David Fogarty is a renowned personality sustainability leader making a prominent mark in the real estate sector throughout the Asia-Pacific region. With more than 25 years of global experience from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, Fogarty serves as Head of Sustainability and ESG Consulting at CBRE Singapore. To him, sustainability is more than a professional label or a trend to be emulated; it is the external manifestation of a lifelong commitment, born of an abiding respect for nature and a sense of responsibility to future generations.
From his early years surfing and hiking in the wilderness to his present position leading regional ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) efforts for one of the world’s largest real estate firms, Fogarty’s path has been characterized by a distinctive intersection of personal purpose and professional action. His tale is not merely a reflection of the changing story of sustainability in business, but also a compelling demonstration of resilience, vision, and the strength of collective impact.
Early Convictions, Lifelong Mission
Fogarty’s commitment to sustainability did not start in a corporate boardroom, but beneath open skies. His upbringing was spent hiking, camping, and exploring outdoors-activities that sparked a passion for the natural world and an intense ethical mandate to preserve it. These formative moments of discovery and awe set the tone for his worldview and laid the groundwork for a lifetime of purpose: integrating sustainability into the very fabric of the built world.
This affinity with nature would later be the beacon for his professional mission. “We have a responsibility to our future generations,” Fogarty insists —a tenet that still informs his work and leadership philosophy. For him, sustainability is not a box to be ticked or a compliance exercise; it is an ethical responsibility and a commitment to those who will inherit the world we build today.
Building the Foundations: Australia to Asia
One of the defining moments in Fogarty’s career was in 2011, when he spearheaded the launch of Australia’s first-ever Sustainability practice within CBRE’s Property Management business. This was a daring and visionary step, placing Fogarty at the vanguard of ESG integration in the Asia-Pacific region.
By 2016, Fogarty sensed an opportunity to take this vision even further. He moved to Singapore, with a mandate to develop CBRE’s Asia Sustainability business from scratch. What started as a small two-person unit soon expanded into a powerhouse team of 27 experts in Singapore, with over 75 spread across the broader APAC. Worldwide, CBRE today has over 1,000 ESG professionals —a benchmark of both market needs and the innovative, forward-looking leadership that Fogarty personifies.
“The early days were tough,” Fogarty recalls. “There was a lot of climate denial, and sustainability was often seen as a costly afterthought. But through evidence-based value creation and relentless advocacy, we’ve shifted that narrative. Now, sustainability is seen as a source of competitive advantage and long-term value,” he adds.
Fogarty took a pragmatic and tenacious approach. He concentrated on establishing credibility through results —demonstrating how sustainability could underpin operational effectiveness, increase asset value, and address changing investor, tenant, and regulator expectations. This emphasis on value creation broke through skepticism and fixed sustainability as a primary business imperative.
Leadership Evolved: Strategic, Inclusive, Purposeful
Leadership, in Fogarty’s view, has been a path of self-discovery and evolution. In his early years in the profession, he was action-oriented with urgency —often acting spontaneously, taking bold measures to push forward sustainability efforts. With time, his leadership became more reflective, strategic, and inclusive, with a foundation rooted in the ideals of collaboration and systems thinking.
“I’ve come to appreciate the importance of different perspectives and working together to solve complex problems,” he explains. “The nuances of sustainability require both urgency and careful consideration.”
Fogarty’s values —Trust, Respect, Courage, Resilience, and Integrity-are the foundation of his leadership philosophy. They not only inform how he leads teams but also contribute to building credibility with clients, partners, and stakeholders. “Sustainability is a team sport,” he stresses. “It’s not a departmental plan; it’s a cultural shift that must seep into the entire organization.”
He feels that good leadership in sustainability involves empowering others, building a sense of common purpose, and generating a setting where accountability and innovation can flourish. Fogarty is dedicated to leading by example —showing that purposeful, principled leadership can both achieve business success and good societal outcomes.
The ESG Imperative: Challenges and the Path Forward
With sustainability taking center stage in the corporate agenda, fresh challenges are bound to crop up. Fogarty is prompt to remind us that higher visibility does not necessarily translate into maturity. “We’ve moved from being on the fringes to being in the center spot —but with higher expectations. Now we must deliver tangible, quantifiable results.”
Among the industry’s most urgent issues, Fogarty identifies ESG greenwashing risk, disparate reporting standards, and the temptation to view ESG as a short-term fad instead of an enduring transformation. He demands higher transparency, unified frameworks, and data-driven responsibility across sectors.
“We must go from intention to action,” he maintains. “Stakeholders are demanding impact, not promises. And for that, we require transparency, live data, and a culture of ongoing improvement”.
