CBRE strengthens Victorian Capital Markets team with Kate Pilgrim appointment

CBRE has appointed Kate Pilgrim as Senior Director, Capital Markets Office, further strengthening the firm’s Victorian platform following the recent appointment of Senior Director Sam Harrison.

Ms Pilgrim brings more than two decades of commercial property experience and a deep network across Victoria’s occupier and investor markets. She most recently served as Victorian Managing Director and Joint Head of Tenant Representation at JLL, having returned to the firm in 2024 after serving as Head of Customer and Marketing - Office at Charter Hall.

Before joining Charter Hall, Ms Pilgrim spent 17 years at JLL in advisory and leadership roles spanning occupier representation, corporate real estate and transaction management.

She will work in partnership with Mr Harrison, who joined CBRE from investment banking firm Barrenjoey, where he advised on complex real estate transactions, capital raising and funding solutions.

CBRE Pacific Head of Capital Markets Flint Davidson said the appointments combined complementary capabilities at a pivotal point in Melbourne’s office market cycle.

“Kate brings exceptional local knowledge, occupier insights, outstanding institutional relationships and complex negotiation skills, while Sam brings strong technical and capital markets expertise that has resonated with investors,” Mr Davidson said.

“Together, they form a formidable partnership and provide a highly credible, sophisticated alternative in the Melbourne office investment market.

“We believe Melbourne is positioned to benefit from improving investor sentiment. The market offers compelling relative value, and leasing fundamentals are strengthening, with the Eastern Core recording some of the country’s strongest net effective rental growth.

“Those conditions are creating opportunities as the market resets, and Sam and Kate give us the right combination of capital markets capability, local insight and intuitive occupier insights to help investors capitalise as confidence and transaction activity rebuilds.”

Ms Pilgrim said the opportunity to help build CBRE’s Victorian Office Capital Markets business was a strong drawcard.

“CBRE has a highly regarded platform and the opportunity to work in partnership with Sam and the broader team was compelling,” Ms Pilgrim said.

“Melbourne is entering a pivotal phase and I’m looking forward to helping clients identify opportunities and deliver strong outcomes.”