Following the Constructing Excellence Rethinking Construction agenda of the 1990’s and it’s Never Waste a Good Crisis review published in 2009, the focus provided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 has sharpened our insight into issues of well-being and the fundamentals of truly sustainable development. The Climate Emergency has provided an unambiguous warning that if we do not change then this planet could become uninhabitable. The issue of the UKs departure from the European Union has worried many, but the Covid-19 pandemic closed society down and brought into stark relief issues of economic, social, and environmental resilience that necessitate rapid and fundamental sector transformation and reinvention if construction is to aid recovery and act as a well-being enabler, supporting current and future generations to flourish.
This panel discussion comes from Wales, the only country in the world with a legal mandate to deliver the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. But we all have a moral and ethical mandate:
• to ensure that our planet remains habitable by all future generations; and
• to support individuals, communities and society to thrive through a positive balance of economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being.
So what changes are required, what is the evidence that informs the value of these changes, how can we make them happen and how quickly, and who is providing the leadership to ensure that it actually happens so that we do not just slip back into past customs and practices that are no longer fit for purpose. Topics are likely to be wide ranging including some or all of wellbeing enablement through people centric construction; planning and procurement of desired outcomes not just construction outputs; leadership and empowerment; the circular economy and the sustainable development principle; modern methods of construction; the benefits of thinking long term, preventing problems occurring, integration, collaboration, partnership, and involving people with associated ambitions; decarbonisation and improvements to energy efficiency of both existing and new buildings; enhanced connectivity and mobility aspects including placemaking, digital technology, active travel, sustainable public transport; new greener jobs; investment in nature for biodiversity enhancement, carbon management, wellbeing and natural flood defences; investment in low carbon technology, industries, businesses and the foundational economy. Dial in, engage, propose new ideas and thought-provoking paradigm shifts, and hear from panel members including:
• Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
• Andy Sutton, Co-Founder and Director of Design & Innovation at Sero
• Andrew Dobbs, Director at Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd
• Gary Newman, CEO of Woodknowledge Wales Ltd and Chair of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products
• Gareth Harcombe, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Cardiff Council
The event will be chaired by Paul Maliphant, Chair of the Board of Management of Constructing Excellence in Wales and Development Director (Wales) for Mott MacDonald.
This webinar will take place via Zoom, once your booking has been recieved a link will be sent to you.