Stephen Gaitanos Named Industry Figure of the Year: Asia-Pacific at the PERE Awards

Stephen Gaitanos, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Living Company, has been named Industry  Figure of the Year: Asia-Pacific at the PERE Awards 2025, recognising his leadership in scaling one of the  region’s most integrated living-sector investment and operating platforms. 

The award honours individuals shaping the future of private real estate. In 2025, that recognition reflects Mr  Gaitanos’ role in advancing a fully integrated model that brings together capital, operations and brand – positioning The Living Company at the forefront of institutional investment in living strategies across Asia Pacific. 

Commenting on the win, Stephen Gaitanos said,

“This award isn’t about a single deal or moment – it’s  about building something that lasts and reflects the collective effort of our team and the strength of our  platform.” 

“In volatile markets, investors are increasingly prioritising integrated platforms that align capital,  operations and brand. That alignment is where long-term value is created,” he added.  

The award follows a defining year for The Living Company, marked by material platform expansion and  several landmark milestones under Stephen’s leadership, together with co-founder Craig Carracher  including: 

• The establishment of its open-ended Core PBSA Fund, providing long-term institutional capital  with scalable exposure across living strategies. 

• The formal transition of the business to The Living Company, reflecting its evolution into a multi sector living specialist. 

• The landmark A$3.85 billion acquisition of Aveo, one of the largest direct real estate transactions in  Australian history. 

• Expansion of its build-to-rent portfolio through the acquisition of Marrickville Timberyards, the  largest BTR development project in inner-city Sydney.

Together, these transactions expanded the firm’s footprint across student accommodation, build-to-rent  and retirement living – reinforcing its conviction that long-term value is created when capital, operations,  brand and resident experience are fully aligned. 

Mr Gaitanos was recognised for delivering disciplined growth during a period of global uncertainty marked  by tighter capital conditions, elevated costs and shifting investor expectations. 

Completing a transaction of the scale and complexity of the Aveo acquisition in that environment required  speed, operational depth and strong capital alignment. Rather than retreating amid volatility, The Living  Company leaned further into its integrated model – maintaining close oversight of assets while preserving  flexibility and trust with capital partners. 

“Real estate today is operational,” Mr Gaitanos said. “Performance is driven on the ground – by teams who  understand customer experience, local markets and brand. Integrated platforms are better equipped to  adapt, execute and outperform through cycles.” 

Mr Gaitanos emphasised that the award reflects the collective contribution of the firm’s cross-functional  leadership team, including co-founder Craig Carracher, alongside investment, asset management, brand  and operational specialists. 

“Our ability to source, structure and execute complex transactions at scale is only possible because of  deep collaboration across disciplines,” he said. “That integration is our competitive advantage.” 

The factors recognised by the PERE Award – clarity of vision, disciplined execution and platform thinking – position The Living Company strongly for the year ahead. 

As markets recalibrate, global capital is increasingly seeking managers with proven local execution  capability, scalable operating platforms and aligned brand strategies. The Living Company’s platform has  been deliberately designed to be exportable across markets and living verticals. 

“Our ambition is to build the Earth’s best living company,” Mr Gaitanos said. “We develop and acquire great assets, operate them exceptionally well, and align long-term capital with resident experience.

When  capital, operations and brand work seamlessly together, value compounds over time.”