Senaatti’s Long-time Head of Strategy, Kaj Hedvall, is bowing out

“It is time to say goodbye. After being involved in PuRE-net for from almost the very start and having enjoyed every moment.”

“The network came into being in 2007 when Carlo Petagna from Italy summoned colleagues to Rome to initiate a network of public real estate organizations. To my recollection, my first meeting was in London in 2008.

I have participated in most annual meetings and in several working tables (Strategy and FM) since then. Every annual gathering had its own unique flavor, although the basic ingredients are the same. The real treat has always been the interesting discussions between the participants during the informal parts of the gatherings.

As a participant and in the role of a SC member, I have learned a lot about myself and about my organization through all the insightful interactions I have had with colleagues. In addition, there has been real hands-on value of the network over the years. Whenever there has been a discussion of the role or legal framework of our organization, the network members and the annual survey have provided direct and rapid sources of information and insight in how things have been done elsewhere.

A remarkable thing is that working tables were a central part of PuRE-net from the beginning. The first working tables started up in 2008 and they’ve developed into one of the many strengths of the network. They have grown in scope and in number over the years. Some of them have been active since beginning, while others have been shorter in their lifespan, but they have all served their purpose. This purpose extended beyond the topic at hand: during the hands-on workshops friendships have emerged that have continued for many years.

The Strategy working table was initiated by Carsten Jarlov, director general of the Danish member, in 2008. The idea was to compare strategy paradigms across the member organizations and to analyze and make educated guesses about the trends emerging. This working table is still part of the network and Denmark continues to participate actively in the core group. The hypothesis at that time was that public real estate organizations would transform into more businesslike structures and that portfolios would be privatized. It is safe to say in hindsight that we were wrong, but the question of our future role and emerging strategy paradigms is still as relevant as twenty years ago.

Next year PuRE-net will celebrate its 20^th anniversary. I am sure that the founding members - Carlo Petagna, Carsten Jarlov and Aulis Kohvakka (Finland) - are/would be very happy and proud with how tremendously well PuRE-net has developed.  I am positive that there will be at least 20 more prosperous years for the network.

Thank you for all the joyous moments together — wishing you every success ahead!”   ~Kaj

For many years, Kaj was an active participant in PuRE-net. He was seen off during his last WT Strategy, November 2025 in Edinburgh, by Peter Torp from Denmark (middle) and Morten Dybesland from Norway (right) (Photo: Sook)