America’s Property Expo: Leadership, Investment & Innovation For Future-ready Communities
Women Building the Cities of Tomorrow
Leadership, Investment & Innovation for Future-Ready Communities
When: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 · 11:15 AM PT
Where: World Market Center, 475 S Grand Central Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV
Part of: APEX 2026, America's Property Exhibition, September 23 to 25 · Day 1, Nevada, Global Investment and Business Growth
Co-hosted by: APEX and the Global CSR Foundation
Format: 45-minute executive leadership panel followed by 15 minutes of high-level Q&A
Women Building the Cities of Tomorrow is a flagship dialogue on how visionary women leaders are defining the future of real estate, hospitality, infrastructure, sustainability and inclusive economic growth. The session brings civic vision and market execution into the same conversation and turns that exchange into actionable strategies for building resilient, investable and human-centered communities.
Moderator
Jing Zhao Cesarone
Founder and CEO, Global CSR Foundation; author of Women's Civilizational Leadership
Panelists
Shelley Berkley
Mayor, City of Las Vegas
Michelle Romero
Mayor, City of Henderson
Dr. Chen Wang
CEO and Chair of the Arts, Young Global Leadership Foundation (UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status); United Nations Main Representative
Key discussion themes
Growth with Purpose. Balancing mega-project expansion, tourism infrastructure, housing and long-term quality of life.
From Vision to Delivery. Structuring effective public private partnerships and navigating complex regulatory environments.
Capital & Opportunity. Attracting global institutional investment while generating durable local economic velocity.
The Leadership Advantage. The distinct impact of women executives in complex, multi-stakeholder decision making and coalition building.
2030 Action Agenda. A concluding multi-sector commitment to sustainable urban growth.
Part of a three-day programme
This panel anchors the leadership programming on Day 1 of APEX 2026. Day 1 addresses Nevada, global investment and business growth. Day 2 turns to PropTech, smart living and the international buyer journey. Day 3 closes on cross-border capital, wealth migration and legal and tax structuring. APEX convenes alongside Smarter Homes & Furnishings and the Smarter Infrastructure Summit, three shows on one exhibition floor across the same three days, with a single All Access pass covering the full conference programme.
Who should attend
The session is designed for an executive-level audience of real estate developers, institutional investors, family office principals and public policy leaders, alongside architects, planners, infrastructure executives, economic development officials, and women leaders working at the intersection of property, capital and civic decision making.
Why attend
Two sitting mayors of Southern Nevada's principal cities join a global foundation leader to speak candidly about regional priorities, the partnerships they are prepared to enter, and what distinguishes the projects that get delivered from those that stall. Few settings bring that civic authority and market perspective to the same stage.
The moderated dialogue format keeps the discussion focused on how growth is financed, permitted and delivered. The closing segment opens the floor to the audience, and the panel concludes with a 2030 Action Agenda that participants can carry back into their own organizations and projects.
Admission
Exhibition floors across all three shows are open at no charge. Conference sessions require the All Access pass.