highly accomplished real estate executive with over 15 years of experience in investment, asset management, and transaction execution across Central and Eastern Europe. He currently serves as Managing Director and Head of Asset Management Poland at Investika Polska Services, overseeing a commercial real estate portfolio exceeding 450,000 m² of office and logistics properties.
Prior to this, Rafał worked as an Investment & Asset Manager at Greenstone Asset Management and previously served as Senior Consultant, Capital Markets CEE at BNP Paribas Real Estate, supporting investment and capital markets transactions. He has extensive experience in asset management, investment, transaction execution, senior debt origination, financial controlling, budget planning, SPV management, administration, and specialized transaction services.
Rafał is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and an alumnus of the Warsaw University of Technology and SGH Warsaw School of Economics, with a proven track record in strategic portfolio management and delivering high-performing real estate operations across the region.
Richard Wilkinson, Group CFO, CTP
Richard Wilkinson is Group CFO of CTP, the largest listed owner, developer, and manager of logistics and industrial real estate in continental Europe by gross lettable area. Since joining the company in 2018, he has been instrumental in shaping CTP’s financial strategy and supporting its growth from a regional developer into a pan-European platform with a portfolio reaching 13 milion m2.
Richard leads the Group’s financing activities, including corporate and project-level debt, capital markets access, and the implementation of robust financial and reporting systems across CTP’s operations in eleven countries. Under his leadership, CTP has strengthened its balance sheet and broadened its investor base to support continued expansion.
Prior to CTP, Richard spent 14 years heading the commercial real estate division at Erste Group, where he was responsible for building one of the leading real estate finance franchises in Central and Eastern Europe. He holds a law degree from the London School of Economics and has lived in Central Europe for over two decades.
Robert Neale, FRICS, CEO, Portland Trust
Robert has worked in the commercial real estate industry since 1982 based in cities including London, Brussels and currently Prague and Bucharest since 1991.
After an agency background he created the development and asset management company Portland Trust in 1998. Portland Trust has been in partnership with US property and fund management group Ares Management Corporation, L.P. (formerly AREA Property Partners) since 1999. Ares currently has assets under management of over $596 billion and provides equity capital jointly with Portland Trust to purchase development projects, under-managed assets with refurbishment potential and undercapitalised companies in central and eastern Europe. Together, Ares and Portland Trust have developed or refurbished over 800,000 m2 of commercial space in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.
Portland Trust has won various industry awards including the CEEQA Green Leadership and Office Development of the Year awards. Oregon Park won the CEEQA Overall Building of the Year SEE in 2018, and J8 Office Park won CEEQA Office Development of the year in 2022. More recently the company has focused on renewables and data centres.
Sergejs Frolovs, Founder and CEO, BLV Advisory Group
Sergejs Frolovs is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of BLV Advisory Group, a leading Latvian real estate consultancy and construction project management firm. For 15 years, he has guided the company—originally established as Būvuzraugi LV—from its launch to its evolution into a full-service advisory group providing comprehensive project oversight, technical supervision, and strategic consulting across all stages of real estate development.
Under Sergejs’s leadership, BLV Advisory Group has delivered technical and project management services for hundreds of projects throughout Latvia, ranging from large-scale commercial developments to complex infrastructure initiatives and heritage renovation assignments. For now BLV Advisory Group is working on 3 bln. development project in Riga, Latvia – Riga Waterfront, delivering comprahensive consultancy services to UAE developer Eagle Hills.
Sergejs advocates a client-focused, systems-driven approach emphasizing early involvement, risk mitigation, and quality control. His methodology helps clients navigate the complexities of construction while ensuring budgets and timelines remain on track. He is also an active contributor to industry discussions on construction governance, quality standards, and professional competence in Latvia’s built-environment sector.
At BLV Advisory Group, Sergejs continues to shape the company’s strategic growth, drive the expansion of its service portfolio, and strengthen its position in both Baltics and international real estate markets as the firm enters its next decade of development.
Simon Johnson, CEO, Crestyl Group
Simon Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of Crestyl Group, one of the leading real estate development groups in Central Europe. With more than 35 years of international experience in real estate development, construction, and strategic management, he brings deep expertise in delivering large-scale urban projects across commercial, residential, retail, and mixed-use sectors.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Simon moved to Central Europe in the 1990s, where he has played a key role in shaping some of the region’s most significant development projects. He joined Crestyl in 2011 as Chief Operating Officer and later became Executive Director for the Czech Republic. In these roles, he was instrumental in the growth and professionalisation of the company and in the delivery of many of Crestyl’s flagship developments.
In 2024, Simon was appointed CEO of the Crestyl Group, succeeding the company’s founder. As CEO, he leads Crestyl’s strategic transformation into a fully institutional, future-oriented investment and development platform operating across multiple European markets.
Outside of his professional career, Simon is passionate about sports, healthy living, and gastronomy.
