Ayris T. Scales, Nareit’s SVP of Social Responsibility & Global Initiatives, recently spoke at two REIT and CRE industry events.
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) Social Sustainability Summit welcomed more than 200 attendees to New York City, including real estate and financial professionals, corporate sustainability leaders, and consultants. Scales was part of a panel at the summit, held on Dec. 13 at Citi headquarters, that highlighted the importance of integrating social sustainability into core business operations, such as profitability, retention, and supply chain management.
Scales was joined by moderator Kelly Worden (IWBI), Jennifer Taranto (STO Building Group), Michael Hogan (Hines), and Chris Pyke (GRESB), to share insights and inspiring case studies on socially sustainable real estate. They emphasized the critical role of social sustainability in driving long-term financial value and fostering thriving communities. Other discussions explored innovative strategies for socially conscious real estate development, best practices in community engagement, and approaches to enhancing tenant well-being.
On Dec. 18, Scales was also featured on a webinar, Ignite and Thrive: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs, an exclusive session hosted by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, a Nareit Foundation Dividends Through Diversity 2024 Cohort 1 grant recipient. The event brought together more than 200 attendees and was led by Nicola Corzine, executive director of the center. The webinar introduced the Milestone Index for Women Business Owners in the Real Estate and Services Sector, a new resource funded in part by the Nareit Foundation.
At the session, Scales provided valuable insights on how Nareit’s philanthropic efforts foster education, expand opportunities, and break barriers for women and small business owners. She emphasized Nareit’s collective strategies for building a supportive ecosystem and increasing representation within the REIT industry.