Some careers begin in offices—Paul Rabinovitch started his career planting trees in the rugged backcountry of Canada.
Summers spent in the wilderness shaped more than just his work ethic; they instilled a deep appreciation for regeneration, resilience, and the power of intentional stewardship. Nearly a million trees later, he walked away with more than a strong back and calloused hands—he carried a passion for creating thriving, sustainable places. That passion has driven his career ever since.
For more than two decades, Paul has been at the intersection of real estate, sustainability, and impact investing, leading organizations that merge financial performance with environmental and social value. He has held leadership roles across for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental sectors, aligning all types of capital with high-impact projects that demonstrate sustainability isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a strategic advantage.
On behalf of institutional capital, family offices, wealth management firms and NGO’s, Paul has built several impact investment programs from the ground up as well as managed high performing impact investment and lending teams that worked across dozens of U.S. and Canadian markets. Over his career, he has built and managed real estate investment programs that have deployed over $450 million in equity, helping to catalyze more than $3 billion in total investment value. As an early adopter of the practice of impact investment in real estate, Paul has pioneered real estate projects that include Net Zero carbon buildings, low-income affordable and “missing middle” workforce housing, senior housing solutions that focus on wellness, and inclusive community-oriented developments that foster shared community prosperity and a sense of place. Paul has the distinction of building one of the largest private portfolios of Net Zero Energy operating real estate in the U.S. His work spans more than 21,000 residential units and over a million square feet of commercial space across multiple. The investments have consistently delivered strong, risk-adjusted returns—averaging a net IRR of 19%—proving that financial success and positive impact can go hand in hand.
A national expert in real estate decarbonization and the author of Investment Opportunities in Decarbonizing Real Estate (2024), Paul understands that the future of real estate belongs to those who integrate sustainability with smart investment strategies. Beyond investment and strategy, he is deeply engaged in shaping the conversation around climate risk, sustainable real estate, and impact investing. He regularly speaks at conferences, contributes thought leadership, and collaborates with investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to push forward pragmatic, scalable solutions.