Soren Rodian Olsen, MRICS, Managing Director, Logicenters at Urban Partners
Søren established Urban Partners’ office in Poland in 2021 and leads Urban Partners’ logistics business development activities in Poland, with focus on investment sourcing, asset mgmt., and key relationships with co-investors and large tenants. He has 24 years’ experience in the Polish market having previously held senior mgmt. positions in Bank Austria Creditanstalt, HVB Group, Aberdeen as well as 10 years with Cushman & Wakefield where he was a Partner and Head of Capital Markets. Søren holds an MBA from University of Westminster and sits on the Board of ULI Poland.
Stuart Jordan, CEO CEE, Savills
Stuart is responsible for Savills business across CEE, which comprises wholly owned businesses in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and across Poland, as well as Savills association network in Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria, comprising ca. 400 people.
Stuart also coordinates cross border investment activity within CEE for Savills and actively leads on day-to-day investment transactions in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Sylvie Geuten-Carpentier, Managing Partner & Board Member, Mitiska REIM
In addition to being Managing Partner of Mitiska REIM, Sylvie Geuten – Carpentier is Managing Director of Poland, responsible for the growing portfolio of assets in the country, and acts as back-up partner for the wider CEE region.
Mitiska REIM is Europe’s leading specialist investor in convenience real estate, comprising necessity retail, multi-let light industrial, self storage and urban logistics projects. Over the past 12 years, Mitiska REIM has raised 5 funds and built a portfolio of 117 properties representing +/- 1,600,000 m² gross leasable area. Mitiska REIM is active in the CEE markets of Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria, in addition to Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
Sylvie is also shareholder and executive Board Member of Mitiska, the Geuten family office and co-founder of Mitiska REIM.
Sylvie has an extensive background in retail, private equity and real estate, having previously worked at ExxonMobil, The Coca-Cola Company and Mitiska. Sylvie holds a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from the KU Leuven (Belgium) and a Master’s degree in Financial Management from Vlerick Business School in Gent (Belgium).
Tomasz Stasiak, Co-Managing Partner, Wolf Theiss
Tomasz Stasiak is Co-Managing Partner and leads the Real Estate & Construction team in Wolf Theiss Poland. He boasts over 25 years of professional experience in the Central and Eastern European real estate market, with extensive expertise spanning all industry sectors, including logistics, office spaces, retail, leisure and residential properties. Tomasz advises on the entire spectrum of real estate activities, from land acquisition through the development process, including permitting, financing and leasing, all the way to disinvestment and portfolio transfers. He has also served as an arbitrator in real estate disputes. Tomasz is an attorney-at-law admitted to the Warsaw Bar Association. He has represented global investors and developers in landmark projects across Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Lithuania. Notable recent transactions include a successful acquisition of the distressed Europa Centralna retail centre by Mitiska REIM and the restructuring of Tesco’s real estate portfolio, involving the sale of more than 25 shopping centres in Poland to various buyers. His recent focus involves residential projects, covering Private Rented Sector (PRS) and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
Zsolt Kákosy, MBA, FRICS, Board member RICS Europe and RICS Hungary, RICS
Zsolt has been leading the Property Management division of ICON Real Estate Management for four years. He joined the company with more than 20 years of professional experience, having developed substantial expertise in senior leadership roles, team development, and various segments of the real estate sector, including development, ownership, banking, and advisory. He studied finance and corporate valuation at Corvinus University, and later complemented his education with an MBA in Finance and an MSc in Real Estate.
Throughout his career, he has worked with multiple property types, including office buildings, shopping centres, and industrial and logistics assets. He currently oversees the property management operations of ICON’s approximately 682,000 m² portfolio, which includes several major WELL-certified and award-winning buildings. Zsolt’s outstanding professional performance has been recognised with the Klauzál Award.
His community and industry involvement includes serving as Chairman of the AmCham Workspace and Facility Management Committee and holding a board position at RICS Europe World Regional Board, as well at RICS Hungary. On a personal level, he is committed to fostering an inclusive, sustainable, and cooperative social environment, and actively supports the work of Access4you, contributing to the advancement of accessibility.”
Judging process
Quality Awards
Andrew Jackson, Shareholder, Director, Quadra Underwriting
Andrew Jackson is a seasoned insurance executive and business leader with over 25 years’ experience in the European financial services and commercial real estate sectors. He has built a distinguished career specialising in title insurance, legal indemnity, and transactional risk solutions supporting complex real estate investments.
Andrew is widely recognised as a pioneer of title insurance in continental Europe. In 2003, he became the exclusive agent for a leading Fortune 500 title insurance company and, in 2005, established a full joint venture with the group. Under his leadership, title insurance became a market standard across Central and Eastern Europe. In 2013, Andrew exited the joint venture.
He subsequently joined the same Fortune 500 company as a senior executive, where he led growth initiatives across Western Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, Italy, Spain, and France. Over the course of his career, Andrew has been involved in several billion euros’ worth of commercial real estate transactions and has developed an extensive professional network across the European real estate and renewable energy sectors.
Andrew is currently a shareholder and director of Quadra Underwriting, an early-stage transactional risk Managing General Agent (MGA), where he is responsible for driving strategic growth across Europe and internationally.
In addition, Andrew was the youngest ever Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (2003–2005), supporting British businesses and promoting bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and Hungary.
