Global specialists.
We are a global team of specialists, with over 30 years' experience innovating the sector.
We are driven by the pioneering spirit that makes us the forerunner of student housing globally. We work collaboratively to act decisively and deliver on our commitments.
Our people are the heart of GSA. Working across the globe, we make the most of our inclusive culture and passion to lead and innovate the student housing sector.
We employ people from many countries, nationalities and backgrounds, across our nine offices. And everyone plays an integral role in shaping our growth.
Our leadership team has extensive experience within the sector, and a proven track record of driving the trends shaping student housing.
GSA's Founder and Executive Management team
Nicholas Porter
Founder
Nicholas Porter is Founder of GSA, where he is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and supporting on capital and debt raising with key investors and financial institutions.
Nicholas has been a pioneer in the purpose-built student housing sector for over 30 years. In 2013, he founded GSA, quickly expanding into new markets and creating a unique offering of being the leading real estate and investment asset manager in student housing.
Prior to this, Nicholas founded The UNITE Group in 1991 and built the company to a FTSE 250-listed entity and the largest owner of student accommodation in the UK. In 2007, Nicholas went on to create Urbanest with operations in Australia and the UK, which was successfully sold in 2014.
John Jacobs
Global Head of Capital Markets
John Jacobs is Global Head of Capital Markets at GSA, where he leads all debt financing activity to support the business’ growth. This includes driving the GSA Coral investment strategy, investor engagement, and leveraging his deep relationships and expertise to support on new capital initiatives.
The global debt team is responsible for the origination for new funding transactions within existing and new markets and the overall refinancing strategy for AUM in excess of $8bn.
John joined GSA in 2017 and has over 20 years’ experience in corporate banking, real estate and negotiating property transactions in multiple countries including the US, UK, Spain, Australia, and Ireland. Prior to GSA, John spent 13 years in corporate banking in Ireland.
John has a BA Economics from University College Dublin (UCD) and is a qualified chartered banker.
Paddy Allen
Global Head of Investor Solutions
Paddy Allen is Global Head of Investor Solutions, responsible for all new capital-raising initiatives, from building global long-term client relationships through to new product formation, overseeing strategic development and client servicing across GSA’s investment vehicles globally. Paddy is also responsible for the GSA credit division.
Paddy has over 20 years’ experience in funds management, capital raising and transactions, including in his previous role as CEO at Kinetic Capital, where he focussed on delivering committed, flexible finance for the operational living sector.
He has held senior roles with Colliers, GSA and Principal Europe, co-founded a boutique real estate advisory business in UK & Australia, and launched the proptech business Acasa, which was exited in 2021.
Paddy is MRICS qualified and studied Land Management at University of Reading, with executive training at Harvard Business School. Outside of GSA, he Chairs Pathways to Property, helping young people from under-represented backgrounds enter the real estate industry.
James Hunt
Global Head of Real Estate
James Hunt is Global Head of Real Estate for GSA, where he leads the global real estate team and is responsible for the expansion of its real estate portfolio through the acquisition of development opportunities and investment properties.
James is a Chartered Surveyor with over 20 years’ experience of the purpose-built student accommodation sector in the UK, Europe, Australasia and the USA. He has a track record of delivering complex projects and has experience across investment strategy, acquisitions, development, asset management, joint ventures and university partnerships.
James joined GSA in 2018 and prior to this worked for The UNITE Group plc for 17 years, where he held a variety of senior positions including as a member of the management board and leading its annual development programme delivering c.5,000 beds per annum.
Ben Harvie
Global Head of Investment Management
Ben Harvie is Global Head of Investment Management at GSA, responsible for driving performance across our global portfolios and ensuring we deliver the strongest returns for our investors.
Since 2015, he has been involved in the expansion of the business into new regions, markets, and products, including establishing GSA in the U.S., where he spent four years building our partnership with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing, and deepening institutional relationships.
Ben has previously served as Head of Funds Management for Centuria Capital, one of Australia’s largest REIT managers, and spent time at Miller Group Ltd, one of the UK’s largest privately owned housebuilding, construction and development companies.
Ben has a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Oxford and an MA in Property Investment. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the U.S. chapter of the ULI.
Jennifer Bitterman
Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at GSA, focused on delivering our global financial strategy and building a high-performing industry leading finance team. With over two decades of experience spanning asset management, transactions, capital markets, and compliance, Jennifer has exceptional experience across operational, transactional finance and institutional reporting having worked across hospitality, real estate and private equity.
Before joining GSA, Jennifer was CFO at Andover Properties, one of the largest private owner-operators of self-storage facilities in the U.S. Prior to Andover, Jennifer held the CFO role at Cedar Realty Trust, a New York publicly listed real estate investment trust, and prior to that held roles at Morgan Stanley within its Asset Management Team.
Jennifer has a BBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. She is a Board Mmember of Franklin Street Properties (NYSE: FSP) and on the Advisory Board of the Weiser School of Real Estate at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.