Knight Frank has raised Jenna Wallace to Partner and named her National Head of Occupier Strategy and Solutions in Australia, uniting leadership of its Global Portfolio Solutions (GPS) and Tenant Representation divisions under the newly consolidated Occupier Strategy & Solutions (OSS) framework.
This restructuring follows ongoing expansion in the firm’s occupier services division, though the company has not yet outlined how day-to-day operations for agents or tenants will adjust. Wallace joined Knight Frank in February 2024 as head of GPS for Australia and New Zealand, and her new responsibilities now include oversight of both GPS and Tenant Representation—an alignment with the firm’s strategy of delivering unified client solutions.
With over 15 years in occupier-focused real estate, Wallace previously led CBRE’s Occupier Accounts and Workplace Consulting unit in Australia and New Zealand. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade at Knight Frank before departing in 2014. Outside her role at Knight Frank, she serves on the boards of CoreNet Global Australia and the Property Council of Australia.
Knight Frank Australia CEO James Patterson described the promotion as validation of Wallace’s ability to support teamwork and deliver results for clients. “Since joining this year, Jenna has quickly demonstrated her capacity to spot opportunities across our occupier platform while prioritizing client needs,” Patterson stated.
Wallace emphasized that businesses now demand advisers capable of managing the entire real estate lifecycle, from strategy to execution. “I’m committed to working with our teams to expand this platform and meet clients’ changing demands,” she said.
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The appointment signals a broader industry movement toward consolidated advisory services rather than piecemeal transactions. Unlike previous mergers in commercial real estate, where firms primarily combined transactional divisions, this trend prioritizes sustained client partnerships over individual deals. The test for Knight Frank will be whether it can merge these teams effectively without creating internal divisions.
Wallace’s expertise in workplace consulting and portfolio management supports the firm’s aim to deepen collaboration between GPS and Tenant Representation. Still, the absence of concrete details on client engagement leaves open whether this restructuring will yield measurable advantages for occupiers.
Knight Frank has not released specific financial goals or performance benchmarks for the OSS platform, instead emphasizing qualitative improvements like “enhanced team coordination and market insights.” The promotion occurs as Australia’s commercial real estate sector handles rising pressures from hybrid work arrangements and evolving tenant priorities.
Wallace’s dual leadership role marks a key shift for the firm’s occupier services, though the long-term impact on client experience remains uncertain.
