McMaster appoints Salman Hirani as Associate Vice-President, Real Estate and Partnerships

McMaster University has appointed Salman Hirani as its new Associate Vice-President, Real Estate and Partnerships.  

Hirani brings deep experience in real estate, development, and partnerships, with a career focused on building places that support long-term growth, collaboration, and community impact. He joins McMaster from Choice Properties REIT, where he was part of the leadership team responsible for one of the company’s largest portfolios in Ontario. 

“McMaster is entering an important new chapter in how we think about our spaces and partnerships,” says Saher Fazilat. “Salman brings strong commercial expertise and a deep commitment to sustainability. His experience will help us make smart, forward-looking decisions that support our students, researchers, and staff while strengthening McMaster’s long-term financial and community impact.” 

Over his career, Hirani has worked across mixed-use developments, public-private partnerships, and complex real estate projects that bring together institutions, governments, and private partners. He is known for building strong partnerships and finding new ways to create value from existing assets while managing risk and supporting long-term sustainability. 

He has also played a leadership role in advancing sustainable development practices, including contributing to projects designed to significantly reduce energy use and environmental impact while maintaining strong financial performance. 

At McMaster, Hirani will lead the University’s external real estate strategy, work with others to support the continued growth of McMaster Innovation Park and collaborate with partners to develop spaces that advance McMaster’s academic, research, and community priorities. 

“I’m excited to join McMaster at a time when universities are re-thinking how their spaces and partnerships can better support teaching, research, and innovation,” says Hirani. “There is a real opportunity here to align real estate and partnerships more closely with McMaster’s mission and long-term goals.” 

Hirani holds a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto. 

Salman will begin his role on February 17, 2026, reporting to Saher Fazilat, Vice-President (Operations and Finance).