Anna Chubotina, CEO, Arricano
Anna has more than 20 years of proven experience in commercial real estate management and business development, supported by strong local market expertise and extensive collaboration with international and local developers, investors, and retailers. Her portfolio includes one of Ukraine’s major shopping centers, where she played a key role in concept development, leasing, and property management.
Anna has been with Arricano for ten years, six of which she has served as CEO. In this role, she is responsible for defining and executing the company’s strategy and driving its long-term development. Prior to joining Arricano – one of the leading shopping center developers in Ukraine with European investments – Anna spent over nine years at JLL as Leasing Director and Associate Director, gaining broad local and international experience. She also worked for more than six years with a leading Ukrainian home furnishing retail.
Anna holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Marketing, as well as a Master’s degree in Romano-Germanic Languages and World Literature.
Anna Madra, Partner, Head of Poland Real Estate Finance, A&O Shearman
Anna Mądra leads the real estate finance practice at the A&O Shearman Warsaw office. She has advised on some of the most significant real estate transactions in Poland, focusing on financing, refinancing, and the acquisition and development of commercial properties, office buildings and retail shopping centres. Her clients include major national and international banks and investors. She also has extensive experience advising private equity funds on private credit lending.
Bence Sass, Deputy CEO, WING
Bence Sass is a senior real estate professional with more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. As a Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Wing Group, he is managing a team responsible for international business development and investment transactions. He is a member of the Supervisory Board of Echo Investment, Archicom S.A., Bauwert Aktiengesellschaft and of Wing International as well. To date, he has been involved in transactions with an aggregate volume well exceeding EUR 1 billion. Prior to his current employment, he was a member of the UniCredit Bank’s leading real estate financing team.
Bence graduated with a BA from the Budapest Business School and an MBA from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He speaks Hungarian, English and German.
Benoit Charles, CEO, Apsys Poland
Benoît is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apsys Poland – a leading developer and manager of retail and mixed-use real estate projects in Poland. He has held this position since 2016, being responsible for the company’s strategy, development, and operational performance. Previously, he served as Director of Development, Promotion and Construction at Immochan (2013–2016) and as General Director of Immochan Poland (2007–2013). He began his career at Apsys France (2002–2005), later becoming Promotion Director at Immochan France (2005–2007).
Under his leadership, Apsys carries out and manages key assets on the market – including Posnania, an icon of Poznań’s retail landscape.
He emphasizes sustainable development, local integration, and innovative property management approaches in all Apsys initiatives.
In recent years, he is also actively involved in partnership initiatives and industry dialogue concerning the role of developers in shaping sustainable, “urban” projects, emphasizing the importance of combining retail, services, entertainment, and social functions.
Brendan Long, Head of Commercial Real Estate, Santander
Brendan is Head of Commercial Real Estate for Santander Bank Polska. Santander has the largest CRE portfolio and the largest team of professionals in the Polish Banking market. The team is an experienced long-term, relationship focused partner in both Development and Investment projects across all CRE sectors. Based in Warsaw, Brendan has over 30 years of experience in financing Real Estate in Europe, including almost 20 years of experience in the Polish market.
Charles Taylor, MRICS, CEO Poland, Knight Frank
Charles Taylor is the CEO of Knight Frank Poland, bringing over 25 years of experience in Central Europe’s real estate markets. Prior to this role, he served as Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield Poland. Charles started his career as a retail agent in London, has extensive experience of investment, leasing and property & asset management across all commercial asset classes. He has a significant track record of investment sales in Poland and the wider CE region, across all commercial sectors and proven leadership in transforming large and mid-sized real estate consultancy businesses.
Christopher Merlitz, Managing Director, Head of European Investments, W. P. Carey
Christopher Merlitz joined W. P. Carey’s European Investments Team in 2011 and was appointed Managing Director and Head of European Investments in 2021. Chris oversees W. P. Carey’s European investment activity including the sourcing, underwriting, negotiating and structuring of all European transactions. Since joining W. P. Carey, Chris has focused on sale-leasebacks, build-to-suits, forward take-outs, cross-border and multi-party transactions.
Chris graduated summa cum laude from Oxford University with an M.Eng. in Engineering, Economics and Management where he was also a scholar. He is fluent in German.
David Musil, Managing Director Czech Republic, Penta Real Estate
David works at Penta since 2008, he is the longest serving member of the team. He was responsible for the first development project of Penta Real Estate in the Czech Republic (Florentinum), which has won several prestigious awards, including the 2014 CEEQA Award for the Best Office Project in Central and Eastern Europe. For several years he managed major residential and hospitality projects that helped Penta Real Estate rank among the largest residential builders in Prague. Currently he serves as the Country Managing Director for Czech Republic.
In the past David also worked for Knight Frank in Prague, as well as PJ Hegarty & Sons and Laing O’Rourke in Dublin, Ireland.
He’s occasional lecturer at Czech Technical University in Prague, where he also graduated.
Dieter V. Knittel, Managing Director, Head of CEE , Pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank
Dieter Knittel is Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Finance International Clients CEE at pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank. Dieter is responsible for the bank’s lending portfolio in the region. The regional focus is on Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Dieter has been active in the CEE market for more than twenty years, including five years based in Warsaw as Head of Credit and Senior Risk Management.
