About

Prof François Viruly is a property economist with over twenty-five years’ experience in the analysis of the South African property market. Associate Professor Viruly lectures in Urban Economics, Property Development and Portfolio Management at the University of Cape Town in the School of Construction Economics and Management.

François held the position of Chief Economist at the Chamber of Mines. He was Head of Research at JHI Professional Services and Acting Head of School of the School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He was the President of the International Real Estate Society (2021-2022) and held the position of President and Executive Director of the African Real Estate Society.  He heads the UCT-Urban Real Estate Research Unit. He was a Non-executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee of the Accelerate Property Fund. He is the Director of Viruly Consulting Pty Ltd and a fellow of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

Prof Viruly has undertaken extensive research into the South African property cycle, the drivers of the South African property market and the relationship between urban economics and property markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. More recently his focus has shifted to sustainability in the real estate sector with a special emphasis on the “S” of ESG and an analysis of future scenarios for the South African Property market.

Gary is an urban and real estate specialist with over 20 years of experience, skilled in managing public and private assets. He has managed public and private real estate assets for large asset owners including the Public Investment Corporation and Ninety One. 

He joined the World Bank in 2014 and focused on leveraging the private sector into urban revitalisation and infrastructure projects, particularly in Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. 

Gary currently works as an executive developing real estate technology products for institutional property investors. He holds an MPhil in Urban Infrastructure and a BSc Hons in Property from the University of Cape Town, with certificates in Data Science from MIT and Public Policy from the LSE.

Alan is seasoned Property Development Manager with over 30 years’ experience in the built environment. In his career, Alan has worked as a Town Planner, Regional Planner, Housing Project Manager and Property Development Manager in both the public and private sector, gaining extensive knowledge in land management, development planning and property development. Alan holds qualifications as a Town and Regional Planner and Project Manager.

Leila has over 30 years of expertise in urban development across public and private sectors, including pioneering the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) in 2000 to manage and develop public properties. Her career began in the NGO sector in the 1990s before moving to the Gauteng Provincial Government in 1994. She led various urban planning and development initiatives in Greater Johannesburg and was instrumental in significant projects like Constitution Hill and Newtown. Leila co-founded Urban Sky-Walkers, a consultancy focusing on development management for major projects and advising public bodies. She later contributed to Kagiso Properties Holding in urban and development management, policy, and land development incentives. Since 2010, she has been an independent consultant in planning, housing, and urban management.

Leila holds an MSc in Development Planning from the University of Witwatersrand (1991) and an MSc in Cities from the London School of Economics (2023).