APREA Connect Hong Kong: What’s Next in the Year of the Horse?

Sigrid is the Chief Executive Officer of Asia Pacific Real Assets Association (APREA). Based in Singapore, she is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, initiatives and operations of the association across Asia Pacific. Under her leadership, APREA repositioned to an industry trade group focusing on real estate and infrastructure.

Sigrid joined APREA’s executive team in January 2019.

Prior to APREA, she served as Managing Director of Asia Pacific Research and Advisory Services of Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) from 2010 through 2018, where she was responsible for research, thought leadership, strategy formulation and client management.  Before relocating to Singapore, she was based in Washington, D.C. and led C&W’s U.S. research group in the Mid-Atlantic region, overseeing all aspects of market research activities in the Washington, DC; Virginia; Suburban Maryland, Baltimore; and Philadelphia areas. Prior to joining C&W, Sigrid served as a Senior Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In that position, she developed NAR’s office, warehouse, retail, multi-family housing, and international research programs.

A recognized expert in global economic, public policy and real estate issues, Sigrid is a frequent speaker at industry events.  Her commentary on commercial and residential real estate markets is also regularly featured in a wide array of global publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, New York Times and Reuters. Additionally, she has made several television appearances on financial networks and radio such as CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, National Public Radio and Channel News Asia.

Sigrid holds a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and a Master’s degree in Economics from Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of several civic groups including the Rotary Club of Raffles City in Singapore, where she has served in various leadership positions, and serves in the Executive Committee of the Crohn’s & Colitis Society of Singapore.

Background 

Marcos joined CBRE in 2014 and is currently Executive Director and Head of Research for Hong Kong S.A.R. 

Marcos oversees a team of research professionals, covering key property sectors in Hong Kong. He also works closely with the China, Asia Pacific and Global Research teams to proactively drive CBRE’s ongoing objective to produce first-class industry insight, research and analysis for CBRE clients. Marcos is a member of CBRE’s Asia Pacific Research Executive Committee. 

Professional Experience 

With over 25 years of property market experience, Marcos is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He has held various leadership positions in top global surveying firms, including CBRE and JLL, where he led Research teams in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Marcos has also led research consultancy projects for corporate occupiers and investors. In addition, he worked for a Hong Kong developer, conducting pre-acquisition financial analyses and feasibility studies for investment opportunities in local and overseas real estate markets.

Marcos possesses a profound understanding of the real estate market in the Greater China region and is well-versed in occupier trends and landlord requirements due to his strong research background in real estate agency. He is an active property market commentator in the media.

Pro Affiliations / Accreditations

• Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Hong Kong Licensed Estate Agent (EAA License No. E-207829)

Education

• Master of Science (Real Estate), University of Hong Kong
• Bachelor of Economics, University of Sydney

Brenda Yip is Head of Strategy and Corporate Finance at Link REIT, where she leads corporate strategy, M&A and the group’s corporate finance activities. Over the past decade with Link REIT, she has held roles across investments, capital transactions and portfolio management, playing a pivotal role in the REIT’s business expansion into Mainland China and international markets.

Before joining Link, Brenda worked at Citi and Standard Chartered as real estate investment banker and real estate financier, advising corporates, investment managers, and private equity firms on equity and debt capital markets transactions, corporate and structured finance, capital raisings and mergers and acquisitions. She began her career in investment banking and later worked with the Asian investment arm of Soul Patts.

Ms. Kong is the Managing Director and CIO of SCGC Realty Capital, and is a member of SCGC’s infrastructure REITs investment committee. Prior to joining SCGC, Ms. Kong worked at CITIC Securities focusing on REITs, ABS and Private Equity Real Estate.

Ms. Kong has rich practical experience in real estate fund and REITs. She has successively designed and launched the first three private REITs products in China’s capital market. As an external expert of the regulatory departments, Ms. Kong was deeply involved in the policy research process of China’s infrastructure REITs. Also, she successfully led the issuance of Yantian Port REIT, one of the first batch of 9 infrastructure public offering REITs.

Ms. Kong holds dual master’s degrees in Finance and Management from Peking University.

Mr. Jonathan Chau is Head of Capital Markets Hong Kong and Head of the Investment Property & Private Office at CBRE Advisory Hong Kong Limited.

Professional Experience 

Jonathan is a seasoned property investment specialist with extensive experience in commercial en‑bloc transactions, development sites, and strategic advisory for private and institutional clients. A graduate of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, he began his career with Savills (Hong Kong) Limited, starting in the Investment Department before expanding into the Commercial En‑Bloc and Development Site Sales team.

Throughout his career, Jonathan has played a key role in executing numerous market‑defining transactions. His involvement in major disposals—including 68 Yee Wo Street, Trade Square, the Merrill Lynch Portfolio, Fitfort, and 169 Electric Road—established his reputation as a trusted specialist in the Hong Kong investment market.

He later led the Projects and Business Integration (PBI) team, driving key innovation initiatives and supporting a substantial portfolio of transactions exceeding HK$35 billion. His leadership enhanced operational efficiency and solidified his standing in the investment market. Jonathan then went on to head the Investment Private Office, providing bespoke investment strategies and disposal services—including Private Treaty, Tender, and Public Auction—to High‑Net‑Worth Families, Institutional Funds, and Boutique Developers, with a strong focus on confidentiality and long‑term client relationships.

Jonathan joined CBRE Advisory Hong Kong Limited in 2020 and now serves as Head of Capital Markets Hong Kong and Head of Investment Property & Private Office.  His leadership continues to drive innovation and enhance performance across CBRE’s capital markets platform in Hong Kong. In his current capacity, Jonathan oversees the day‑to‑day operations of the unit, including client relationship management, project delivery, research coordination, and major capital transactions, while ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, bespoke advisory services across the Hong Kong property investment landscape.

Pro Affiliations / 

Accreditations

• Licensed Estate Agent in Hong Kong (License No. E-235473)

Education

• Bachelor Degree of Arts in Communication from the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada