Emma Thomas is Head of ESG at Aware Real Estate, a property investment and management company for Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds with more than 1.3 million members. Emma works across Aware Real Estate’s portfolio to integrate ESG considerations into investment and asset management decisions, with a focus on enhancing resilience, supporting occupier needs and delivering sustainable long-term returns.
As investors look to deliver strong long-term returns, ESG considerations are increasingly influencing how industrial assets are designed, operated and managed. We spoke with Emma Thomas from Aware Real Estate about the changing role of ESG, workplace wellbeing and amenity in industrial and logistics property investment.
As a superannuation-backed real estate investor, how has your approach to industrial and logistics assets evolved as ESG and occupier expectations have become more closely linked?
As an active investment and asset manager, our focus is on delivering strong, sustainable risk-adjusted returns for members. In industrial and logistics, that increasingly means looking beyond the building itself and understanding what helps occupiers operate efficiently, attract and retain people, manage risk and grow over time.
ESG is not separate from investment performance. It is one of the ways we assess whether an asset will remain relevant, resilient and competitive. Energy efficiency, renewable energy opportunities, climate resilience, workplace quality and tenant experience all influence operating costs, occupier demand and long-term value and higher returns.
The shift has been from viewing industrial assets primarily as functional logistics facilities to seeing them as workplaces and employment precincts. The best assets are those that support both business performance and the people who work there.
What role do workplace amenities, health and wellbeing play when assessing the long-term investment performance and resilience of industrial assets?
Workplace amenity and wellbeing are becoming much more important in industrial real estate as these assets are not just industrial facilities but people-centric workplaces where operational performance is closely linked to employee wellbeing, productivity and satisfaction. The data tells us why this matters.
Australian truck drivers and transport, postal and warehousing workers face elevated physical and psychosocial risks, including psychological distress, fatigue, isolation, poor diet and chronic health conditions. One national study of 1,390 Australian truck drivers found 13.3% experienced severe psychological distress and 36.7% moderate psychological distress, while Comcare reported that more than 60% of drivers experienced fatigue while working.
So from an investor perspective, amenities are not cosmetic. Things like access to quality food options, outdoor recreational spaces, rest areas, safe pedestrian and vehicle movement, end-of-trip facilities, wellness initiatives and places to connect can help occupiers support their workforce. That can contribute to satisfaction, retention, productivity and ultimately stronger leasing outcomes.
Looking ahead, what opportunities do you see for super funds to influence the next generation of industrial precincts through responsible investment and active asset management?
Super funds such as Aware Super can help shape industrial precincts that are more resilient, efficient and attractive places to do business. While superannuation capital is invested with a long-term horizon, Aware Real Estate is focused on actively creating and capturing value. These goals work together to create better performing precincts and stronger investment outcomes.
For us, the question is not simply how an asset performs today, but whether it will remain relevant, competitive and attractive to occupiers in the future. If we can enhance the quality, resilience and appeal of a precinct, that supports current performance.
What supports occupiers includes energy performance, electrification, climate adaptation and connectivity, but it also includes the experience of the people who use these estates every day. At Crosspoint Industria, for example, the precinct has been designed to deliver a café, outdoor spaces, natural watercourses, communal areas, outdoor seating, BBQ facilities and a running track, alongside strong connectivity to major roads, the airport and cargo precinct. Crosspoint has been conceived as an employment destination, not simply a collection of warehouses.
For me, the opportunity is to keep asking a practical question: what do workers and tenants need on site, and how can the estate make their day easier, safer and more productive? In a sector where tenants are competing for labour and worker wellbeing is increasingly important, those factors can influence attraction, retention and productivity. That is where active asset management can create value for occupiers, investors and, ultimately, super fund members.
At the Industrial Real Estate Summit 2026, Emma Thomas will join the panel Occupiers: Optimising Workplace Amenities and the Precinct, exploring how workplace design, wellbeing and ESG initiatives are strengthening tenant relationships and supporting long-term performance across industrial and logistics portfolios.
Download the Agenda to view details on Emma’s session and the two-day program.
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