Phone: +49/89/288028-270
Mobile: +49/172/8618807
Email: Dieter.Knittel@pfandbriefbank.com
Dominik Stojek, MRICS, CCIM, Partner, Head of Real Estate Poland, Deloitte Advisory
Dominik provides comprehensive advisory services in the real estate market.
He has nearly 30 years of broad experience in consulting, with over two decades dedicated to the real estate industry. During this time, he has worked at Deloitte as well as in international real estate agencies.
Dominik specializes in brokerage services, handling real estate transactions (representing both the buyer and seller), due diligence processes, and negotiations. He also acts as an advisor on the commercial aspects of the real estate market.
Dominik holds the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation and is a member of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
Emil Holub, Partner, Head of Real Estate CEE, Clifford Chance
Emil Holub is the head of Prague’s real estate practice and is widely recognised as one of the top real estate lawyers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the wider CEE region.
Over the past two decades, Emil has been involved in most of the significant large-scale transactions in the Czech Republic and CEE, earning him a great recognition and expertise in the markets. He has extensive experience across all areas of real estate law, including M&A and development projects in the Czech Republic and the broader CEE region, and advises on a broad range of corporate and real estate transactions, with particular specialisation in real estate investment and complex transactional work.
Emil is also actively engaged in the real estate sector through his roles as a member of the board of directors of Association for Real Estate Market in the Czech Republic (ARTN), a member of the Economic Council of the Archbishopric of Prague and its investment platform X-Place, and as a member of the expert jury for Best of Realty, ThePrime and CEEQA.
He was recently named one of the 50 most influential people in the Czech and Slovak real estate markets by Property Forum.
Horatiu Florescu, Chairman & CEO Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Knight Frank
Highly specialized in office agency and client representation services, Horatiu has a wide breadth of property experience, gained in his 20 years’ career by advising the main developers as well as the most prominent multinational companies operating in Romania.
Named ‘Most Successful Broker’ on Romania’s market, several times, Horatiu is reputed for his cutting edge and professional consultancy services to tenants, developers and investors alike.
Widely acknowledged for his pre-lease expertise, Horatiu has been involved in the largest real estate office projects, having leased over 1 mil. Sq M office space.
Ian Worboys, CEO & Co-Founder, European Green Logistics Space (EGLS)
With more than 40 years’ experience across 13 European countries, Ian is a recognized leader in the logistics and industrial real estate sector.
Before co-founding EGLS, Ian served as CEO of P3 Logistic Parks from 2009 to 2019, where he led the company’s growth from a €265 million platform to €4.2 billion, overseeing development and management of around €10 billion in assets and 8 million sq m of logistics space.
He was also Managing Director for Europe at Trammell Crow Company (2021–2023), where he established a development platform with more than €0.5 billion of projects under way in just 22 months.
He is a former Chairman of the UK Industrial Agents Society and was named Industrial Professional of the Year in 2016 by the Financial Times and CEEQA.
Mobile: +420725079620
Email: ian.worboys@egls.com
James Turner, Group Managing Director, Balmain Group
Prior to establishing the Balmain Group in 2003, James held various senior positions with Westfield over a ten-year career, culminating in establishing their European shopping centre business in London in 1998. James has been directly involved with 2.7 million sqm and EUR 10.5 billion of shopping centre assets over his thirty-six-year career in real estate. James leads the strategy and investments for the Balmain Group.
Janusz Dzianachowski, National Managing Partner, Head of Real Estate, Poland, Addleshaw Goddard
Janusz Dzianachowski is a Polish-qualified lawyer with over 20 years of experience. He provides strategic guidance to global and domestic corporations, investors, and developers on real estate transactions in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe. His track record includes advising on high-value acquisitions and disposals, including portfolio transactions, sale and leasebacks, joint ventures, and property developments. He is particularly distinguished in sale and leaseback agreements and net lease investments. He is recognised as a top-tier real estate expert by leading legal directories.
Jonathan Hallett MRICS, Head of CEE & Nordics, Cushman & Wakefield
Jonathan is an Executive Partner at Cushman & Wakefield, overseeing the CEE & Nordics regions. He manages operations overseeing 2000 staff in 6 core CEE & Nordics markets, as well as 12 Alliance offices.
Jonathan is part of the European Management Leadership Team of Cushman & Wakefield and the Managing Partner of Cushman & Wakefield in the Czech Republic. He is a member of the RICS and an IBF Board Member.
Kinga Nowakowska, COO & Board Member, Capital Park Group
Since 2007, she has been associated with the Capital Park Group, where she is a member of the management board and the operational director. She is involved in the largest projects carried out by the Group, including Royal Wilanów and Norblin Factory.
Kinga Nowakowska is responsible for managing the company’s asset management department. She is the author of the Biuro Plus concept, according to which individual solutions are implemented in each of the Capital Park Group’s projects to support the needs of tenants. The idea is based on high-quality architecture, ecology and sustainable development, greenery and quality of the surroundings, promotion of sport and physical activity, art and culture in common spaces, a wide range of services and a creative approach to asset management.
She invests in start-ups from various industries. One of her most interesting investments is BioBazar – the first organic, certified food market in Poland – which has been operating on the Warsaw market for 15 years.
