the Field trip

Kim is a former COO of both Cox Architecture and Architectus with involvement in projects including The Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the Singapore Marina Bay Helix Bridge.  But Kim's career took an interesting turn about 5 years ago when she was prompted into action, beginning her transition from architecture into the world of politics.

We speak with Kim about this transition, what it is like to be a local member, and how this differs from her life in the private sector.

This discussion opened a can of worms of innovation at the grass roots level in Redlands, including an autonomous bus pilot program currently underway, and a collaboration with QUT (Queensland University of Technology) to test technology which creates hydrogen fuel for vehicles, ultimately for export overseas.

A wide ranging and engaging discussion.

In the latest episode of The Field Trip podcast, we speak with Stephen Kho of Micro Focus.

Micro Focus provides big data analytics and data security solutions to some of the world’s biggest companies, including Uber and Facebook.

Stephen talks us through some of the problems he helps customer overcome (which became a crash course in enterprise data security!) and then goes on to explain practical applications of big data by taking a deep dive into three different industry use cases – airports, aged care, and public transport.

So if you are keen to understand more about the foundational technologies that underpin the hype, and like to see how different industries are applying data to solve their biggest problems, I think this is worth a listen.

On the day of recording Louise was appointed the Program Manager for Technology and Innovation for real estate, for AMP Capital. Louise started her career as an electrician in the mining industry, moved into real estate facilities management to ultimately lead that function for AMP Capital, and has now combined these skills, her industry know-how and executive savvy to take the lead for a mission-critical strategic initiative for one of Australia’s most significant landlords.

Louise shares a wide range of insights, from the practical to the forward reaching, and sets the stage for what will be a (the?) major battleground for commercial real estate players over the next decade and beyond.

In the second episode of the Field trip podcast, we talk to Jim Groves, CEO of Rubberdesk, the leading online marketplace for flexible office space in the Australian market.

With current listings exceeding 15,000 desks, Rubberdesk is injecting flexibility of use into the traditional commercial leasing framework, benefiting landlords and tenants alike.

What I found most interesting, however, was the community aspect to Rubberdesk - how it is facilitating strong and diverse business networks amongst its hosts and users - organically built from the ground up.  This led into a discussion about the untapped potential of suburban office precincts, both now and into the future.

In our kick-off episode, we talk about co-working now and in the future, with leading tenant advocate, Steve Urwin of Kernel Property.  And it is hard to have that discussion without continued reference to the biggest show on the global stage, weWork!

Steve explains who is actually using these type of services, how different industries differ in their approach to flexible office space, how weWork is growing its focus on big enterprise, and what the crystal ball is telling him about the future of it all.

Steve also shares his passion for environmental causes, and how Kernel Property embraces this passion in its approach to its own office space.

Notes from the podcast

Law firm use of offices - UK vs Australia (4:45)

Law firm vs accounting firms - approach to space generally (6:40)

weWork does not look like a tech startup space! (9:05)

Who is using co-working spaces in Australian market? (11:00)

weWork's enterprise model (12:20)

Co-working spaces are taking smaller tenants from traditional office landlords (14:02)

Traditional landlords are being cautious with their 'flexible' space offerings (16:40)

Discussion on some current traditional landlord flexible space offerings - DEXUS Place, Space & Co (GPT) (17:15)

Law firms are not factoring in co-working providers as part of their space planning (20:10)

Deloitte is requiring its new Melbourne landlord to provide a common use function space (23:45)

The importance of brand to internalising function space (24:00)

Law firm partnership structure drives a different type of decision making to traditional corporates (24:50)

Law firms are becoming consulting firms (26:10)

Is ‘big tech’ culture impacting the style of the traditional workplace? (28:00)

Sit-stand desks need to be available to all, or not at all (31:15)

What is weWork trying to be? (33:00)

weWork's recent capital raising and valuation (33:30)

weWork's enterprise business (33:50)

weWork's use of SPVs and higher bank guarantees on leases (35:45)

weWork's potential longer term play - will it remain a lease intermediary, or become the virtual layer between landlord and tenant? (37:30)

IWG (owner of Regus) - comparison of valuations with weWork (40:20)

IWG changing its business model to align more with weWork (42:00)

Steve Urwin, the environmentalist (45:20)

Sophia Skarparis - amazing young Australian conservationist, driving the ban of plastic bags in NSW (46:50)

Dr Michael Seo of CSIRO's Graphene Membranes group - developed a carbon nanomaterial "GraphAir" (derived from simple waste oil) - a filtration membrane with potential future application in every household (47:15)

Don't offer Steve a plastic bag!! (47:50)

The benefits of reusing office fitout - the beginnings of a sequel? ;)  (48:20)

Field helps owners of commercial real estate (and law firms advising them) better understand their lease portfolios, delivering analysis through our proprietary platform.  Better insights, sooner - a source of truth for all stakeholders - enabling faster and lower risk transactions and better operational management.  You can reach out to us here.