International Strata Conference 2025: ESG in Community Associations

This past week, Matt Ober, Esq., CCAL, CAI International President Elect, had the honor of joining the Association of Strata Managers (ASM) at its Annual International Conference in Singapore, September 17th through 19th, 2025.

Matt spoke to the Conference about the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and its ongoing efforts toward Building Community internationally through environmental, social and governance ("ESG") policies and practices. Led by ASM President Teo Poh Siang, the Conference brought together industry leaders, governmental representatives, Strata managers to explore the evolving landscape of ESG in community associations. We covered such topics as:

1) Community association's environmental impact.

2) Social responsibility of community associations to create inclusive common areas with enhanced amenities (including community gardens!).

3) Governance policies and practices that support transparent leadership and accountability leading to greater resident trust in their leaders and managing agent including, clear communication, financial reporting and resident opportunity to participate in the community conversation.

The three-day event brought together community managers and industry leaders from Singapore, China, Malaysia, Spain, Dubai, and the United States, including our CAI friends Pepe Gutiérrez, Francis G., and Ameya Mhatre.

There are approximately 5,000 registered Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) communities in Singapore, the legal body responsible for managing and maintaining the common property of a strata community.  Approximately 18% of Singapore's dense population lives in a strata community, comprising 330,000 residential condominium properties, managed by 500 Accredited Strata Managers. These managers were skilled, knowledgeable, passionate, and eager to share best practices in governance, community engagement, environmental policies, and the overall well-being of their residents.

Like CAI's community managers, they are concerned with elevating the community association management profession and managing their own daily stresses of working with residents in communities. Manager wellness transcends cultures, languages, and borders. We shared CAI's successful 50-year journey elevating the management profession through educational excellence, ethical standards, transparent leadership practices, effective advocacy, and compassionate community engagement.

Despite cultural differences, we shared best practices for many common concerns including training and education, workplace stress, neighbor-to-neighbor disputes, civility, enforcement and attracting new talent to the community management workforce.

The conference culminated in a Gala Awards Night honoring outstanding achievement by accredited Strata managers. Oh…did I mention what a beautiful country Singapore is?

Thank you Poh Siang Teo, PBM, Chay Ling, and the entire ASM team. Congratulations on a successful Conference 2025.