Helen Gurfel is Head of Sustainability & Innovation for CBRE Investment Management. In this role, Helen collaborates closely with the firm’s teams around the world on sustainability and innovation-related matters, ranging from product architecture and capital-raising initiatives to asset-level strategies and solutions.
With an exceptional track record of developing and executing effective ESG and venture investment strategies during her more than 25 years in the industry, Helen has spoken regularly on the economics of sustainability. She is responsible for achieving the ambitions set out in the firm’s Sustainability Vision and ensuring that CBRE Investment Management maintains a leading sustainability strategy in a rapidly evolving market.
A true thought leader within her field, Helen has championed environmental performance improvement across the real estate industry. Prior to joining CBRE Investment Management in 2021, Helen was a managing director for LENX, Lennar Corporation’s venture group, where she helped develop the firm’s venture capital investment strategy. Prior to that, she ran the Urban Land Institute Greenprint Center for Building Performance where she led a global consortium of 40 real estate owners, investors and partners to enhance returns through ESG data analysis, benchmarking and best practices.
Helen began her career at PwC in 1996 before going to GE Capital where she established GE Real Estate’s global ESG vision and strategy and advised the firm’s energy venture capital group on prospective investments.
Helen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University, a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business.
With an exceptional track record of developing and executing effective ESG and venture investment strategies during her more than 25 years in the industry, Helen has spoken regularly on the economics of sustainability. She is responsible for achieving the ambitions set out in the firm’s Sustainability Vision and ensuring that CBRE Investment Management maintains a leading sustainability strategy in a rapidly evolving market.
A true thought leader within her field, Helen has championed environmental performance improvement across the real estate industry. Prior to joining CBRE Investment Management in 2021, Helen was a managing director for LENX, Lennar Corporation’s venture group, where she helped develop the firm’s venture capital investment strategy. Prior to that, she ran the Urban Land Institute Greenprint Center for Building Performance where she led a global consortium of 40 real estate owners, investors and partners to enhance returns through ESG data analysis, benchmarking and best practices.
Helen began her career at PwC in 1996 before going to GE Capital where she established GE Real Estate’s global ESG vision and strategy and advised the firm’s energy venture capital group on prospective investments.
Helen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University, a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business.