Kristof Bárány, CFA, Founding Partner, Chairman of the Board, Adventum Group
Founding Partner of Adventum Investment Fund Management Ltd, Adventum International Ltd, GRW Invest Ltd and Chairman of the Board at Shopper Park Plus. Kistof has gained 15+ years of experience in real estate at numerous fund managers, and his expertise in venture capital at Flashpoint Venture Capital, SmartWareTech and other vC Funds.
He has outstanding structuring and financing expertise with exceptional acquisition, management and exit experience regarding the institutional real estate market in the CEE region. His attention is currently dedicated to Adventum Group and SPP whose secondary public offering this November was the largest offering on the Budapest Stock Exchange in almost three decades. Funds from the SPO planned to be used to acquire retail parks in Poland.
Kristof has a master’s degree in economics (2004, Budapest University of Economics) and he is also a CFA Charter holder (2009, CFA Institute).
Krzysztof Misiak, MRICS, Executive Partner, Head of Poland, Cushman & Wakefield
With unparalleled track record, expertise and pulse on the Polish market Krzysztof is one of the best-known professionals in the Polish commercial real estate sector and has worked for C&W for more than 18 years. He was appointed Head of Regional Cities in the Office Agency team in 2012 and successfully launched the C&W brand in Poland’s core regional markets. In 2018, he became Head of the Office Agency, and just two years later he took on the role of Head of C&W Poland. Despite market challenges during the pandemic, his strategic decisions helped to maintain and improve business profitability. With his energy and innovative management approach, Krzysztof inspires not only clients and partners, but also his employees whom he treats as equals irrespective of their position within the organization.
Krzysztof ‘s priority is to develop services supporting RE participants in achieving ESG objectives. In 2022 he oversaw the creation of the company’s ESG Hub, and ESG services are now an integral part of the company’s offerings for each market segment.
Lukas Hejduk, Partner, Head of CEE Real Estate, CMS
Lukáš Hejduk is a partner and Head of Real Estate, CEE in CMS. He advises on all aspects of real estate mandates including real estate M&A, construction projects, development, leasing, sale and lease-back transactions or greenfield investments. He specialises in complex property transaction and has extensive experience of acting for funds, private investors, developers, insurance providers and banks.
Additionally, Lukáš heads the CEE Hotel & Leisure practice and advises on sector specific matters such as hotel management agreements.
Marek Noetzel, COO, NEPI Rockcastle
Since June 2022, Marek Noetzel has been COO of NEPI Rockcastle, Central and Eastern Europe’s largest owner, operator and developer of shopping centres, with a portfolio of over €8bn across eight CEE countries comprising 60 properties. He is responsible for the company’s operations and is a member of its Investment Committee.
He joined Rockcastle Global Real Estate in 2016, establishing its offices in Poland and expanding its activities abroad. In 2017, Rockcastle, a real estate company with a significant portfolio in Poland and Czech Republic merged with NEPI, which had most of its assets in Romania. Prior to this, Marek was Polish Head of Retail at Cushman and Wakefield.
Under his operational leadership, NEPI Rockcastle’s portfolio has undergone a programme of strategic developments, asset modernisation and retail mix optimisation – helping the company to deliver strong growth in net operating income. The group is the first point of call for international retailers wanting to open and expand in the region. Well-known brands such as Primark, Rituals, Lefties, Sports Direct and Wendy’s have marked their entry to the region by opening stores with NEPI Rockcastle.
Martin Holler, Founding Partner, Giese & Partner
Martin Holler is a founding partner of Giese & Partner and has served as lead counsel on numerous high-profile cross-border transactions. With over two decades of legal experience, he advises a wide range of clients – including international banks, listed companies, family-owned businesses, and financial investors – on complex legal matters across multiple jurisdictions. He also frequently acts as an arbitrator in international disputes.
Martin’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of practice areas, including M&A, real estate, corporate law, employment law, litigation and arbitration, project financing, energy law, and pro bono cooperation. He is recognized as one of the Czech Republic’s leading legal experts in real estate projects, consistently ranked by Who’s Who Legal. He has been acknowledged by The Legal 500 as a “Recommended Lawyer” in real estate and construction (since 2017) and in banking, finance, and capital markets (since 2019).
He played a key role in expanding the firm’s regional presence by opening Giese & Partner’s Bratislava office in 2009. His earlier career includes working at a prominent law firm in Frankfurt am Main.
Martin is a member of several legal associations. He is admitted to practice law in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and is an active member of the International Bar Association (IBA), whereas he regularly participates as panel speaker in the real estate section. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of DAV Tschechien.
holler@giese.cz
www.giese.cz
Martin Makovec, MRICS, Managing Director M&A Central Europe, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Martin Makovec was appointed Managing Director, M&A, Central Europe at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) in July 2024. URW is an owner, developer and operator of sustainable, high-quality real estate assets in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States.
In this role, he is responsible for implementing the company’s strategy, with a focus on Mergers & Acquisitions as well as investments and divestments in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Austria.
His career at URW began in 2012, with positions including Director of Investment Central Europe as well as Director of Operations & Investment/Divestment Central Eastern Europe.
