CSR Press Release

OXFORD, U.K., Sep. 03 /CSRwire/ - Industry & Investment New South Wales (IINSW) wanted to develop business for their companies in the Low Carbon Real Estate industry from the UK. To achieve their goals Kylie Hargreaves, Executive Director, International Markets and Trade IINSW, had numerous issues to overcome:

"One of the key challenges we face is finding ways to exchange timely, relevant intelligence with our target overseas markets without always having to jump on a plane. While it's great to do business face-to-face, it can be costly - both in terms of money, time and environmental impact - and usually limits the ability to share the information amongst only a few players."

2degrees, using their online community of sustainable business professionals, created an advisory board of leading UK real estate companies. The advisory board includes:

• Keith Bugden, Consultant, Hermes Real Estate


• Paul Toyne, Head of Sustainability, Bovis Lend Lease


• Martin Townsend, Director, BRE


• Paul Edwards, Susainability Director, Hammerson PLC


• David Farebrother, Environmental Director, Land Securities


• Matt Pumfrey, Technical Director SMS, Serco


• Martin Blake, Head of Sustainability, Royal Mail Group


• Andrew MacAskill, Supply Chain Director, Skanska

Using a combination of Cisco's Telepresence and Webex technologies the "expert voice of the UK market" was brought to over 30 NSW companies spread across NSW. Kylie Hargreaves said:

"The CISCO telepresence technology provided a superb, life-sized 'virtual' alternative to the physical boardroom and ensured a high degree of interaction and exchange. The webcast provided a great alternative for companies unable to travel into the CBD but still keen to hear directly from the UK experts.

"The success of the event was such that we are working with a number of NSW companies on follow-on opportunities in the UK commercial property sector."

During September around 15 NSW representatives will be visiting the UK to meet members of the advisory board and other real estate professionals from the UK. Events with roundtables, including one in association with The Guardian, and face to face meetings have been arranged through 2degrees.

For more information, please contact: