(Connect has handed out its third-annual Canadian Women in Real Estate Awards. This story profiles Jennifer Suess of RioCan REIT.)

By Amy Wolff Sorter

Jennifer Suess is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, ESG and Corporate Secretary with RioCAN REIT. Suess is the first General Counsel at the company and is responsible for creating a cultural shift toward sustainability and the environment in real estate and development.

Recently, RioCan’s position as landlord, partner, and secured creditor of Hudson’s Bay Company required strategic action when HBC filed for CCAA protection, requiring full liquidation of the 96 stores. Suess stepped in to mobilize teams, preserve value and maximize recoveries for RioCan and its stakeholders.

Suess has also overseen transformative initiatives, such as the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), which she started in 2017 and has since led to help foster a more equitable and inclusive culture at the organizational level. Today, over 40% of RioCan’s senior employees are women, representing a 27% increase from 2018. Additionally, more than half of RioCan’s workforce attends WIN’s annual events.

Outside of RioCan, WIN has developed partnerships with CREW and the Women in Philanthropy Committee at the Hospital for SickKids; Suess is a member of that organization’s Governance and Development Committees.

These are just some of the reasons why Connect Canada CRE honoured Jennifer Suess with a 2025 Canadian Women in Real Estate Award. The awards celebrate the achievements and inspirational stories of women who have reached respected leadership positions and taken on mentorship roles.

With files from Amy Sorter