Coming Soon: International experts on sustainability

International speaker, Dr Nils Kok, an associate professor in Finance and Real Estate at Maastricht University in the Netherlands

Several top international experts on sustainability are scheduled to start arriving in the country for the week of activity where they will be sharing their global insights with delegates.

The 2012 Green Building Council of South Africa Master Classes, Convention and Exhibition are set to take place at the Waterfront and the CTICC from the 23rd to the 25th of October.

This event is one of the highlights on the SA sustainability calendar - consistently delivering cutting edge and global best practice in green building and providing an inspiring platform for world-class education, knowledge-sharing and peer-networking centred on sustainability within the built environment.

Global green leaders convene
Experts from the United States, Australia, England and the Netherlands will join local green leaders to facilitate two days of keynote speeches, panel discussions, debates, break-away sessions and more. Amongst those eagerly anticipated in the programme line-up are:  Dan Epstein, the Director of Sustainability for the 2012 London Olympics; Dr Nils Kok, an associate professor in Finance and Real Estate at Maastricht University in the Netherlands; international expert Jerry Yudelson, who has been dubbed “the Godfather of Green”; Rachel Botsman - a social innovator, (and recently lauded as ‘one of the top 20 presenters to have at any conference’) who writes, consults and speaks on the power of Social Collaboration and Tristram Carfrae, considered to be a global leader in building design. 

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.

Master classes enhance green knowledge
The convention also offers optional pre-conference Master Classes (22 & 23 October 2012) at the new Pavilion Conference Centre at the V&A Clocktower.  These present unique opportunities for one-on-one interactions with the keynote international experts, as they facilitate smaller, interactive and practical master classes, alongside respected local pioneers in green building sustainability.

A showcase of green innovation
The GBCSA exhibition itself offers an invaluable platform for over 80 businesses involved in sustainability to showcase their services, products and innovations.

Launch of new rating tool
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.

Committing to the 49M pledge
In another exciting development for the Convention, the GBCSA will be signing the 49M pledge with Andrew Etzinger, General Manager of Integrated Demand Management for Eskom at the end of day one of the event. The 49M initiative aims to encourage 49 million South Africans to embrace energy savings as a national culture.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this world class event and to meet with and learn from top sustainability experts and other like-minded individuals and businesses.

For more information or to book for the convention www.gbcsa-convention.org.za