The RO Group has appointed Ana Bajri as its first head of Sustainability. A technical expert in the property sector, her experience lies in real estate and the built environment, with a strong record of understanding and navigating ESG issues in a commercial environment.
She joins the RO Group from Countrywide Surveying Services, where she has been responsible for creating and implementing sustainability strategies and the integration of ESG principles across the business. Her key successes included developing and leading programmes to upskill over 500 surveyors on energy efficiency, and delivering and presenting a suite of webinars on sustainability, Net Zero carbon and ‘green mortgages’.
Prior to that she was a senior Technical manager at Countrywide, where she drove compliance and managed risks for the surveying division, and was responsible for product innovations, desktop valuations and sustainability. She consulted with lenders on sustainability issues, specifically around climate change.
She joined Countrywide from RICS, where she worked for close to a decade. As Associate Director, International Property Standards, she worked on sustainability and environmental matters – notably leading the development of the RICS Responsible Business Framework – a global best practice document which provides an approach towards embedding ESG considerations into the management of real estate, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) to minimise negative impacts on society and the environment. She also developed the sustainability strategy for RICS and advised on ESG commitments.
Ana Bajri said: “Among its many sustainable endeavours, the RO Group has made notable investments across its diverse portfolio, which include renewable energy initiatives, as well as cleantech businesses that not only improve the eco credentials of RO-owned buildings, but also properties across the country. The various start-ups in which the Group has invested include companies which reduce heating-related carbon, and water and energy usage. I am delighted to be joining the Group, and to help lead the next phase of development of our sustainability initiatives.”
