The British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, together with the Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce, proudly presents the second edition of Innovating Real Estate & Construction: Trends and Inclusiveness, taking place on 21 October 2025 at The Marmorosch Hotel, Bucharest.
The conference convenes Romania’s leading developers, investors, designers and policy-makers to examine how the built-environment is digitising, decarbonising and diversifying—while keeping people front-and-centre. This year’s programme distils eight research-driven priorities: PropTech 2.0, near-zero-energy buildings, renovation finance, prefabrication & 3-D printing, adaptive reuse, 15-minute-city planning, universal design and social-impact funding.
Structured across three focused panels, the event explores market trends, accessibility and inclusive design, and the evolving legislative framework, illustrating every theme with high-impact Romanian and international case studies. Through conversations with industry leaders, legal specialists and design innovators, participants will clarify compliance obligations, see how best-in-class projects embed accessibility from concept to completion, and collect practical tactics they can deploy in their own portfolios.
By fostering dialogue between business, government and civil society, the conference equips attendees with the insights, contacts and strategies needed to deliver sustainable, inclusive and financially resilient developments—positioning accessible real estate as an essential value driver for 2025 and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- Future-proof insight — understand the trends reshaping sustainable and inclusive development in Romania.
- Finance know-how — learn how to tap green bonds, sustainability-linked loans and blended-finance facilities.
- Practical accessibility playbook — discover proven strategies for implementing universal design across asset types.
- Innovation radar — hear case studies on adaptive reuse, 3-D printing, modular solutions and mixed-use regeneration.
- Power networking — connect with the developers, investors and public-sector leaders driving the market forward.
Who Should Attend?
- Real-estate developers, investors and asset managers
- Architects, urban planners and interior designers
- Sustainability, ESG and compliance officers
- Legal professionals specialising in construction, planning and accessibility law
- Financial institutions, impact and infrastructure investors
- Public-sector decision-makers and municipal leaders responsible for the built environment
Why Attend?
- Learn directly from real-world Romanian and EU case studies.
- Explore breakthrough technologies such as digital twins, 3-D-printed construction and modular housing.
- Debate the legal, financial and operational challenges of inclusive design with the experts writing the rules.
- Gain a 360° view of market trends from blue-chip developers, architects and sustainability leaders.
- Stay ahead of Romania’s evolving regulatory requirements and investor expectations.
EVENT AGENDA
- 9.30-10.00 – Registration and Welcome Coffee
- 10.00-10.10 – Opening Remarks on behalf of BRCC & RDCC
- 10.10-11.10 – Panel I: Emerging Market Trends in Real Estate Industry
- 11.10-11.30 – Coffee Break and Networking
- 11.30-12.30 – Panel II: Building the Future: Accessibility and Inclusive Design in the Real Estate
- 12.30-13.30 – Pane lII: Sustainability in Real Estate: Investor and Developer Perspectives
- 13:30-13:40 – Q&A and Closing Remarks
- 13:40-14:30 – Networking Lunch
Opening remarks on behalf of BRCC:
Cristina Cretu – Partner at MPR Partners & Director in the BRCC Board of Directors
Cristina Crețu is a Partner with MPR Partners’ London office, as well as the head of data privacy and co-head of our TMT practice group in both our Bucharest and London offices. She is a seasoned technology law and data protection expert, with 20 years of experience in the TMT sector. Before joining MPR Partners, she has been a litigation counsel with an EU national telecom regulatory authority, a regulatory expert with one of Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiaries in the EU, as well as a regulatory manager and data protection officer with one of Liberty Global’s EU subsidiaries. Cristina is part of the European Data Protection Board ”Support Pool of Experts” List, as well as a Vice Chair of the American-Romanian Chamber of Commerce’s Data Protection Task Force and co-head of the firm’s task force on the Romanian National Council for Digital Transformation. In 2022 and 2023 she has been bestowed Lexology’s Client Choice Award for her Data Protection expertise
Opening remarks on behalf of RDCC:
Perry V. Zizzi – Managing Partner at Dentons Romania and President of the Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce
Perry V. Zizzi is the Managing Partner of Dentons Romania, head of the Corporate practice group in Bucharest, and a core member of the Real Estate team. He has over a quarter century of experience advising on M&A in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the US and elsewhere. He has particular expertise advising private equity clients and he is recognized as a market leader in real estate M&A. Perry is ranked “eminent practitioner” in the new edition of Chambers & Partners in the Real Estate sector. Clients value his input on complex mandates and describe him as “very supportive”, “always seeking to find a practical and fair solution with the minimum of fuss”
Panel 1. Emerging Market Trends in Real Estate Industry
Key topics:
- Market volatility and resilience: how interest rates, inflation, and global uncertainty are shaping asset values, tenant demand, and regional growth hotspots.
- Technological Advancements: how AI, blockchain, and data platforms are redefining asset management, transactions, and tenant engagement.
- Smart investment strategies: how investors are balancing risk and return through diversification, alternative vehicles, and ESG-aligned portfolios.
- Real-world impact stories: how standout developments, tech adoption, and repositioning strategies are driving measurable success across sectors.
Moderator:
Colin Lovering – Co-Founder & Managing Director at Lovering & Partners
Based in Romania for over 11 years now. Colin is International Business Partner for Brainovate Leadership Consultants as well as a well know Senior Advisor on Real Estate and Office design.
He is also a lecturer at the University of Bucharest plus a familiar face hosting and moderating major business events in Romania. As a Business performance Expert, Colin has trained CEO’s, Executives, Department Managers, Sales people and hundreds of professionals in North America, China, South Africa and right across Europe.
Speakers confirmed so far:
Vlad Costea – CEO & Founder at SIGTREE
Vlad Costea, CEO and co-founder of sigtree, a PropTech company transforming real estate with AI-driven selling, leasing and property management solutions. With a background in technology and product strategy, Vlad focuses on solving the industry’s most pressing challenge: how to turn digital traffic into real clients and tenants through automation and data-driven insights.
Mirela Calota – Director, Deal Advisory Real Estate and Transport Infrastructure, KPMG UK
Mirela is an experienced transaction support professional, with particular focus on financial due diligence and transaction advice in support of worldwide M&A deals. In her role as UK Transport Infrastructure Transactions Lead at KPMG in London, Mirela advises large institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and infrastructure investors on UK and pan-European deals involving airports, ports, rail, roads and transport operators. Mirela is also a Real Estate professional, having advised on deals across a large variety of real estate asset classes such as student accommodation, commercial offices, hospitality, retail/shopping malls, industrial/warehousing/logistics and residential, in the UK and across the world.
Olga Melihov – Chief Country Officer at MLP Group Romania
Olga Melihov is Chief Country Officer of MLP Group Romania, a renowned developer, owner and manager of industrial and logistics parks in Europe. She is a manager with over 20 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has led BNP Real Estate Romania as Country Manager, worked in Poland for the shopping center developer Mayland Real Estate, and in Russia as Branch Executive Manager of Seracom International Group.
She graduated from the University of Bucharest, completed master’s programs in Business Administration in Bucharest and an Executive MBA at Tiffin University (USA), and is currently studying at the Faculty of Psychology. Olga is an ICF-certified Professional Coach, working with managers and their teams, while also being involved in educational initiatives for youth. She is a native Romanian speaker and fluent in English, Russian, and French.
Victor Cosconel – Partner, Head of Leasing, Office, Logistics & Industrial Agencies, Colliers Romania
With over 20 years of experience in sales and executive management across multinational companies, Victor Coșconel has, since 2021, led Colliers’ strategy and business development for the Office 360 and Industrial divisions, serving as Partner | Head of Office 360 & Industrial, Romania. Throughout his career, Victor has built strong leadership and team management capabilities and a multidisciplinary approach to complex projects, with a consistent focus on added value and on addressing the needs of business partners, delivering outcomes to the highest standards of quality, on time and on budget.
Vlad Damian – Head of Advisory & Transaction Services | Investor Leasing at CBRE Romania
Vlad Damian is the Head of Advisory & Transaction Services | Investor Leasing at CBRE Romania, bringing over 15 years of experience in the commercial real estate sector. Throughout his career, Vlad has been directly involved in office leasing transactions totaling more than 200,000 square meters across Bucharest and Romania’s major cities.
As a trusted advisor to both landlords and tenants, Vlad has successfully represented a diverse portfolio of prominent international and local clients, including Cognizant, Allianz, Samsung, IWG, Sanofi, and Citi. His expertise spans strategic leasing, portfolio optimization, and market positioning, consistently delivering tailored solutions that align with clients’ business objectives.
Vlad is recognized for his deep market insight, strategic thinking, and commitment to fostering long-term client relationships that drive sustainable value within the Romanian office market
Panel 2. Building the Future: Accessibility and Inclusive Design in the Real Estate
Moderator:
Perry V. Zizzi – Managing Partner at Dentons Romania and President of the Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce
Perry V. Zizzi is the Managing Partner of Dentons Romania, head of the Corporate practice group in Bucharest, and a core member of the Real Estate team. He has over a quarter century of experience advising on M&A in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the US and elsewhere. He has particular expertise advising private equity clients and he is recognized as a market leader in real estate M&A. Perry is ranked “eminent practitioner” in the new edition of Chambers & Partners in the Real Estate sector. Clients value his input on complex mandates and describe him as “very supportive”, “always seeking to find a practical and fair solution with the minimum of fuss”
Speakers confirmed so far:
Mihai Tomescu – Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, former Secretary of State, National Authority for Persons with Disabilities (ANPD)
Mihai Tomescu is a Human Potential Expert, Social Advocate, Trainer, and an authority in Social Policy. With over 15 years of professional experience, Mihai is an Organizational Psychologist dedicated to transforming companies towards diversity and inclusion. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and has studied Law, complementing his robust academic background. Mihai has international academic experience, including a Master’s program at Erasmus University Rotterdam, conducted in English for experts, and short-term studies at the University of Bologna in Italy.
Mihai’s expertise extends beyond private companies and organizations, making him a well-versed connoisseur of national and international institutions involved in social projects and policies. In his governmental roles, Mihai has coordinated international projects, participated in high-level working meetings representing Romania, and collaborated with international institutions and experts, including the European Commission and the World Bank.
Mihai is deeply committed to transforming organizations towards diversity and inclusion and firmly believes in the human potential for inclusive growth.
Cătălina Cibotariu – CEE Chief Compliance Officer & HR Lead, I/O Partners
HR Innovator with a legal edge, helping companies create new frameworks, handle transitions and exits with dignity, while providing onboarding excellence and continuous employee engagement.
With over 17 years of experience, I bring an unique lens to HR, crafting tailored solutions that bridge Legal Compliance and Human Empowerment. Continuously melding Corporate, Labor Law and HR in a large variety of industries (Pharma, Oil & Gas, Production, Wellness, Real Estate), I use outside the box ideas that bring authenticity and help build stronger companies.
Ana Dumitrache – Managing Partner, Heaad Premium Consult
Ana Dumitrache is a real estate professional, with over 25 years track record on the Romanian market, high level real estate management consultant across all industry segments, Member of the Advisory Board of RICS. She has started her career as real estate banker, and since the beginning of the years 2000, for 18 years she has been involved in financing the local and CEE regional real estate players, with an on site hands on investment banking approach. In 2016 she has joined CTP Romania, initially as a co-country head, and then, after a short break, taking over the local CEO position and developing the company into an engaged market leader in its light industrial and logistic sector, with the support of the group CEO and shareholder, bringing it to next level real estate practice.
While breaking from CTP, Ana has leaded shortly CBRE investment division, getting involved into local and regional transactions.
Now she continues her real estate career, as a professional real estate and management advisor of some of the most influential real estate players on the Romanian market, on different asset classes, including residential and retail, urban regeneration and sustainable retrofit, but with a focus on the her area of high competence which is light industrial and logistic.
Contributing to the professionalism and maturity of the real estate market in Romania is the red line of her career which is also manifest in her joining the Advisory Board of RICS for Romania with the sole purpose of spreading best practices and sharing knowledge.
Victor Croitoru – Country Manager at Sentient
– Civil Engineer Degree from University of British Columbia + Business Administration from British Columbian University of Technology
– Currently Country Manager @ Sentient for past 8 years
– Country Operations Director at Romanian Office of Epstein Architecture and Engineering and Egis Romania.