Fogarty is a vocal supporter of the use of strong ESG metrics and the embedding of sustainability within core business practices. He is convinced that only by measuring rigorously and reporting truthfully can organizations establish trust and show progress. “The future of ESG is about accountability and results,” he states. “It’s about making a tangible difference, not just talking about it.”
Technology, Data, and the Future of the Built Environment
Looking forward, Fogarty sees a future where technology, human health, and sustainability come together to create smarter, more responsive environments. At CBRE Singapore, he is leading the charge in initiatives that leverage data analytics, IoT networks, and digital platforms to enhance sustainability performance in real estate.
“Intelligent buildings that adjust to the needs of their occupants in real time —that’s the future,” predicts Fogarty. “We are headed for a digitally empowered, low-carbon economy, and we need to speed that process along.”
This vision extends to energy efficiency. Sustainability, to Fogarty, is not just about energy efficiency. It’s about making spaces where people can flourish —spaces that foster health, well-being, and productivity. “Sustainability is about building spaces where people can flourish, not just get by,” he says. “It’s about increasing the quality of life for all the people who experience the built environment.”
Fogarty is most enthusiastic about the ability of technology to reveal new possibilities for innovation. With the use of advanced analytics and real-time data, organizations are able to optimize building performance, minimize environmental impact, and provide improved outcomes for occupants and communities.
Although Fogarty’s strategic impact is worldwide, his influence is also significant at the grassroots level. In Singapore, he has been instrumental in building a thriving community of sustainability practitioners, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing across industries. He is also strongly committed to mentoring the next generation of ESG leaders.
“Contribution and community aren’t values—they’re the basis of what I do,” Fogarty replies. Through training initiatives, industry forums, and sponsorship of next-generation talent, he inspires younger professionals to be bold, curious, and responsible in their application of sustainability.
His message to future leaders is direct and convincing: “Know your industry’s higher purpose. Form meaningful connections. Take smart risks. Be a lifelong learner. And above all, lead with purpose.”
Fogarty feels that developing talent and building community are key to creating lasting change. By empowering others and the exchange of knowledge, he aims to create a new generation of leaders who will carry on the legacy of sustainability.
Culture Shift: Embedding ESG into Business DNA
One of Fogarty’s greatest accomplishments has been his contribution to repositioning sustainability as a strategic pillar, not merely a compliance initiative, at CBRE and in the industry at large. His work has served to catalyze a sea change in organizational culture—embedding ESG considerations into decision-making at all levels.
“Sustainability is not someone else’s responsibility,” he says. “It must become everyone’s. It’s a path that demands awareness, engagement, and alignment from the boardroom to the front line.”
Fogarty recognizes that cultural transformation seldom comes easily. “There are always speed bumps along the way. There’s resistance and blowback. But we keep moving forward, because the stakes are too high to be satisfied with the status quo.”
He is a strong supporter of the transformative power of storytelling and shared vision. By articulating the business case for sustainability and celebrating successes, Fogarty has been able to build momentum and a sense of shared ownership throughout the organization.
The Climate Clock is Ticking: Urgency Meets Opportunity
Fogarty’s career is motivated by an increasing feeling of urgency regarding the twin crises of climate change and loss of biodiversity. However, he is fundamentally underpinned by optimism through his belief in human ability for innovation and adjustment.
“This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about legacy,” he ponders. “Each choice we make today determines the world we leave behind. If we succeed, ESG can be the driver for reimagining our cities, our economies, and our relationship with the planet.”
He is inspired by the collective energy and dedication of his peers and the broader sustainability community. “Surrounded by committed professionals, I am optimistic. We are building something much bigger than ourselves together.”
Fogarty is especially heartened by increasing convergence between business goals and public good. He views ESG as a compelling force for good—one that can unleash innovation, generate value, and shore up resilience in the face of global challenges.
A Leader of Conviction and Vision
David Fogarty embodies the best of what the modern sustainability leader looks like: purposeful, pragmatic, and visionary. His journey—from a youth who loved camping to the Asia Director of Sustainability for one of the world’s top real estate firms—is a testament to courage, determination, and the power of influencing change at scale.
Through thoughtful and profoundly human leadership, Fogarty has enabled the shift in sustainability from an afterthought to a central business imperative. His legacy is not just in the teams that he has assembled or the systems that he has developed, but in the thousands of people he has inspired to view sustainability not as a limitation, but as a possibility.
In a world characterized by climate catastrophe and breakneck speed, Fogarty is a beacon of resiliency, integrity, and unshakeable optimism. And, as he points out, the work is far from done: “We must keep pushing boundaries. Sustainability is a journey—and every step forward matters.“
