Talking Property with CBRE

Australia's office sector is entering a new phase, with strong demand for premium workplaces, evolving occupier expectations and growing pressure on future supply.

In Part 1 of our special office series, host Kathryn House sits down with Amanda Steele, Head of Property at IFM Investors, and Fiona Denison, Head of Asset Management, Office at Charter Hall, to explore the forces reshaping the market.

Together, they discuss why high-quality office assets are outperforming, how AI is influencing workplace strategy, the growing importance of sustainability and electrification, and why the office has become a destination designed around experience, wellbeing and collaboration.

In this third edition of The House View for 2026, Phil Rowland and Sameer Chopra revisit the Australian real estate outlook after a volatile first half shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, sticky inflation, higher interest rates and the Federal Budget.

Despite these headwinds, the Q2 data points to a more resilient market than many expected. Investment activity rebounded, leasing demand remained strong in key office markets, cap rates were broadly stable, and rent growth continued to surprise on the upside - particularly for prime, well-located assets.

Phil and Sameer explore why fundamentals such as supply and demand continue to matter most, how a constrained development pipeline is supporting rent growth, and what the Federal Budget could mean for private capital flows into commercial real estate. They also discuss the impact of AI on office demand, the outlook for construction costs and economic rents, and why access to quality stock in quality locations remains a defining theme for occupiers and investors.

The episode closes with Sameer’s key predictions for the second half of 2026.

In this special edition of Talking Property, the first to be recorded in front of a live audience, CBRE's Global Head of Research, Dr Henry Chin, explores the forces reshaping global real estate.

From the outlook for global capital flows and investor sentiment to the growing influence of AI, data centres and productivity challenges, Henry shares his perspective on where the biggest opportunities and risks are emerging. The conversation also revisits Henry's well-known comment that Australia was in "La La Land" two years ago when it came to asset repricing, and whether his view has changed amid shifting market conditions.

Tune in for insights on supply and demand dynamics, the global flight to quality, return-to-office trends, and what investors, occupiers and developers should be watching over the next 6–12 months.

Large Format Retail (LFR) has come a long way from its early “big box” beginnings. Once considered a more volatile, discretionary retail asset class, the sector is now attracting stronger attention from investors, landlords and retailers - supported by resilient consumer demand, low vacancy, constrained new supply and more than $100 billion in annual retail sales.

CBRE’s National Director of LFR Leasing, Shane Cook, and CBRE’s Pacific Head of Retail Property Management, Sheree Griff, unpack what’s driving the sector’s momentum in this latest episode of Talking Property.

They discuss why LFR is increasingly becoming a convenience and lifestyle story, how tenant demand is evolving across wellness, pet, entertainment and home categories, and why new concepts such as Kmart Home and Restoration Hardware point to the next phase of growth.

They also explore the sector’s investment appeal, the impact of planning and supply constraints, and why physical retail remains highly relevant in categories where consumers still want to see, touch, compare and experience products in person.

If you want to know more, you can read CBRE’s new Large Format Retail Outlook report.

What if art could do more than just decorate an office - what if it could boost productivity, strengthen culture, and make people want to come to work?

In this episode of Talking Property with CBRE, we explore the growing role of art as a strategic tool in modern workplaces. With organisations under pressure to “earn the commute,” art is emerging as a powerful way to transform offices into engaging, human-centred destinations.

Host Kathryn House is joined by Shehan Wijayawardana from Mallesons, Emilya Colliver from Art Pharmacy, and CBRE’s Jenny Liu to unpack how thoughtfully curated art collections are influencing everything from employee wellbeing and creativity to client experience and brand identity.

Drawing on real-world insights from Mallesons’ Sydney office transformation, the conversation reveals how art can:
Enhance workplace culture and storytelling
Create more memorable and engaging client experiences
Support talent attraction and retention in a competitive market

The key takeaway? Art is no longer a finishing touch. It’s becoming a core part of how organisations design spaces that perform.