Think confirms leading green figurehead speakers

Think has confirmed Professor Herbert Girardet, director of programmes of the World Future Council and Ché Wall, founder of the Green Building Council of Australia as headline speakers at the 2008 conference held in London in May.

The two join 80 other speakers including the MP Hilary Benn, secretary of state for the environment and Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council.

The two-day conference will be chaired by chief executive of the UK Green Buildings Council Paul King.

David Pierpoint of CMPi, organisers of the Think and Think Tank initiatives, said: “The kudos and expertise which Prof Herbert Girardet and Ché Wall bring to this event cannot be overstated.”

Author, consultant and filmmaker on eco-issues, Girardet has been focusing mainly on the challenges of sustainable urban development and has developed sustainability policies for major cities such as London and Vienna. He is currently a senior adviser to the pioneering Dongtan Eco-City project on Chongming Island, Shanghai, which started construction in January 2008.

Wall, also managing director of the Lincolne Scott Group of Companies, said: “I am delighted to participate in an event that will be discussing sustainable best practice, both within and beyond the UK and with the broadest demographic of participants.”

Wall established Advanced Environmental Concepts, Australia’s only professional practice dedicated to the design of passive and integrated environmental systems.

He has also been responsible for the formation of the Green Building Council of Australia and currently sits on the board of directors, and chairs the technical steering committee that develops the green star rating system.

Think will explore the economic, social and environmental challenges in delivering sustainable development, and look at the wider responsibilities of the property and construction industry in dealing with the issues of climate change, urban renewal and redevelopment.

Architects represented at the event include Bill Taylor of Hopkins Architects, Trevor Butler of BDP, Rob Firth of Capita Architecture and James Pickard of Cartwright Pickard.

Leading Scandinavian architect Monica von Schmalensee, director of White Arkiteker will also attend to discuss a case study on the creation of sustainable communities in Scandinavia.

The conference also boasts many of the strategic leads on sustainability from the major developers, agencies, contractors and supply chain.