– Partner Gardiner & Theobald Romania, over 8 years.
- Sentient is operating across CEE, Baltic and Caucasus countries, headquartered in Malta. In Romania Sentient is operating since 1998, office and local company established in the year 2000. In 2013 through management buyout of CEE operations from Gardiner & Theobald and was regionally renamed Sentient.
George-Alexandru Baltă, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Kaufland
George Baltă is a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist with a unique perspective shaped at the intersection of athletic performance and human resilience.
A former professional athlete, George transforms his life experiences into authentic lessons about courage, balance, and the power to see beyond limitations.
Through his work at Kaufland, he promotes the importance of embracing differences and creating an environment where every voice matters. With a deeply human approach, George inspires organizations to build inclusive, motivated teams connected through mutual respect and trust.
Bogdan-Cristian Voicu – Project Manager, Commercial Development Division, Skanska CEE
Bogdan Voicu has 30 years of experience as an engineer, certified project manager, technical consultant, certified site inspector, and certified trainer. During his vast career, he acquired the skills that allow him today to provide a large category of services in the technical field (MEP, HVAC, construction, IT, AV) and also in project management.
He joined the Skanska team in 2019, as Project Leader, where his mission was to ensure the project management of construction contracts, the testing and commissioning, the inspections, and the financial coordination.
In March 2023, he was promoted to Project Manager at Skanska’s commercial development division in CEE, currently being responsible for the development of the Equilibrium 2 project.
He truly believes that our industry role is crucial for the development of a sustainable future.
He plays a key role in Skanska Romania’s sustainability and stakeholder engagement efforts. He is actively involved in social responsibility initiatives, notably coordinating the company’s Blood Donation campaigns, which reflect Skanska’s commitment to community well-being.
In addition to his project management responsibilities, Bogdan serves as the primary liaison with certification bodies such as Access4You and WiredScore. He oversees the entire certification process, ensuring that Skanska’s developments in Romania meet the highest standards in accessibility, digital connectivity, and environmental performance.
Bogdan graduated University “Politehnica” of Bucharest with an Engineer diploma in 1996 and a Master’s Degree in the management of energy systems in 1997. Starting in 2009, he was certified in project management, training, and entrepreneurial competencies.
Key topics:
- Regulatory hard stop: practical steps to de-risk permitting, leasing and M&A ahead of the European Accessibility Act deadline.
- Certification as ESG currency: how Access4you, BREEAM-InUse and WELL cross-talk, and how third-party labels feed CSRD, GRESB and green-loan covenants.
- Retrofit economics: lessons from Mega Mall’s Gold upgrade and Globalworth’s 16-asset programme — capex, payback, tenant retention.
- Digital & physical inclusion: from tactile wayfinding and hearing loops to app-based navigation and digital-twin validation.
- Marketplace momentum: how events such as AccessABILITY Expo and Romanian Accessibility Awareness Day (RAAD) are seeding a local supplier ecosystem.
- Financing levers: structuring sustainability-linked loans and social-impact bonds that price in accessibility KPIs.
- Beyond mobility: designing for invisible disabilities, neuro-diversity and inter-generational use.
- Designing for Diversity/ Spotlighting Next-Generation Case Studies & Innovative Practices
- Embedding Accessibility from Blueprint to Build;
- Why Accessible Real Estate is Essential for 2025 and beyond
Panel 3. Sustainable Finance Instruments for Net Zero & Social Impact Real Estate
Keynote speaker:
Andrei Cristea – CEO & Founder Lion House Media
Andrei Cristea is the CEO of Lion House Media, a company that has been redefining standards in business media dedicated to the legal industry for the past 18 years.
Through Legal Innovation magazine and its Awards Gala, Lion House has set new benchmarks for recognition, visibility, and impact in Romania’s business press. A trusted media partner of the National Union of Bar Associations and the National Union of Public Notaries, Lion House continues to innovate, producing some of the most relevant publications and events in the legal and consultancy market in Romania and Eastern Europe.
Moderator: Stefi Ionescu – Senior Associate at Dentons Romania
Stefi Ionescu is an English and Romanian-qualified lawyer and a Counsel in Dentons’ international finance team, based in Bucharest. With more than 15 years of experience in finance law, Stefi has advised on a wide spectrum of real estate finance transactions across Central and Eastern Europe.
