Key Takeaways
- • Justin Blaess co-founded Quay Global Investors in 2013 with Chris Bedingfield; the firm won Global Property Securities Fund of the Year at the 2025 Money Management Fund Manager of the Year awards.
- • Quay Global Investors manages approximately $600 million in assets under management with a concentrated portfolio of around 24 listed securities focused exclusively on global real estate.
- • Blaess brings 20+ years of investment management experience, including prior roles at Deutsche Bank's investment banking division, Merrill Lynch, and ING Investment Management (where he managed $2+ billion in listed real estate assets).
- • The firm employs a low-turnover, highly concentrated investment strategy anchored in tangible real estate assets across multiple geographies, targeting consistent long-term total returns.
- • Blaess's investment philosophy emphasizes stability and income generation from physical assets—using examples like the Empire State Building's near-century of sustained income production to illustrate the durability of quality real estate investments.
Summary
Justin Blaess is co-founder and co-portfolio manager of Quay Global Investors, a specialized listed global real estate investment firm recognized for excellence in the sector. Founded in 2013 alongside Chris Bedingfield, Quay later established a partnership with Bennelong Funds Management. The firm was honored as Global Property Securities Fund of the Year at the 2025 Money Management Fund Manager of the Year awards, marking significant industry validation of its investment approach and track record.
Quay Global Investors operates with approximately $600 million in assets under management, maintaining a disciplined, concentrated portfolio structure of around 24 listed securities. This focused approach reflects a deliberate strategy of low turnover and selective position-building rather than broad diversification. The fund provides institutional and professional investors access to listed real estate opportunities spanning multiple geographic markets, with the explicit objective of delivering attractive total returns over extended investment horizons.
Blaess brings substantial institutional experience to the role. He spent 20 years in investment management roles, including time at ING Investment Management where he managed over $2 billion in listed real estate strategies and generated peer-leading returns recognized by multiple industry awards. His background also includes investment banking experience at Deutsche Bank in Australia, where he participated in international real estate transactions, and equities research and portfolio management roles at Merrill Lynch.
The firm's investment thesis centers on tangible asset backing and long-term income generation. When articulating the rationale for concentrated global real estate exposure, Blaess emphasizes the durability of quality properties and their capacity to produce consistent returns across extended periods, citing the Empire State Building as exemplifying this principle—a property generating income nearly 100 years ago and continuing to do so today. This philosophy underpins Quay's focus on geopolitical risk management and the selection of premium real estate assets globally.
Quay Global Investors operates with approximately $600 million in assets under management, maintaining a disciplined, concentrated portfolio structure of around 24 listed securities. This focused approach reflects a deliberate strategy of low turnover and selective position-building rather than broad diversification. The fund provides institutional and professional investors access to listed real estate opportunities spanning multiple geographic markets, with the explicit objective of delivering attractive total returns over extended investment horizons.
Blaess brings substantial institutional experience to the role. He spent 20 years in investment management roles, including time at ING Investment Management where he managed over $2 billion in listed real estate strategies and generated peer-leading returns recognized by multiple industry awards. His background also includes investment banking experience at Deutsche Bank in Australia, where he participated in international real estate transactions, and equities research and portfolio management roles at Merrill Lynch.
The firm's investment thesis centers on tangible asset backing and long-term income generation. When articulating the rationale for concentrated global real estate exposure, Blaess emphasizes the durability of quality properties and their capacity to produce consistent returns across extended periods, citing the Empire State Building as exemplifying this principle—a property generating income nearly 100 years ago and continuing to do so today. This philosophy underpins Quay's focus on geopolitical risk management and the selection of premium real estate assets globally.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.