Mr. Branson is the CEO of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), an essential forum providing high-value thought leadership for real estate leaders from around the world. AFIRE’s members includes nearly 180 leading global institutional investors, investment managers, and supporting partners from 23 countries representing approximately US$3 trillion in real estate assets under management (AUM) in the US.

Through events, research, publishing, and analyses of real estate capital markets, geopolitics, economics, urbanism, technology, and future trends, AFIRE’s members gather around a shared mission to help each other become Better Investors, Better Leaders, and Better Global Citizens.

As CEO Mr. Branson brings over three decades of experience across commercial real estate, professional services, education, and association leadership.

Prior to joining AFIRE in 2018, 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.

As a recognized thought leader, 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 interviews real estate thought leaders on The AFIRE Podcast.