BSRIA 2017 Briefing � New Speakers Added

11 August 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

Jane Vass OBE, Director of Policy & Research, Age UK – and Alan R Kell OBE, Managing Director – Intelligent & Green Systems Ltd – have been added to the speaker line-up at BSRIA flagship event – the annual Briefing and Lunch.

The event will look at the issue of ‘Tomorrow’s Challenges in Today’s Buildings’ and will be held at the Brewery, in London, on Friday 17th November 2017. The main sponsor is Trend.

Vass has been Director of Policy and Research at Age UK since April 2015. Prior to this, she was Head of Public Policy from 2012, having joined Age UK’s predecessor, Age Concern England, as Financial Services Policy Adviser in 2006.

She was previously an independent consumer consultant specialising in financial services from the consumer viewpoint. In this capacity she undertook research such as reports for the National Consumer Council on equity release and on financial capability for the Securities and Investments Board. She also wrote the Daily Mail Tax Guide for 10 years.

Vass was given an OBE for her services to consumers of financial services in June 2015.

Kell is a renowned leader of world-class projects, consultancy and research programmes focused on delivering smart sustainable innovation in cities, communities and buildings. Since 1999 he has operated as a governmental advisor, programme director and international consultant.

From 2007 – 2012 he was the industry co-chair of the UK-China Eco-cities and Green Building Group and he continues to develop and promote Britain’s international business interests in these areas. Alan is actively involved in the implementation of the UK’s Smart Cities Programme and in the establishment of international relationships to capitalize upon this programme.

In 2013 Kell was appointed OBE for his services to UK-China collaboration in the development and delivery of sustainable buildings and cities.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE is the after lunch speaker. Fiennes is the first person to reach both North and South Poles by foot. He also made it into the record books by completing seven marathons on seven continents (including Antarctica) in seven days – soon after receiving emergency heart surgery. Only then did he take up climbing, starting with the North Face of the Eiger. At the age of 65, at his third attempt, he became the oldest Briton to conquer Everest.

Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA said: “We are delighted that both Jane and Alan have agreed to be speakers. Indeed, they will be able to offer a rare and animated stance into how society at large should be supported in housing and the workplace in their twilight years, albeit from a slightly different stance. Indeed, this is a crucial issue and challenge for both industry and members alike.”

Tomorrow’s Challenges in Today’s Buildings

It is well known that 80 per cent of the buildings needed for 2050 already exist. But what will be the requirements within these buildings to accommodate the changing and varied expectations of the occupants while not forgetting our energy/carbon targets?

The latest opportunities emerging are focused on health, wellness, independence, mobility and leisure. Products and services that address these needs will have a fast growing market to capture. Building services are at the heart of realising these opportunities and delivering the built environment of the future.

This will not only provide challenges for the workplace but also for communities as a whole, including residential, leisure and retail. How will building services need to adapt to meet the needs of future generations and industries?

Because the coming demographic shifts are foreseeable over the next few decades, governments are afforded the opportunity to adopt a proactive approach to align their policies to the evolving needs.

This year’s Briefing explores the options of how technology and research can enable us to prepare and accommodate future needs both in the residential and commercial buildings of the future.

Other speakers include: Kath Fontana, Managing Director – ISS Technical Services, Chris Twinn, Principal, TwinnSustainabilityInnovation and Tassos Kougionis, Principal Consultant – Residential at BSRIA’s Sustainable Construction Group. The Chair is Ant Wilson MBE, Director – Sustainability & Advanced Design – Building Engineering at AECOM.

Picture: Vass and Kell

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 11 August 2017