Americas

Nevin Sood, FRICS

Global Lead, Apple

Nevin has 30 years of experience from working as an Engineer in the semiconductor microchip industry, Advisory & Consulting specializing in Whole Life Asset Management and Carbon Reduction across multiple sectors; with a career change to serve in the British Army in Military Intelligence then UK Special Forces. He is a Fellow of the RICS, Chartered Building Engineer, Fellow of CABE, Chartered Energy Manager, and a Fellow of the RSA.

Randal Dawson, FRICS

Executive Vice President, CBRE

I am a seasoned expert in real estate valuations, tax appeals and counselling with more than 30 years of experience. My background includes valuations of all types of commercial and special-use properties, with an emphasis on industrial, retail, multifamily properties, hospitals, healthcare facilities, readapted uses of real estate, highest and best use studies, feasibility studies and real estate valuations. I have prepared and reviewed valuation and feasibility studies throughout the country for litigation support, ad valorem, condemnation, trust and estate matters, family law, financial reporting, conventional financing, bond financing, fair rental studies, data centers, movie studios, telecommunications and insurance purposes. As a qualified expert witness, I have testified numerous times in federal, state, and local jurisdictions around the country. Litigation cases have included insurance claims, shareholder disputes, bankruptcy, tax appeal, divorce, IRS tax disputes, and condemnation, diminution in value related to historical preservation easements and conservation easements. I am a Co-National Litigation Practice Leader and I lead the Consulting Practice for CBRE, Inc. Midwest Region, and hold the CRE designation from the Counselors of Real Estate, the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute, the FRICS designation from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and the NACD Directorship Certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Sarah Jancot

Investment Manager, NBIM

Sarah Jancot is Investment Manager of Logistics Real Estate at NBIM, Norway’s oil fund. The $1.4 tr fund is one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds and is broadly invested across countries, sectors and currencies. The fund owns direct real estate investments worth more than $30 billion, totalling approximately 800 assets across 13 countries. NBIM’s unlisted logistics portfolio consists of approximately 135 million square feet of warehouses across 12 countries. Her current role covers strategy, transactions and asset management. Prior to joining the team in 2016, Sarah served in transactions roles in London and Paris, with a main focus on the office market. Over her career, Sarah has been involved in over $10bn of completed transactions. Sarah holds a Master of science in Management from ESSEC Business School and is a Columbia Business School alumni. She is a member of the RICS Americas World Regional Board and serves on the Board of Green City Challenge, a NYC-based not-for-profit.

Mark Vollmer, FRICS

FRICS is Senior Director and Head of Technical Services , NYL Inverstors

Mark Vollmer, FRICS is Senior Director and Head of Technical Services at New York Life Real Estate Investors, where he oversees architectural, engineering and valuation services for NYL’s $60 billion real estate portfolio of debt and equity. Mr. Vollmer has more than 35 years in real estate experience, specializing in the hospitality sector, and has valued properties throughout the United States and in more than 30 countries including the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He earned a BA from Haverford College and an MBA from New York University. Mark also holds the MAI and CRE designations and served as President of the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.

Shardon V. B. Haye MRICS MJIQS MCIArb

Managing Director, CPM Consultants Ltd

Shardon Haye is the Managing Director of CPM Consultants Ltd, a Chartered Quantity Surveying practice in Kingston, Jamaica. With over 25 years of experience in Quantity Surveying and Cost Management services, Shardon has navigated a diverse professional journey. His expertise spans Consultancy practices, private developers, and public sector agencies across Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United Kingdom. His primary focus lies in property development, with experience in various sectors including commercial, civic, education, military and aviation industries. Shardon holds a BSc. (Hons.) in Quantity Surveying from the University of Reading and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Arbitration from Robert Gordon University. As a member of RICS since 2006, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Additionally, Shardon is a professional member of the Jamaican Institute of Quantity Surveyors (JIQS) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). His commitment to service extends beyond the professional realm; he previously held a Queen’s Commission at the rank of Captain serving with the 1 Engineer Regiment (JDF) and served as a former part-time lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Gareth David MRICS

Gareth has over 22 years of experience in estimating and quantity surveying, including the last 17 years at PCL. Over that time he has worked on a wide variety of projects including YVR Pier D, the Vancouver Post Office redevelopment, New St Paul’s and the new Paul Myers Tower at Lions Gate Hospital. As the Chief Estimator, Gareth is responsible for leading the estimating and pre-construction team in the preparation and development of bids, estimates and proposals for BC and the Yukon. He is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a Professional Quantity Surveyor with the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. He was the BC Chapter Chair for the RICS from 2014-2019.

Hayley Drever MRICS

Hayley is a Project Director working for Turner & Townsend, based out of Phoenix. She is currently working with a Global Data Center client, managing a team of 40 across North America, Europe, Asia and South America, leading their contract management service. Hayley is originally from Lancashire in the North of England and she relocated across to the US in September 2023. Hayley completed her RICS accredited Masters in Quantity Surveying at UCEM (now know as University of the Built Environment), whilst working full time for a property development company. She graduated with distinction in 2017, winning the Harold Crowther Prize for best overall performance in her year group. Hayley achieved her MRICS status in July 2019 and since then has supported many candidates in a variety of roles including mentor, supervisor and counsellor. She has also established and run a variety of internal APC groups to support candidates in their chartership journey as well as acting as a RICS APC assessor. Since relocating to the US, Hayley has worked on a number of multi-billion dollar high tech projects including Data Centers and EV-battery plants, managing project teams of various sizes.

Adam Kavanagh MRICS

Adam Kavanagh, MRICS, is a Partner and Managing Director at VVA Drees & Sommer LLC, with two decades of expertise in cost management. Leading the cost management team nationally, he has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results across a diverse portfolio of projects, including Commercial, Retail, Healthcare, Infrastructure, and Industrial projects. Prior to his move to the U.S. with VVA in 2015, Adam worked in the UK providing him with valuable international quantity surveying experience. Adam’s technical knowledge and skillset are extensive; he brings innovation to the industry and is always seeking ways to enhance project efficiencies. Sustainable construction is another key driver and motivator for Adam and he ensures sustainable technologies are utilized throughout the built environment. Adam utilizes effective communication to find synergies within the design and construction teams to ensure every project is successful in terms of schedule, budget, and quality. His leadership has consistently driven teams to meet and exceed project goals, establishing him as a trusted authority in cost management. Adam believes the RICS is the priority achievement in a young surveyor’s career and the next generation are critical to the growth of the RICS within the Americas.

Jeffrey Climans MRICS

Jeff has earned global recognition for the breadth of his analytical and communication skills, and has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to apply those skills in leadership and advisory roles in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. Organizations across the public and private sectors have relied on Jeff’s expertise and judgment to initiate or reimagine economically viable projects in rapidly changing urban environments. Jeff has contributed to the successful implementation of projects across the urban spectrum, from site-specific to sector-wide. In roles that range from external consultant to executive lead, Jeff has delivered a distinctive blend of subject-matter expertise and organizational leadership to foster inter-disciplinary and inter-agency collaboration. On a global stage, Jeff has successfully navigated economic, cultural and linguistic differences in diverse markets to promote innovative approaches and best practices for sustainable and resilient urban development. He has also applied those hard and soft skills to successfully serve as an expert witness, establishing the value of complex real estate assets under different valuation models and legislation. Jeff also gives back to his profession. He authored the first code of ethics and professional conduct for a national professional association, and subsequently drafted a series of modules to expand that association’s curriculum of continuing professional development to represent a modern and pragmatic application of ethics in valuation practice.