Who is Chang Lily? A Taiwanese woman becomes president of the World Real Estate Association; how will she solve the "inadequate housing" crisis for 3.4 billion people?

Photo/Treasure Dragon Construction President Chang Lily officially took over as the FIABCI World President, becoming the first Taiwanese representative to lead a major international real estate organization. She will promote international cooperation and sustainable urban development based on the concept of "Love & Sharing." (Provided by Treasure Dragon Construction)

As high housing prices, an aging population, and climate risks simultaneously impact urban development, housing issues are no longer merely a discussion of living costs, but a global challenge affecting economic growth, social stability, and national competitiveness. According to UN-Habitat, 3.4 billion people worldwide currently live in inadequate housing, with an annual housing investment gap of $3 to $4 trillion, indicating a continuously expanding global housing crisis. Against this backdrop, the 76th FIABCI World Congress will be held in Vienna, Austria, from June 8th to 12th, 2026, bringing together real estate leaders, government representatives, investment institutions, and international organizations from around the world to discuss key issues such as the housing crisis, urban governance, climate resilience, and sustainable development, hoping to find solutions for the next generation of urban development. Notably, Taiwan also witnessed a historic moment in this global dialogue. Chang Lily, Chairperson of the Taiwan FIABCI World Congress and President of Treasure Dragon Construction, officially assumed the presidency of FIABCI, marking a significant step for Taiwan's real estate industry onto the international decision-making stage. In the face of the escalating global housing crisis, the increasing number of young people delaying marriage due to unaffordable housing costs, and the accelerating impact of climate change on urban development, what key messages did this Vienna conference release? And what new directions do the observations from the United Nations, international organizations, and industry leaders reveal for future housing policies, urban governance, and sustainable development? With Chang Lily officially taking the helm of FIABCI, how will she lead this important global real estate organization to address the housing and urban development challenges of the next generation?

The 76th FIABCI World Congress will be held from June 8th to 12th, 2026 at Hilton Vienna Park in the heart of Vienna. This year's event will focus on the core theme of "ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation)," aiming to bring together real estate developers, investment institutions, government representatives, and international organizations from around the world for in-depth discussions on issues such as the housing crisis, urban resilience, sustainable investment, and cross-sectoral cooperation.

Among the many topics discussed, the global housing crisis was arguably the most pressing concern for the participants. This is because most cities across Europe, the Americas, and Asia face common challenges such as soaring housing prices, increasing housing burdens, and demographic shifts. This makes striking a balance between market mechanisms, public interest, and sustainable development a core issue that the global real estate industry urgently needs to address.

Photo/As a representative of the world's most livable cities, Vienna is renowned for balancing housing equity, cultural preservation, and urban development. This year's FIABCI World Congress also took place here, facilitating a global dialogue on the future of housing. The photo shows a street scene in Vienna, Austria. (Provided by Treasure Dragon Construction)

Cooperation is key to solving the global housing crisis! FIABCI acts as an international bridge, connecting governments, industries, and communities to create a shared future.

"The housing crisis cannot be solved by the government alone! FIABCI joins hands with UN-Habitat to establish a multi-stakeholder participation mechanism from the early planning stages."

The key figure at the conference who first raised this issue was none other than Antonio Campagnoli, the outgoing president of FIABCI. He pointed out that the global housing crisis has exceeded the scope of what governments can solve alone; therefore, given the reality of the ever-widening global housing gap, deep involvement of the private sector is undoubtedly the only solution to fill this historic gap.

Especially in the past, the image of businesses pursuing maximum profits often led developers to be seen as driving up housing prices and exacerbating housing problems, creating a persistent conflict with housing justice. Therefore, Antonio Campagnoli earnestly stated, "What truly needs to change today is not simply restricting corporate profits, but rather establishing a new model of cooperation that allows public and commercial interests to coexist."