Gunnar Branson is the CEO of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), an essential forum for high value thought leadership from institutional real estate leaders around the world. With over thirty years in commercial real estate, Gunnar’s perspective on real estate innovation, change, and investment opportunities help to drive the discussion for AFIRE and many other groups.  He is the publisher of the award-winning AFIRE Summit Journal and host of The AFIRE Podcast.

Throughout his career, Gunnar has focused on innovation and change in commercial real estate. Before joining AFIRE he served as CEO of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM), and before that, led strategy, innovation, and marketing for Fortune 500 and mid-market companies.  

Gunnar is a regular speaker, writer, panelist, and spokesperson for the global real estate and investing community, focused on institutional investing, urbanism, sustainability, and future trends. He has appeared on a TEDx stage, on television news such as CIBC and Bloomberg, and interviews real estate thought leaders as the host of The AFIRE Podcast.