Sustainable Built Environment Event in SA open for bookings

Brian Wilkinson: CEO of the GBCSA

Members and the public are invited to exhibit the fifth annual Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Convention and Exhibition from the 23rd to the 25th of October 2012, the leading green building event in South Africa.

Taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, this annual event has become one of the highlights on the South African property and construction industry calendar - providing an inspiring platform for world-class education, knowledge sharing and peer networking centred on sustainability within the built environment.

The event also delivers cutting edge green innovations and global best practice in green building delivered by acclaimed international and local thought leaders.

Leading experts are cherry-picked from the GBCSA’s international network of professionals, facilitated through an affiliation with 80 other Green Building Councils globally. Combined with the council’s local network of green building pioneers, this promises to make for an inspiring and impressive speaker programme.

Amongst those confirmed for the 2012 convention is Dan Epstein, the Director of Sustainability for the 2012 London Olympics and Dr Nils Kok, an associate professor in Finance and Real Estate at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Dan Epstein is an influential thought leader, advising and supporting governments at the highest levels to develop legislative change and in identifying where best to direct their efforts to accelerate the growth and transformation of the green economy. Epstein was instrumental in consulting on the sustainability of the innovative precinct for the London Olympics.

Dr Nils Kok is a visiting scholar at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and his field of study unpacks the economics of green building.

“With the green building movement fast gaining momentum in Africa it has become increasingly important for professionals within the built environment to understand what constitutes best practice and how to go about achieving it,” says Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the Green Building Council of South Africa.

“This is not merely an event where high profile green building experts and key decision-makers in the industry gather, but an opportunity for like minds to make a real difference in the built environment.”

The 2012 programme is jam-packed with two days of keynote speeches, panel discussions, facilitated debates, break-away sessions and more.

This year the convention also offers optional pre-conference education days (22 & 23 October 2012) that present more detailed master classes, discussions and workshops in smaller groups facilitated by a local or international expert. These include internal GBCSA courses such as the Green Star SA Accredited Professional Course and Project Certification Workshop.

 “Our event consistently draws some of the world’s leading thinkers who are selected for their particular expertise, their ability to inspire and motivate for change. This year, however, we are seeking an even broader range of local content for the event and have therefore put out a call for proposals to the market. We’re hoping this will provide us with an even better range of local content,” comments Donné Putter, Education and Training Manager at the GBCSA, and responsible for the programme design for the main event and the education days.

The GBCSA Convention & Exhibition provides outstanding networking opportunities with key decision-makers and industry professionals by way of an opening cocktail function for all exhibitors, speakers and delegates. In addition, the exhibition itself offers an invaluable platform for businesses involved in sustainability to showcase their services, products and innovations. Delegates will have access to essential and vital knowledge such as updates on Green Star SA, government policies, the greening of existing buildings and the economics and socio-economic sustainability of green building.

“The GBCSA is committed to knowledge sharing and education on green building in South Africa and we urge people not to miss out on this opportunity to gain invaluable information and insight into sustainable building,” says Wilkinson.

The 2012 GBCSA Convention and Exhibition will also see the official launch of the final version of the Green Star SA Public & Education Building Rating Tool, which enables the rating of public buildings such as community centres, libraries,  education buildings, indoor sports centres,  public transport terminal buildings, and  convention centres.