He started his career in Auditing and Consultancy at KPMG and Ernst & Young.
Martin Makovec holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Real Estate Finance and Corporate Finance from Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze (University of Economics, Prague) and a MRICS / RICS certificate.
Monika Bronicka, Director, Head of Valuation and Advisory, Member of the Board, Avison Young
Monika is a recognized valuer and team leader with over 18 years of professional experience in valuation and consulting services in Poland. She joined Avison Young in 2021 to establish and develop the company’s Polish Valuation and Advisory Team. In recognition of her achievements, she was appointed Board Member of the Polish branch in 2024. Since then, she has been leading a team of market professionals specializing in valuation, research, and technical advisory services.
A member of RICS, Monika also holds the German HypZert MLV license, qualifying her to estimate Mortgage Lending Value. She has acted as an expert witness in various cases, including arbitration proceedings at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, and lectures at the Cracow School of Business, Cracow University of Economics.
At Avison Young, Monika is responsible for coordinating complex valuation projects – both local and cross-border – and driving the business development of the company’s Polish operations.
Neringa Rastenyte-Janciuniene, Partner, Head of Capital Markets Baltics, Newsec
Neringa Rastenytė-Jančiūnienė leads Capital Markets for the Baltics at Newsec, the leading full-service property house in Northern Europe. With over 20 years of experience in real estate investment and advisory, she manages cross-border transactions in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, advising institutional investors, funds, and developers on office, retail, and logistics assets.
Known for her professionalism and market insight, Neringa is a recognized voice in Baltic capital markets and plays an active role in shaping the region’s investment landscape. Her team consistently delivers over 50% of all investment transaction volumes across the Baltic countries almost each year.
Oleg Fedulin, Associate Director, Senior Banker, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Oleg Fedulin is an Associate Director / Senior Banker in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Real Estate team, focused on debt and equity investments in sustainable real estate. He has 15+ years of experience in CEE/CIS markets and a strong track record of sourcing, structuring and executing complex transactions, including senior debt, mezzanine, JV/equity, real estate funds, and capital markets. In 2024, Oleg relocated from London to Warsaw to deepen his focus on Poland, while continuing active coverage of Ukraine and the Baltics. He works across all sectors of commercial and residential real estate, with a particular focus on living/housing and industrial & logistics.
Peter Morris, Owner & Managing Director, Gage Partners
Peter has developed and acquired over 200 million Euros worth of real estate in Estonia, Lithuania, Czechia and Portugal.
Through its subsidiary Golden Visa Property Investment, Gage Partners is investing in and developing Portuguese properties to be sold to foreigners seeking to benefit from Portugal’s unique visa and personal tax incentive programs, as well as Portugal’s surge in popularity as a tourism destination.
The most recent investments are the five star Lumiares Hotel and Spa in Bairro Alto neighbourhood of Lisbon, and the five star Vintage Lisboa Hotel, as well as a handful of 18th and 19th century residential properties in Lisbon under redevelopment as apartment buildings.
Gage Partners owns retail real estate in the Baltic States, including Sikupilli Shopping Center in Tallinn. Gage Partners sold NØRDIKA Shopping Valley in Vilnius in 2016.
Peter managed Ober-Haus Real Estate Advisors in four countries from the company start-up in 1994 through its sale in June 2007. At the time of its sale, Ober-Haus Real Estate Advisors was the largest property brokerage and advisory firm in Central and Eastern Europe with more than 35 offices and 350 real estate professionals in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, offering asset acquisition and disposal, property valuations, property asset
Radomyr Tsurkan, Managing Partner, EXPANDIA
Radomyr Tsurkan is the Managing Partner of EXPANDIA, CBRE’s Country Service Partner in Ukraine and Moldova, and has been leading the company since its launch in 2008. In this role, Radomyr oversees the general management and leads the Office and Industrial Property Team. His expertise lies primarily in office project development and brokerage of professional properties. With a wealth of experience in project concept development, coupled with his extensive portfolio of office transactions and comprehensive understanding of land issues, Radomyr offers unparalleled insight and expertise in the Ukrainian market. Radomyr’s professional experience in Ukrainian commercial real estate market totals more than 26 years. Under joint leadership with Sergiy Sergiyenko, EXPANDIA team grew from 2 to over 300 people in 17 years to offer the most comprehensive range of real estate services in Ukraine, including country’s strongest integrated facility management team.
Radu Boitan, FRICS, Partner and Investor, Phoenix Properties Holding
Radu Boitan is a seasoned investment professional and FRICS Chartered Surveyor, with 30 years of market experience across 8 different CEE markets, known for navigating market cycles, executing large-scale transactions, and fostering long-term value across the real estate spectrum.
As Partner and Investor with Phoenix he co-leads the investment strategy and execution across value-oriented transactions, especially where value can be created, recovered or special situations generate opportunity, focusing on selectively acquiring, repositioning, managing, financing, and divesting prime commercial real estate, asset class agnostic, across EU/CEE. Phoenix invests its own capital and works alongside lenders, co-investors, occupiers, and communities to create and unlock value across diverse EU/CEE geographies and asset classes. A special focus is placed on themes that offer growth alongside liquidity, downside protection, and income resilience in a rapidly evolving market environment.
