With the big ructions challenging so many people around the world right now, there’s also a great opportunity to stand up and fight to keep all those things we fought so hard for.
This is the time to proudly defend what we know will provide a brighter future for all.
So our next exciting monthly leaders forum next Tuesday lunchtime, 6 May, is particularly well timed for its topic of social value in housing and in offices. It will be a cracker.
It will show how this brilliant industry – our humble built environment (that deserves to be anything but humble) – is a powerful way to hard wire the outcomes we need through the design process itself, in the way our buildings work, our precincts and cities.
The opportunity for walkways, social spaces and outdoor nature places can make enormous differences to our lives and health and social outcomes.
We can create the famed blue zones of Japan and the Mediterranean right here in Aussie cities by designing for stronger social interactions, access to light and connection to nature.
We all want these outcomes.
Now, says Stockland’s Petie Walker, investors want these outcomes and they’re looking for ways to measure them.
They want evidence that these massive investments are resilient because baking in these strong social and environmental qualities is also what keeps investments strong.
In her role heading up sustainability and delivery for this giant developer, these are the questions that have exercised the minds of Petie and her team.
They now have their own social impact framework – calling on the multitude of project they have under their belt.
Petie is also working on the redevelopment of the massive Waterloo housing estate in Sydney and there will be a lot of eyes keenly watching how that plays out.
Joining Petie will be Kellie Payne of Bates Smart on the need for creativity in understanding how to connect people – whether in the three three-building student housing project she’s working on and offices. Kellie is also handling the relocation of the Australian Stock Exchange to Martin Place in Sydney.
Other speakers include Professor Xiaoqi Feng who’s lonelygenics work focuses on how place can help alleviate loneliness and Gabrielle McMillan of Equiem whose 200 staff across 19 countries has created software to socially connect people at work. She will also share the results of a very large survey of what office tenants want.
Come along, have lunch, listen to some brilliant speakers!
Just send us your best question/s by COB Thursday to get your free tickets.