Our company

We know that most of our industry measures success by transaction size and square footage, but we’re certain that there’s another, just as important dimension to it. It’s the reason we were founded, and it’s why we do what we do.

When we get together with our clients and partners, we put people and places at the centre of every decision. We look at the big picture, and we pay attention to the details. Together we create both investment and location strategies, find perfect spaces and great tenants, and bring all kinds of real estate projects to completion that not only make financial sense, but also become a catalyst for economic growth, social value and community impact.

We share a commitment to making great places for people. Because at the end of the day, even though we’re businesspeople, it’s the people part that’s really important to us.

In our reporting, we include the operational boundaries relating to wholly owned Avison Young offices. Affiliate offices represent a small proportion of our operations – they are treated separately for the purpose of this report and will be incorporated into our reporting over time.

This report is disclosed on an annual basis, with mandatory and performance data pertaining to the calendar year 2023. Periodically, we plan to update content related to projects and initiatives as a point of reference to reflect the latest status and outcomes.

We’re working to bring elements of our ESG reporting into closer alignment with our financial reporting (calendar year). We are also working towards and expect to adopt the inaugural International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards. While we recognize that we don’t meet all the criteria for each standard yet, our global ESG strategy (launched in 2022) sets out our commitment to aligning and maturing our reporting practices and increasing our disclosures in the years ahead.

To understand our stakeholder priorities, we worked with consultants to develop our global ESG strategy. In 2021, we undertook a materiality assessment following the guidelines laid out by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Following this in-depth materiality study, we identified priority areas within the ESG landscape that are the most important to our stakeholders and will have the biggest impact on our business. This formed the basis of our global ESG strategy.

The top priorities identified in the study were:

• Talent attraction, employee engagement and retention
• Diversity, equality and inclusion
• Health, safety and wellbeing
• Climate resilience and adaptation
• Green buildings and performance
• GHG emissions

Decisions taken relating to the management of impact in our organization are governed by the Board of Directors, a global executive committee and a global management committee, comprised of several executive leaders representing functions, service lines and country leadership across our global operations.

The ESG subcommittee, which adheres to our committee charter, is responsible for implementing the process for identifying, evaluating and reviewing our material topics relevant to our organization and selected stakeholders. Avison Young will undertake materiality reviews periodically in the future to ensure our strategy evolves in line with changing stakeholder priorities, risks and opportunities for maximum impact to, and arising from, our business and the value we create.

Our senior management are incentivized through the setting of goals and objectives and performance reviews. Performance- linked remuneration applies to the highest governance body within our organization.