The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has appointed Barbara Cominelli, CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in Italy and the EMEA Retail Markets Lead, as the next chair of ULI Italy.

Cominelli, who has been a member of the ULI Italy Executive Committee since January 2022, succeeds Emanuela Recchi, president of Recchi Engineering, and officially began her term September 1, 2024, serving on a voluntary basis for the next two years.

Since 2020, Cominelli has led JLL Italy with a focus on accelerating the company’s growth and supporting the development of the industry, driven by technological innovation and the green revolution.  Previously, she was the Deputy CEO and Marketing and Operations Director at Microsoft Italy, and before that was on the Global Senior Leadership team at Vodafone Group, serving as Director of Digital, Wholesale and Operations in Italy.

Under the leadership of Cominelli, a key priority for ULI Italy will be to reinforce the Institute as a focal point for sustainable transformation, particularly by supporting the decarbonization of the real estate sector and accelerating progress towards net-zero emissions. Another of her priorities will be to focus on the social impact of the built environment in terms of regeneration, asset repurposing and repositioning to fit with the new way we live and work and fostering inclusivity by developing new housing solutions.

In addition, technology and digital innovation will remain a pivotal focus with opportunities from AI set to transform the sector, and a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) will continue to be central to ULI Italy’s focus on creating an environment where women, young talent, and professionals from diverse backgrounds can excel across the built environment.

Outgoing chair Emanuela Recchi welcomed her successor’s appointment: “Barbara’s commitment to technological innovation, sustainability and DEI in the industry fits perfectly with the mission and values of ULI. I am confident that under Barbara’s leadership, ULI Italy will continue to thrive and deliver an excellent programme offer for our members. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone I’ve worked with at ULI for their support and collaboration during the last three years in my role as Chair. It has been a deeply valuable experience for me, both personally and professionally. I’m confident that the whole ULI community will continue to be a place where the present complexities facing our industry are tackled and is enriched by the drive to shape the future and foster knowledge.”

Barbara Cominelli comments: “I am truly honoured to be appointed as the new Chair of ULI Italy, with the privilege of advancing ULI’s mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative community impact worldwide. I commend my predecessor, Emanuela, for her outstanding leadership over the past three years, enhancing ULI Italy’s membership and solidifying its strategic role in the Italian built ecosystem. We are witnessing a transformative period in real estate, redefining spaces for today and the future. I’m excited to be able to lead these vital conversations as Chair of ULI Italy, aligning with ULI’s mission to connect diverse members, inspire equitable and sustainable practices, and lead in solving community and real estate challenges.”

Lisette van Doorn, CEO of ULI Europe, said: “My sincere thanks to our outgoing Chair Emanuela Recchi for her vision, leadership, commitment to our mission and very important contribution to ULI’s ongoing success in Italy, and not least for the recent success of our European Conference in Milan, as a result of which ULI’s membership in Italy has grown to over 250 members.”

“I am also very pleased to welcome Barbara Cominelli, an active member of ULI Italy who brings more than 25 years of senior level experience working prominently in real estate and technology, to her new role leading our National Council in Italy. Her vision for ULI, commitment to its mission, and strong network in Italy ensures that she is extremely well placed to lead ULI Italy. We’re all looking forward to working with her and the local Executive Committee in further developing ULI’s presence in Italy, consolidating and leveraging the recent growth and further expanding our membership and knowledge base.”

Anne Kavanagh, Chair of ULI Europe, added “It is an honour to welcome Barbara into the role of chair, and I look forward to working with her at a European level as she works to further the mission of ULI in Italy, engage our members and respond to some of the biggest challenges that our industry faces across the continent.”

Cominelli is Vice President of Assoimmobiliare, the largest Italian Real Estate Association, responsible for Digital and Innovation, serves on the Strategy Board of Iliad, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Federmanager and Il Sole 24 Ore.  She is passionate about driving digital and sustainable transformation in the industry, and is a strong champion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and participates in several non-profit initiatives aimed at empowering youth and women.

ULI is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

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Notes to Editors

About the Urban Land Institute

The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has over 48,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.

In Europe ULI has almost 5,500 members across 15 National Council country networks.

For more information on ULI, please visit https://europe.uli.org and https://italy.uli.org