SINGAPORE – Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree” or “the Group”) and the Singapore Management University (“SMU”) concluded its fifth Mapletree Real Estate Forum at SMU, bringing together close to 90 SMU students, industry professionals, real estate practitioners and members of the public on 20 March 2026.

Addressing this year’s topic, Asset Allocation in Turbulent Times, keynote speaker Mr George Agethen, Managing Director of Real Estate for Asia-Pacific and Latin America, La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) and panellist Mr Chua Tiow Chye, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Mapletree, shared how investors can navigate heightened volatility through disciplined portfolio construction, prudent risk management and a focus on long-term value creation.

Drawing on more than 25 years of global capital-allocation and market-cycle experience, Mr Agethen highlighted, “In today’s volatile and uncertain environment, asset allocation has become far more complex and consequential for long-term investors. From an institutional perspective, the objective is not to predict every turn of the cycle, but to remain disciplined in portfolio construction, risk management, and execution. Real estate continues to play an
important role in diversifying portfolios, but investors need to remain selective and strategic about where capital is deployed and why.”

Mr Chua added, “As real estate investment becomes more global, effective deployment into sectors and markets requires a clear understanding of market trends and risks, amid current geopolitical and interest rates volatility. At Mapletree, we create long-term value through our integrated capabilities as a developer, investor, capital and property manager – combining diversification, strong on-the-ground presence and disciplined operational execution – focused on delivering consistent and attractive returns across real estate asset classes for our investors and stakeholders.”

The insightful panel session, moderated by Professor Zhang Hong, Professor of Finance, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, SMU, further explored the different trends and strategies of asset allocation amid a volatile environment. Participants gained deeper industry knowledge and perspectives on diversification and resilience in allocation strategies, and on their prospects in the real world.

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree, said, “Mapletree’s longstanding partnership with SMU reflects our commitment to empowering tertiary students in their educational journey. We are proud to continuously support a platform that encourages curiosity, critical thinking and meaningful industry engagement. Initiatives like this forum equip students with valuable insights and perspectives that will shape the next generation of real estate investment leaders.”

The forum is part of the Mapletree Real Estate Programme at SMU which aims to nurture and equip future leaders in real estate. Aligned with Mapletree’s Corporate Social Responsibility Education pillar, the programme was launched in 2018 with a S$3 million endowed donation and enhanced in 2021 with a S$2.5 million contribution.

The Mapletree Real Estate Programme also supports overseas study trips to broaden students’ exposure to global real estate markets. To date, more than 200 undergraduates and postgraduate students, along with academic staff have visited Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. The programme provides a strong foundation in real estate, finance and investment, preparing students for future-ready careers in the industry.

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