Coliving Awards
2023

Andrei Martin, partner at PLP Architecture, leads residential, commercial and master planning projects globally. He co-founded PLP Labs, a design research platform at the intersection of people, technology and the planet. Andrei is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster and a European Living Concepts Council Member at the Urban Land Institute. An editor, published author and international lecturer, he explores the transformative power of the built environment. Andrei specialises in hyper-mixed smart buildings, redefining contemporary living and working spaces.

Remi, an architect and entrepreneur, has a rich background in founding companies and holds an architecture degree from Delft University. Co-founding Space Encounters in 2016 and Beyond Space in 2021, Remi is driven by innovation and the amalgamation of diverse perspectives. With Beyond Space, he believes architectural thinking extends beyond space itself, drawing from various interests and disciplines to forge unexpected connections. Their approach combines creative entrepreneurship, intuitive design and the convergence of art, architecture and product development to create a harmonious blend of buildings, spaces and objects.

Beata is a strategic designer and researcher, working at the intersection of foresight, strategy and human-centred design. She advises start-ups, governments and brands as well as global teams across real estate, healthcare, technology, finance and design sectors. Over the last 8 years she advised clients on global projects - from urban strategies for sustainable cities of the future including Penang South Islands, Frisco, Riyadh, digital services for corporations such as ING Group and Volkswagen, to numerous start-ups and brands.

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Currently in her role as the Head of Research & Strategy at Airnauts, Beata plays a vital role in helping digital businesses navigate the ever-changing landscape of trends. By understanding emerging trends, she assists these businesses in improving customer experiences and developing innovative concepts that drive their success.

Deenie Lee is one the co-founders of The Property Marketing Strategists – a boutique consultancy specialising in the rented property sector including BTR, PBSA and university accommodation. With a focus on data and research to influence strategy, they undertake marketing consultancy assignments alongside their industry webinars, podcasts and youth forum.

Deenie has over 20 years of experience in senior marketing roles. Focusing on results, she is passionate about understanding a business’ goals and developing an effective strategy to meet and exceed targets. She was of the team which led to the growth of Campus Living Village’s (CLV) UK arm from 1,000 to 16,000 beds and one of the top five student accommodation brands in the country.

Deenie is passionate about brand, technology, data and people. Working with organisations to build teams, develop junior marketeers and growing and establishing new departments, products and services.

Since forming her coliving consultancy in 2019, The Coliving Consultant, Leah has become one of the world’s leading experts in the industry. Building upon her 10+ year background in hospitality, events and tourism, Leah’s consultancy focuses on designing Community Experience strategies within coliving. She works 1:1 with coliving brands around the world to create connection and build consistency into the coliving customer journey. An author, speaker and thought-leader, Leah is a passionate advocate for the shared living industry as a whole.

Paulina is a designer of novel solutions in the field of sustainable and regenerative development. At her studio NASDRA Conscious Design, she researches and designs schemes for closed-loop economies, climate change mitigation processes, urban farming and using various pollutants as resources. Paulina Grabowska is a forward-thinking researcher and designer in the field of sustainable and regenerative development. She investigates circular economy schemes, climate change mitigation processes, bioelectronics, and urban farming. In her designs, she uses various types of pollution as the next resources.

Sabine is an accomplished leader in PropTech, known for her entrepreneurial drive and contributions to the industry. With expertise in smart building and smart city technologies, she has an extensive network of founders and investors from around the world. Sabine co-founded a successful SaaS startup and built one of Europe's largest PropTech communities. She is also a PropTech scout for EXPO REAL (Messe München), one of the largest real estate conferences in Europe and works with several investment firms to help the industry make an impact. Her creative thinking, risk-taking and innovation make her a true connector and trend anticipator.

Committed to sustainability and social responsibility, she also values diversity and inclusion – as a female leader in the male-dominated construction industry and a member of the LGBTQI+ community, she understands the critical importance of diverse perspectives.

Joanna has 20 years of international experience in structural engineering, business development, and management roles across the building industry. In her current role at Implenia, she is actively involved in industrialisation initiatives and strategic partnerships.