Before Phoenix Properties, Radu held senior roles including Partner, Head of Investments at the UK-based recovery fund Revetas Capital, Head of Capital Markets at JLL Romania, and founding MD of King Sturge Romania. He has been involved in raising multimillion rounds of capital, allocating, investing, divesting and managing a massive cross-border portfolio of standing and developing assets and arranging complex debt and equity financing. His industry leadership includes serving as Chairman of RICS Romania for two consecutive mandates and advising institutions on best practices and investment strategy.
Rafał Proczek, CCIM, Managing Director & Head of Asset Management Poland, INVESTIKA
Rafał Proczek is a highly accomplished real estate executive with over 15 years of experience in investment, asset management, and transaction execution across Central and Eastern Europe. He currently serves as Managing Director and Head of Asset Management Poland at Investika Polska Services, overseeing a commercial real estate portfolio exceeding 450,000 m² of office and logistics properties.
Prior to this, Rafał worked as an Investment & Asset Manager at Greenstone Asset Management and previously served as Senior Consultant, Capital Markets CEE at BNP Paribas Real Estate, supporting investment and capital markets transactions. He has extensive experience in asset management, investment, transaction execution, senior debt origination, financial controlling, budget planning, SPV management, administration, and specialized transaction services.
Rafał is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and an alumnus of the Warsaw University of Technology and SGH Warsaw School of Economics, with a proven track record in strategic portfolio management and delivering high-performing real estate operations across the region.
Richard Wilkinson, Group CFO, CTP
Richard Wilkinson is Group CFO of CTP, the largest listed owner, developer, and manager of logistics and industrial real estate in continental Europe by gross lettable area. Since joining the company in 2018, he has been instrumental in shaping CTP’s financial strategy and supporting its growth from a regional developer into a pan-European platform with a portfolio reaching 13 milion m2.
Richard leads the Group’s financing activities, including corporate and project-level debt, capital markets access, and the implementation of robust financial and reporting systems across CTP’s operations in eleven countries. Under his leadership, CTP has strengthened its balance sheet and broadened its investor base to support continued expansion.
Prior to CTP, Richard spent 14 years heading the commercial real estate division at Erste Group, where he was responsible for building one of the leading real estate finance franchises in Central and Eastern Europe. He holds a law degree from the London School of Economics and has lived in Central Europe for over two decades.
Robert Neale, FRICS, CEO, Portland Trust
Robert has worked in the commercial real estate industry since 1982 based in cities including London, Brussels and currently Prague and Bucharest since 1991.
After an agency background he created the development and asset management company Portland Trust in 1998. Portland Trust has been in partnership with US property and fund management group Ares Management Corporation, L.P. (formerly AREA Property Partners) since 1999. Ares currently has assets under management of over $596 billion and provides equity capital jointly with Portland Trust to purchase development projects, under-managed assets with refurbishment potential and undercapitalised companies in central and eastern Europe. Together, Ares and Portland Trust have developed or refurbished over 800,000 m2 of commercial space in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.
Portland Trust has won various industry awards including the CEEQA Green Leadership and Office Development of the Year awards. Oregon Park won the CEEQA Overall Building of the Year SEE in 2018, and J8 Office Park won CEEQA Office Development of the year in 2022. More recently the company has focused on renewables and data centres.
Sergejs Frolovs, Founder and CEO, BLV Advisory Group
Sergejs Frolovs is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of BLV Advisory Group, a leading Latvian real estate consultancy and construction project management firm. For 15 years, he has guided the company—originally established as Būvuzraugi LV—from its launch to its evolution into a full-service advisory group providing comprehensive project oversight, technical supervision, and strategic consulting across all stages of real estate development.
Under Sergejs’s leadership, BLV Advisory Group has delivered technical and project management services for hundreds of projects throughout Latvia, ranging from large-scale commercial developments to complex infrastructure initiatives and heritage renovation assignments. For now BLV Advisory Group is working on 3 bln. development project in Riga, Latvia – Riga Waterfront, delivering comprahensive consultancy services to UAE developer Eagle Hills.
Sergejs advocates a client-focused, systems-driven approach emphasizing early involvement, risk mitigation, and quality control. His methodology helps clients navigate the complexities of construction while ensuring budgets and timelines remain on track. He is also an active contributor to industry discussions on construction governance, quality standards, and professional competence in Latvia’s built-environment sector.
At BLV Advisory Group, Sergejs continues to shape the company’s strategic growth, drive the expansion of its service portfolio, and strengthen its position in both Baltics and international real estate markets as the firm enters its next decade of development.
Simon Johnson, CEO, Crestyl Group
Simon Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of Crestyl Group, one of the leading real estate development groups in Central Europe. With more than 35 years of international experience in real estate development, construction, and strategic management, he brings deep expertise in delivering large-scale urban projects across commercial, residential, retail, and mixed-use sectors.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Simon moved to Central Europe in the 1990s, where he has played a key role in shaping some of the region’s most significant development projects. He joined Crestyl in 2011 as Chief Operating Officer and later became Executive Director for the Czech Republic. In these roles, he was instrumental in the growth and professionalisation of the company and in the delivery of many of Crestyl’s flagship developments.
