ULI’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance is excited to announce that four District Councils and three National Councils have been selected to participate in the second Net Zero Imperative Cohort. Thanks to the generosity of financial donations from ULI members through the ULI Foundation, the program offers grants for technical assistance and ongoing implementation support to a selection of global cities to help accelerate efforts toward net zero.

With help from a $350,000 gift from former global governing trustee Michael Spies, ULI is launching an innovative program in which artists will be invited to work with developers in the early stages of real estate projects. The Art in Place program will help developers form creative partnerships with artists in fields ranging from painting and sculpture to dance, theater, music, and even culinary arts.

Lars Huber, the CEO of Hines Europe, has been appointed as ULI Europe Chairman. Huber, who succeeds Marnix Galle, Executive Chair of the Board of developer Immobel, will serve on a voluntary basis for a two-year term starting on July 1.

Former ULI Global Chairman Owen Thomas, CEO of Boston Properties, joined Matt Slepin, founder and managing partner of Terra Search and a ULI Foundation Governor, for a recent episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate. Thomas discussed his commitment to the industry in key leadership positions, including serving as the immediate past Global Chair of the Urban Land Institute and his significant contribution to ULI’s Net Zero Imperative Initiative working to reduce our industry’s carbon footprint.

Incoming Global Chair Peter Ballon shares why he first got involved in ULI and what he sees as the Institute’s top priorities for his two-year term.

Netflix CMO Bozoma Saint John stressed the importance of individualism and authenticity when discussing innovation in the corporate and social spheres.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are not a one-time program that companies must create to check a box, but should be an ongoing commitment that spans years. That is what participants heard during the 2021 ULI Virtual Spring Meeting session, “The Corporate Journey toward Enhanced Diversity and Inclusion.”

As part of Black History Month, ULI is spotlighting some of the incredible work of our Black members, including Lisa Y. Gordon, president and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, who is responsible for advancing Atlanta Habitat’s mission to create affordable housing.

ULI Europe has officially launched ULI Denmark, its 15th national council. Jesper Bo Hansen, head of corporate finance at Catella, will be the chair, serving a two-year term on a voluntary basis, and will be joined by an executive committee of local industry leaders.

There is still time to register for ULI Europe’s flagship event, the ULI Europe Conference, taking place February 8–10, for the first time as a virtual event. Keynote speakers participating in the conference include Lord Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners; Carlos Moreno, associate professor at Sorbonne University Paris and a leading proponent of the 15-minute city; Peter Frankopan, professor of global history at Worcester College, Oxford University; Philippe Close, mayor of Brussels; and Ric Lewis, executive chairman of Tristan Capital.