Arlene Dedier joins Avison Young as leader of project management services
Avison Young (AY), a global commercial real estate services firm, has hired Arlene Dedier as principal, EVP, and Canadian practice leader of project management services.
Based in Toronto, Dedier will be responsible for scaling up AY’s project management offering for office, industrial, retail, and institutional clients as part of the firm’s real estate enterprise solution. Dedier will accelerate the practice’s growth with acquisitions, recruiting, new business development, and building up existing talent.
Dedier brings three decades of experience in project management, commercial real estate, and architecture. She joins AY from Colliers, where she spent the last 11 years and latterly served as a director in the firm’s project management unit. In the role, Dedier led teams across Canada supporting owner clients with the delivery of real estate projects on time and within budget. She also served as North American executive champion of diversity and inclusion.
“Arlene is a remarkable talent and will be a valuable part of our team of more than 160 project managers in markets across North America,” said Sheila Botting, head of professional services in the Americas region, Avison Young. “In this newly created role, Arlene will substantially increase our overall market offering of consultative solutions, showing why she’s best in class at providing sage, forward-looking counsel to occupier and investor clients navigating their evolving real estate, development, and construction requirements.”
Before Colliers, Dedier spent three years in JLL’s Washington, DC office, where she was a senior project manager and market lead for the hospitality sector in the Mid-Atlantic region. Dedier also previously spent nine years at OPX, a DC-based design consulting firm, where she was a senior associate.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Carleton University and is a certified project management professional. Dedier was recognized with a 2020 Catalyst Canada Honour, Business Leader Award for her work in building an inclusive and diverse team at Colliers.
“I’ve watched Avison Young’s phenomenal growth in recent years, demonstrating a desire to build upon its solid foundation, including a team of high-quality talent,” said Dedier. “I’m looking forward to helping expand upon this success, and on honouring the firm’s commitment to putting people first, by motivating and inspiring others to reach their full potential and to exceed client expectations.”
AY also this month hired Marie-France Benoit as director of insights for the Canadian market.
