Mark Fookes (AMP 178, 2010) is head of investment management at The GPT Group, a Sydney, Australia, firm that manages $9.8 billion of Australian retail, office, and industrial property assets. As Fookes describes it, GPT is a pretty special organization. “The culture here is wanting to achieve the best, and it is a very collaborative approach,” he explained to the Australian (August 20, 2011). “People from all areas of the business get involved, and that brings a raft of ideas.” The firm is also notable for its activity in the community, “investing millions of dollars, and with nearly one-third of employees volunteering their time to help out with community-based organizations,” the Australian reported. In 2010, for the second year in a row, GPT was selected as the Real Estate Leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.

With more than 20 years of experience in the property industry, Fookes is responsible for the overall investment performance of GPT’s high-end shopping center, commercial office, and industrial and business park portfolio. “We have substantial development pipelines on our balance sheet and a quality office portfolio,” he noted. “We constantly ask ourselves how we can deliver the best investment returns for the long term.”

Of his AMP experience, Fookes told the Australian, “It was intense learning. There were 150 people from 33 countries across a spectrum of companies. It certainly helped widen my view of business, and it was a great learning environment. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone.”

Asked to elaborate on these comments, Fookes explained, “One of the key takeaways for me was how the AMP highlighted the benefits of a well-balanced team, avoiding group think, and embracing alternative points of view. Often I would read a case and think I had the answers. I’d later discuss the case with my living group and realize that I may have taken a narrow view of the issues. The next day the discussion in class from other participants and the faculty would stretch my thinking even further. I’m now conscious of including a wide range of input from inside, and often outside, of our organization into key areas of strategy development.”

For Fookes, a special highlight was Professor Tom Piper’s Corporate Responsibility class. “Each case was extremely relevant to navigating the gray areas of business we all face today. Professor Piper always kept us on our toes, and his classes continued as talking points for us.” Fookes said his AMP experience re-energized him and made him want to keep his skills up-to-date. Indeed, he returned to HBS earlier this year to attend an investment management workshop. And for Fookes, this may still be early days in his professional growth: “I’ve never been satisfied with my own career,” he said. “I’m trying to forge firsts in business whenever possible.”

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