Panel Discussion by Lands and Survey Department on Tech-Driven Transformation Revolutionizing the Cayman Islands Land Administration System. From left to right – Andrew Edwards, NGIS Manager, Sophia Williams, Registrar of Lands, Uche Obi, Director of Lands and Survey, Ruth Watson, Chief Valuation Officer and Darren Kelly, Chief Surveyor

The 6th Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Real Estate and Construction Conference, hosted by the Department of Lands and Survey, was held at The Ritz Carlton Resort, Grand Cayman, on 15 March 2024. The biennial event brought together a myriad of real estate and construction professionals, including realtors, developers, valuers, quantity surveyors, along with representatives from various government departments.

The conference, themed “The Future of Proptech,” focused on the integration of technology in the real estate and construction sectors, aiming to foster innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. With over 250 attendees, the conference provided a platform for knowledge-sharing and networking among industry stakeholders.

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly delivering her welcome address

Keynote speakers included Laura Birrell, CEO & Co-Founder of Parallel, who discussed “Proptech in the Cayman Islands,” and Chris Smith, Chair of Americas World Regional Board, who delved into “AI’s Impact on PropTech Transformation”. Panel discussions explored topics such as the power of AI, blockchain, and tokenization in Proptech, as well as insights from industry pioneers on current market trends in the Cayman Islands.

Premier Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly delivered an insightful speech highlighting the Cayman Islands Government’s commitment to fostering development and innovation within the real estate and construction sectors. She emphasized the importance of embracing technology, making strategic investments, and creating an enabling environment for growth.  The Premier and Minister responsible for Lands expressed, “As we navigate through the discussions and sessions of this conference, I challenge each one of you to be agents of change, to embrace the best systems, including Proptech, and to drive positive transformation within your respective spheres.”

Panel Discussion on Insights from Industry Pioneers on Current Market Trends in the Cayman Islands. Simon Watson, Principal & Founder at Charterland (Moderator). James Bovell, Broker & Owner at Bovell of RE/MAX. Lou Dimitrov, Real Estate Economist, Manager at Dart Jeremy Hurst, Founder & Owner at IRG. Adam Johnson, Partner at Appleby. Khadene Lobban, Branch Manager at RBC, Matt O’Keeffe, Senior Real Estate and GIS Analyst at Dart

Commenting on the success of the conference, Uche Obi, Director of the Department of Lands and Survey, stated, “The RICS conference serves as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation within our industry. We are committed to leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and transparency in land administration and development, ensuring a sustainable future for the Cayman Islands.”

The conference also featured breakout sessions focusing on various aspects of technology adoption in real estate and construction, including project management, property management systems, and facility management solutions.

RICS conference attendance

As the conference concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to driving positive change within the industry. The event underscored the importance of embracing technology and collaboration in shaping the future of real estate and construction in the Cayman Islands.

For more information about the conference and future events hosted by the Department of Lands and Survey, please visit www.caymanlandinfo.ky