Her expertise includes advising on green and sustainability-linked financing, where she works closely with both corporate borrowers and sustainability coordinators to structure financing solutions that are helping to shape and refine these emerging instruments in the CEE market.
Stefi is ranked “associate to watch” and recommended as a “rising star” by the 2025 editions of Chambers & Partners and IFLR1000.
Speakers confirmed so far:
Oana Cojocaru – Sustainability Director at Globalworth
With more than 19 years of experience in banking and real estate, including seven years specializing in corporate finance with a focus on real estate and renewable energy, Oana brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Since joining Globalworth in April 2018 as an Investment Manager, Oana has efficiently managed all investments, capital markets, ESG initiatives, and standard reporting for our shareholders. Among these, she has been instrumental in expanding and enhancing our industrial portfolio. In her current capacity as Sustainability Director, Oana, a recent graduate of the Cambridge Business Sustainability Management Centre, is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy that aligns with our company’s core values and objectives. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, she is integrating sustainability principles into all aspects of our business operations while diligently monitoring and reporting on our sustainability performance.
Cătălina Popa – PR & Communication Head at North Bucharest Investments
Cătălina Popa is a marketing and communications leader with extensive experience in shaping strategies that drive business growth and strengthen corporate reputation. She builds distinctive brand identities, develops integrated campaigns, and ensures communication efforts align with strategic business objectives. With a proven track record of collaboration across international and local brands, her work consistently delivers measurable impact and long-term value.
At North Bucharest Investments, she leads PR and corporate communication initiatives that enhance stakeholder engagement and position the company as a trusted contributor to sustainable urban development. Combining cross-industry expertise in healthcare, real estate, and technology with a certified background in Societal Impact and Sustainability, Cătălina integrates strategic vision with purpose, advancing innovation, responsibility, and growth with lasting impact.
Ioana Martin – Business Development Manager of Andel Environmental
Luciana Giurea-Rosca – Head of Residential, AFI RomaniaLuciana Giurea was appointed as Head of the Residential Division, starting with January 2024.
Between 2019 and 2024, Luciana was the General Manager of AFI Ploiesti, AFI’s 2nd retail project in Romania, a 35 000 GLA shopping center.
Luciana joined AFI Romania in 2014, as part of the Leasing Department.
In 2017 she became Leasing Manager of AFI Malls Division Romania, dealing with the process of development and leasing for the entire retail portfolio including AFI Cotroceni, AFI Ploiesti and AFI Brasov.
Luciana has a Law Degree, has previously worked as a journalist and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Cristina Mihai, Head of Real Estate Structured Finance, Raiffeisen Bank
Cristina-Alexandra Mihai brings 18 years of experience in the banking sector, with a strong focus on real estate project financing over the past 15 years. For the past 10 years, she has been part of the Real Estate Project Finance Department at Raiffeisen Bank, where she has spent the last three years leading the department. Throughout her career, Cristina has been actively involved in structuring project finance loans for some of the largest real estate companies in Romania. Her areas of expertise include commercial real estate, residential real estate, and green real estate loans.
Outside of work, Cristina enjoys mentoring young professionals and teaching financial education in schools.
Key topics:
- Structuring green bonds, sustainability linked loans (SLLs) and blended finance deals for Romanian real estate projects.
- Selecting and negotiating KPIs & margin ratchets—energy intensity, embodied carbon, Access4You/LEED inclusiveness metrics.
- Linking financing to inclusiveness outcomes: affordable rent caps, youth housing quotas, universal design certification.
- Case study cascade: Romania’s €2 bn sovereign green bond → bank SLL products → developer level green construction loans.
- Navigating EU Taxonomy alignment, CSRD disclosure, and third party verification requirements in financing documents.
- Financing modular and 3 D printed housing solutions via social impact bonds and multilateral backed facilities.
We would like to thank our Partners!
Silver Partners:
Bronze Partner:
Strategic Partners:
Ambasada Sustenabilitatii in Romania
Wellness Partners:
Media Partners:
Kindly check the photo album here.
Read the full after-event press release here.
