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With flexible workspaces being heralded as the “evolution of real estate”, JLL has beefed out its team specialising in the growing sector to keep up with the forecast surge in demand.
The global commercial real estate services announced that Josh Alfafara had been appointed as the flex solutions lead for Australia and New Zealand, as flexible spaces become a growing must-have for commercial landlords.
Mr Alfafara, who has more than 12 years of experience in the commercial real estate sector in positions across the globe, will join JLL from The Executive Centre and will be working alongside head of flex space Tashi Dorjee at the firm’s Sydney office.
Mr Dorjee stated that the team expansion comes as JLL recognises that flexible workspaces — which initially began as a platform for freelancers and start-ups — are now being prioritised by owner-occupiers and, in turn, by commercial landlords as part of their competitive strategy.
“Flexible space is the evolution of real estate. Landlords are incorporating flexible space in their buildings, and we are increasingly seeing them prioritise it as an essential feature,” he said.
According to JLL’s latest Global Flex Space Report published in March, 41 per cent of tenants expect to increase their use of flex space or space operated by third-party flexible office operators, including traditional serviced offices as well as co-working space, as part of a post-pandemic work strategy.
And while most offices remain primarily traditional, flexible office spaces are forecast to expand rapidly over the next decade with JLL predicting 30 per cent of office space to be flexible in some capacity by 2030.
In an answer to this forecast flex space boom, JLL established its Flex platform in 2021 and currently has three locations in the country.
Mr Dorjee described Mr Alfafara’s addition to the Sydney team as complementary, given the latter’s experience in setting up flex businesses in Australia and the Philippines.
“Growing our team is an indicator of the occupier demand we are seeing for flexible space, which is a growing sector that is helping shape the future of office,” he stated.
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