In 2024, Simon was appointed CEO of the Crestyl Group, succeeding the company’s founder. As CEO, he leads Crestyl’s strategic transformation into a fully institutional, future-oriented investment and development platform operating across multiple European markets.
Outside of his professional career, Simon is passionate about sports, healthy living, and gastronomy.
Soren Rodian Olsen, MRICS, Managing Director, Logicenters at Urban Partners
Søren established Urban Partners’ office in Poland in 2021 and leads Urban Partners’ logistics business development activities in Poland, with focus on investment sourcing, asset mgmt., and key relationships with co-investors and large tenants. He has 24 years’ experience in the Polish market having previously held senior mgmt. positions in Bank Austria Creditanstalt, HVB Group, Aberdeen as well as 10 years with Cushman & Wakefield where he was a Partner and Head of Capital Markets. Søren holds an MBA from University of Westminster and sits on the Board of ULI Poland.
Stuart Jordan, CEO CEE, Savills
Stuart is responsible for Savills business across CEE, which comprises wholly owned businesses in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and across Poland, as well as Savills association network in Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria, comprising ca. 400 people.
Stuart also coordinates cross border investment activity within CEE for Savills and actively leads on day-to-day investment transactions in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Sylvie Geuten-Carpentier, Managing Partner & Board Member, Mitiska REIM
In addition to being Managing Partner of Mitiska REIM, Sylvie Geuten – Carpentier is Managing Director of Poland, responsible for the growing portfolio of assets in the country, and acts as back-up partner for the wider CEE region.
Mitiska REIM is Europe’s leading specialist investor in convenience real estate, comprising necessity retail, multi-let light industrial, self storage and urban logistics projects. Over the past 12 years, Mitiska REIM has raised 5 funds and built a portfolio of 117 properties representing +/- 1,600,000 m² gross leasable area. Mitiska REIM is active in the CEE markets of Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria, in addition to Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
Sylvie is also shareholder and executive Board Member of Mitiska, the Geuten family office and co-founder of Mitiska REIM.
Sylvie has an extensive background in retail, private equity and real estate, having previously worked at ExxonMobil, The Coca-Cola Company and Mitiska. Sylvie holds a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from the KU Leuven (Belgium) and a Master’s degree in Financial Management from Vlerick Business School in Gent (Belgium).
Tomasz Stasiak, Co-Managing Partner, Wolf Theiss
Tomasz Stasiak is Co-Managing Partner and leads the Real Estate & Construction team in Wolf Theiss Poland. He boasts over 25 years of professional experience in the Central and Eastern European real estate market, with extensive expertise spanning all industry sectors, including logistics, office spaces, retail, leisure and residential properties. Tomasz advises on the entire spectrum of real estate activities, from land acquisition through the development process, including permitting, financing and leasing, all the way to disinvestment and portfolio transfers. He has also served as an arbitrator in real estate disputes. Tomasz is an attorney-at-law admitted to the Warsaw Bar Association. He has represented global investors and developers in landmark projects across Poland, Ukraine, Hungary and Lithuania. Notable recent transactions include a successful acquisition of the distressed Europa Centralna retail centre by Mitiska REIM and the restructuring of Tesco’s real estate portfolio, involving the sale of more than 25 shopping centres in Poland to various buyers. His recent focus involves residential projects, covering Private Rented Sector (PRS) and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
Zsolt Kákosy, MBA, FRICS, Board member RICS Europe and RICS Hungary, RICS
Zsolt has been leading the Property Management division of ICON Real Estate Management for four years. He joined the company with more than 20 years of professional experience, having developed substantial expertise in senior leadership roles, team development, and various segments of the real estate sector, including development, ownership, banking, and advisory. He studied finance and corporate valuation at Corvinus University, and later complemented his education with an MBA in Finance and an MSc in Real Estate.
Throughout his career, he has worked with multiple property types, including office buildings, shopping centres, and industrial and logistics assets. He currently oversees the property management operations of ICON’s approximately 682,000 m² portfolio, which includes several major WELL-certified and award-winning buildings. Zsolt’s outstanding professional performance has been recognised with the Klauzál Award.
His community and industry involvement includes serving as Chairman of the AmCham Workspace and Facility Management Committee and holding a board position at RICS Europe World Regional Board, as well at RICS Hungary. On a personal level, he is committed to fostering an inclusive, sustainable, and cooperative social environment, and actively supports the work of Access4you, contributing to the advancement of accessibility.”
Incoming jurors are invited to submit their nominations for the awards.
Nominations are made by the jury for the sector’s outstanding projects, companies and people of the year. The jury nominations are processed by the CEEQA team and candidates are invited to submit an entry form to support the nomination. Additionally, any candidate can enter the awards whether or not they are nominated by the jury.
The jury nominations are processed by the CEEQA team and candidates are invited to submit an entry form to support the nomination. The resulting award entries are examined and voted on by the jury to decide the winners.
The CEEQA judging process is renowned for it’s rigorous transparency and objectivity.