She co-developed SwissPropTech, the largest tech innovation community in real estate & construction in Switzerland. Joanna's expertise extends to advisory board membership at SwissPropTech, serving as a jury member for startup competitions, and sharing her knowledge through guest lectures at esteemed universities. With a Master's degree in Structural Engineering and certifications in Design Thinking and Building Digital Partnerships, Joanna combines innovation and practicality to shape a brighter future for the building industry and cities.

Jon is a Community Experience Designer and the founder of Make Them Connect, a studio that helps purpose-driven brands create transformative, community-centred experiences for their customers.

He is also the co-founder of Nomadico, one of the fastest-growing coliving brands for digital nomads, and an advisor to Rooral, an innovative rural coliving initiative reviving depopulated villages in Spain.

In 2015, Jon co-founded Sun and Co., the first coliving space on the Mediterranean coast and a recognised pioneer in the industry. His work has been honoured with three Coliving Awards, and he continues to shape the sector as a thought leader.

Rainer is currently Senior Managing Director at Amro Partners and is responsible for the Sponsor’s PBSA business in new European student housing markets, including Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. He has over ten years of experience in continental European PBSA and micro living. In his previous role as executive chairman and CEO of International Campus Group, he steered IC Group to a sector-leading position of c. 8,000 PBSA beds across markets.

Virginia is an architect and freelance consultant on New Ways of Working & Living. With a keen focus on emerging lifestyles, her consulting work is focused on creating innovative space concepts and business models to cater to evolving needs. In addition to her consulting work, Virginia has worked as an advisor and ambassador for Co-Liv Italy, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to coliving since 2020. Currently, she also focuses on the "work from anywhere" movement across full-time digital nomads and hybrid employees, and how this generates the need for an ecosystem of services to facilitate this phenomenon, especially work-proof coliving spaces.

Anton is a designer, consultant and entrepreneur who has been working at the intersection of tech, sustainability and real estate for the past 12 years. He is the founder of House of Transformation and Selgars Estate and the co-founder of re:build and enchanted.

Ron has devoted his life to researching and teaching topics like senior housing and healthcare real estate finance, impact investing, business cases and asset management. His various accomplishments in the industry include fulfilling his roles as a Founder / Chief Executive Officer of MI, a Co-founder and Chair of the Senior Housing & Healthcare Association, a lecturer at Sociëteit Vastgoed Netwerk® (SVN) and Managing Editor of Real Asset Media Journal.

With a background in hospitality, Michiel joined the launch team of disruptive hybrid hotel concept The Social Hub (previously known as The Student Hotel). Afterwards, he was responsible for concept development and operations of Greystar’s activities in the Netherlands, including the award-winning blended urban living concept OurDomain.

Today, Michiel is Managing Director of Heimstaden, operating 13,500 rental homes across the Netherlands.

Javier is the Head of Flex Living of CBRE Spain since 2019. He coordinates different business lines such as Investment Properties, Investment Banking, A&T, Valuations and Consulting, among others. Javier joined the Valuation and Consulting department at CBRE in 2014 – prior to that, he worked in the strategic consulting department at KPMG and Accenture.

Alexia is a leader in the international development of coliving concepts, overseeing the sourcing, scoping and development of hybrid models and coliving projects throughout Europe. She collaborates with global brands, large-scale initiatives and emerging concepts, assisting them in optimising their positioning, business models and full development process from acquisition to operation. With a particular focus on sustainability, she has expertise in large-scale new builds, refurbishments and incorporating strong ESG components and green renovations. Former Strategy Manager at The Social Hub (previously The Student Hotel) during their expansion phase in the EU, and Feasibility & Development Director at Cycas Hospitality, she created her own consulting structure in 2020.

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Elena holds a PhD in Interior Architecture and Exhibition Design, and currently works as a fellow researcher and professor at Politecnico di Milano. Her research focuses on hospitality systems, including hotels, hostels, co-living and camping, with a keen interest in industry transformations and spatial dynamics. She explores hybrid spaces, sustainable design and the well-being of individuals within customised interiors and furniture systems. With over a decade of teaching experience, Elena actively engages in lectures, mentoring, workshops and international contests. She contributes to the field through research, teaching and consulting, publishing her work and participating in international networks, juries and scientific committees.