As part of our interview series highlighting GRESB Accredited Professionals, we sat down with Antonio Messina, Managing Director, and Anna Rinaldi, Senior Sustainability Consultant, at E.S.G Solutions to discuss their journey with the credential, the insights they gained along the way, and how it has strengthened their ability to support clients.
What motivated you to pursue the GRESB AP credential, and what were you doing in sustainability prior to taking the exam?
Antonio: I have been delivering GRESB advisory since 2015, first as a Managing Consultant at Ramboll and since 2020 as Managing Director of my own firm—the world’s first company to employ a GRESB AP Real Estate Team Leader on the same day the scheme launched in 2024! I have always believed in investing in my staff’s professional development and innovation, linking probationary periods and annual performance reviews to GRESB AP Real Estate Team Leader certification and renewal requirements, while also making it mandatory in our employment contracts to attend all relevant online training courses made available during the reporting year.
Anna: I had been working in sustainability within the real estate sector since 2022, and after a full year of hands-on experience with the GRESB reporting process, I was already interested in deepening my knowledge. Taking the GRESB AP exam was something I personally wanted to do, but it was also encouraged by my company as part of my professional development. It felt like the right step to build on my experience and gain formal recognition for the work I was already doing.
Why was it important for you and your organization to gain this accreditation?
Antonio: In a context where many asset managers look for an off-the-shelf, “one-size-fits-all” solution, typically based on a “just-click-a-button-and-sort-your-GRESB-assessment” software proposition, we have focused our unique selling proposition on providing a friendly, customer-centric service offering based on our deep, granular knowledge of the GRESB Standards, guidance materials, and scoring mechanism, including aggregation of asset-level data. Getting formal recognition through the exam was therefore a must to differentiate ourselves from the competition.
Anna: It was important for me to be 100% confident in what I was doing and to make sure I fully understood all the critical points of the GRESB framework. The accreditation helped me go deeper and work more effectively. It also adds value for our clients by showing that we’re qualified to guide them through the process with real expertise and credibility.
Since becoming a GRESB AP, how have you applied the knowledge in your role or organization?
Antonio: In my unique role as a company’s Managing Director who has also been a technically competent GRESB practitioner for over a decade, I believe that becoming a GRESB AP has helped build—and maintain—my reputation as well as our company’s credentials in a very competitive industry where everybody compares notes and demands higher standards and expertise from their consultants. It has definitely helped me train younger staff to plan and execute GRESB and wider sustainability disclosure and reporting deliverables with confidence, which is appreciated by all stakeholders.
Anna: Since getting certified, I’ve used what I learned during the 2025 GRESB Assessment to give clients better insights and support. Understanding the framework more deeply helps me guide them and make sure their data fits the requirements.
Can you share examples where the GRESB AP experience helped you support assessment submissions, improve sustainability strategy, or communicate with stakeholders?
Antonio: Without sharing any confidential information, sitting for the exam has helped me determine which evidence was needed to validate certain disclosure statements, which data could be used for performance reporting and the associated impacts on overall scoring, which topics needed to be included in existing policies and procedures before the end of the calendar year to maximize future scoring, and which gaps needed to be filled to improve engagement with staff and tenants.
Anna: During the 2025 GRESB reporting period, my GRESB AP knowledge allowed me to provide clearer guidance to clients on how to collect and report their data accurately. I was also able to help identify key areas for improvement in their sustainability strategies by interpreting the framework more effectively.
What has been the most valuable part of earning the GRESB AP credential for you personally or professionally?
Antonio: The most valuable part has been gaining confidence in understanding the process and being able to explain the added value to clients. The industry recognition that comes with the credential has also been significant.
Anna: The biggest benefit for me has been the confidence it gave me. This confidence helps me support clients more effectively and strengthens my professional credibility in the sustainability real estate sector.