GBCSA CEO announces early retirement

Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the Green Building Council South Africa

Wilkinson steered the organisation through an exponential growth phase corresponding with the remarkable upsurge in the green building movement in the country.

The World Green Building Trends 2016: Developing Markets Accelerate Global Green Growth - SmartMarket Report shows that South Africa is the country with the highest share of green building projects out of a global sample of 69 countries. More importantly, it also has the highest share of expected green building projects leading up to 2018.

Role of the built environment in climate change mitigation

Seana Nkhahle, chairperson of the GBCSA, attributes this incredible recognition to Wilkinson’s energetic leadership and to the team he has put in place. Wilkinson, while proud of the organisation’s role, prefers to credit the success to the manner in which the South African property sector has stepped up to assume the vital role the built environment plays in climate change mitigation.

Commenting on the significant progress of green building in the country, Wilkinson says the property industry has been swift to recognise the simultaneous opportunity to ‘do well by doing good’, referring to the well-established and proven business case for green buildings.

He adds: “Our purpose is to inspire property owners to design, build and operate better, greener buildings. Formal Green Star SA certifications are rapidly approaching 200 projects, up from only six certifications five years ago. I believe we are on the cusp of green buildings becoming standard, rather than limited to leading practice.”

Latest initiatives

The GBCSA is already forging ahead with its latest initiatives. It is driving green building in the residential property sector with its My Green Home toolkit, anchored by the EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) residential green building rating tool.

GBCSA has also partnered with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to build capacity and green buildings skills at local government level and anticipates extending this into the public sector as a whole.

In addition, it is now focusing on the performance of existing buildings in the commercial property sector, at portfolio level.

Wilkinson believes this is an ideal time to transition to new leadership that can provide continuity over this next exciting phase. He will remain CEO until the end of August 2016 to allow for a seamless transition process.

The chairperson of the GBCSA has asked Rudolf Pienaar, deputy chairperson and Growthpoint Properties Office Division director to drive the process for recruitment of a new CEO for the GBCSA.