Rory Hunter is an Entrepreneur, Founder, and CEO of multiple award-winning, sustainable property companies across Australia and South-East Asia. He brings a planet-conscious and people-centered approach to projects including his latest venture – MODEL.
MODEL is a new, Australian Build to Rent group with a purpose to cultivate places where there is no compromise between taking care of ourselves, each other, and the planet. Built on the pillars of climate action, community building and design innovation, MODEL delivers thoughtfully designed, secure, connected, carbon neutral homes where health and wellbeing are at the core of the everyday experience.
MODEL will decarbonise at scale, all while delivering excellent returns for investors who are abreast of rapid policy change and the appetite of financial institutions for sustainable and social endeavours.
MODEL’s design and philosophy is informed by Rory’s experience as an accomplished hotelier, developer and community builder. This includes establishing and leading SoHo Partners, a group dedicated to creating carbon neutral, mid-rise residential developments. He was also the Founder and CEO of the Song Saa Collective (2005-2021) – a mission-driven real estate group which developed a range of hotels, residential and master planned communities including the award-winning, ethical luxury resort Song Saa Private Island and 230-hectare Song Saa Reserve.
Rory also founded the Song Saa Foundation in 2013 – an independent NGO dedicated to preserving Cambodia’s marine environment. A highlight of the foundation includes creating the country’s first ever Marine National Park in partnership with Monaco’s Prince Albert. The project’s success saw him receive the 2013 National Geographic – Leader in Sustainable Tourism award.
Rory has a deep commitment to improving the ways in which his industry operates and is dedicated to driving meaningful change for the future. He is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Global Board Member of the Young Presidents’ Organization Sports, and Outdoors Network (2023-2024), member of the Property Council of Australia’s Sustainable Development Committee (2023-2024), and he has spoken at prominent conferences including the G20 and Davos.
Rory is a Harvard Business School graduate and studied the Sustainability and Resilience program at Stanford University. In 2019, he participated in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Global Leadership and Public Policy program. He also holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.
Outside of work, he dedicates his time to causes and pursuits he’s passionate about. This includes volunteering as a crisis support worker with Lifeline – as well as seeking out new athletic challenges.
In 2020, Rory sailed solo, non-stop from Hong Kong to Australia, completing the journey in 37 days. In 2015, he completed one of the world’s toughest endurance races – the New Zealand Coast to Coast – finishing in 17 hours. His happy places include skiing in the mountains or being on the ocean.
