Data Centres: The Perfect Investment? Global Insights from Industry Leaders

Data Centres have moved from the periphery of niche investment to become the undisputed "hottest topic" in global real estate. As the world pivots toward AI-driven economies, the line between traditional property and essential infrastructure has blurred. This raises a fundamental question for the modern investor: Are data centres the "perfect" asset class, or is the hype hiding significant operational hurdles?

Join us for a panel session where we will dive into the global landscape to unpack the complexities of this high-stakes sector, moving beyond the buzzwords to examine the raw data driving the market.

Our experts will provide a full view of the sector, tackling the tension between unprecedented demand and physical constraints:

• The Identity Crisis: Is a data centre a "shed with power" (Real Estate) or a "utility for the digital age" (Infrastructure)? How does this classification change your valuation and exit strategy?
• The Capital Wave: We’ll analyse the massive levels of "dry powder" currently sidelined and the global value movements shifting the market.
• Supply vs. Scarcity: While demand is skyrocketing, the sector faces a "perfect storm" of shortages. We’ll discuss the bottleneck of supply and the fierce competition for prime locations.
• The Ethical & Operational Audit: A candid look at the "Cons"—from the staggering energy and water consumption to the increasingly difficult planning permissions and the reality that these massive sites provide limited local employment.

The Panel

We are proud to host a selection of the industry’s most influential voices, chaired by a leading academic mind in the field, Alex Moss, Associate Professor & Director, Real Estate Centre, Bayes Business School.

PJ Bouten, Managing Director, Guggenheim Securities

Representing one of the sector's most active investment banks, PJ offers the "deal-maker’s" perspective, following Guggenheim’s role as lead financial adviser in the landmark $40bn sale of Aligned Data Centers to BlackRock/GIP/MGX.

Manjari Govada, Managing Director, DigitalBridge Investment Management

Manjari Govada, is a Managing Director and Head of European Digital Investments at DigitalBridge Investment Management. Ms. Govada is based in London and focuses on evaluating and managing European digital infrastructure investments and opportunities.

Josh Joshi, Council Member, City St Georges

A 25+ year veteran of the European and US datacentre industry. Most recently Chairman of AtlasEdge, operating partner at DigitalBridge and in the past CFO of Interxion and Telecity.