The Institute is governed by a Global Board of Directors, made up of member volunteers. The board is currently headed by the Global Chairman, Owen D. Thomas, chief executive officer of Boston Properties, a role previously held by Thomas Toomey, president and CEO of UDR. The organization is led by Global Chief Executive Officer W. Edward (Ed) Walter, who most recently served as the Steers Chair in Real Estate at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and CEO of Host Hotels and Resorts, Inc. Prior to Walter, the institute was led by Patrick Phillips, former president of ERA AECOM.