(10 September 2018, Hong Kong) The Women In Green Building Leadership Award, a new category at the World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards, honours its first winner: Ms Mary Chan, Head of Sustainable Building Design and Assistant Director at DLN Architects Limited, Hong Kong. Spearheaded by the WorldGBC’s official partner, AkzoNobel, the leader in paints and coatings, the Award recognises Ms Chan’s integral role in the early development of green buildings in Hong Kong, and her involvement in industry initiatives like the Green Shop Alliance, which comprises of 23 developers and 132 shopping malls to date.
This was announced during a ceremony attended by 650 professionals and key government stakeholders, including the Singapore Ministry of National Development, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Building and Construction Authority. The biennial Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards celebrates the region’s most iconic green buildings, up-and-coming innovators and inspiring companies. This year, the awards was extended to recognise inspiring female leaders in the green building movement, who are driving change for a better future.
Mr Jeremy Rowe, Managing Director at AkzoNobel Decorative Paints, South East & South Asia, Middle East comments: “Women today have made great contributions to the green building agenda. While only representing 10% of the construction industry, according to the World Economic Forum in 2016, nearly 50% of established Green Building Councils are led by women. Through this new award, AkzoNobel wants to give further recognition to inspiring women who demonstrate outstanding commitment towards nurturing and activating their communities, as well as delivering change in a traditionally male-dominated industry.”
Nominations were judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts including Mr Curt Garrigan, Chief, Sustainable Urban Development Section, Environment and Development Division, UNESCAP, Ms Milag San Jose- Ballesteros, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania C40 Cities, and Mr Luca de Giovanetti, Science-based Targets, World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
“Ms Mary Chan embodies a green leader who embraces all principles of sustainability in both her professional and personal endeavours,” explains Mr Jose- Ballesteros. “Bringing her expertise and affiliations to forefront, she has worked tirelessly and advocated successfully for improved building regulations in Hong Kong. Her leadership and commitment to sustainability is a strong crusade that finds its way through her various projects and personal initiatives.”
Among her achievements, Ms Chan was instrumental in the early development of green buildings in Hong Kong, spearheading public education and engagement for the next generation. She also initiated the Green Shop Alliance, a key program by the Hong Kong Green Building Council that seeks to promote greener practices amongst shopping mall operators and tenants. The success of the initiative ultimately resulted in the adoption of the Alliance by the Hong Kong government to promote environmental policies.
The other two nominees of the Women in Green Building Leadership award were Ms Shakuntala Ghosh, Architect and Partner of Ghosh Bose and Associates in India, and Ms Maria Cristina Samson, Co-President of The Net Group in the Philippines.
Commenting on the success of the Award, Ms Joelle Chen, Regional Head of WorldGBC’s Asia Pacific Network, enthuses: “Today, our Green Building Councils in the Asia Pacific Regional Network work with 5,000 of the most pioneering companies and innovators on green building. Through initiatives like the Women In Green Building Leadership Award, we continue to grow our network and encourage industry adoption of sustainable practices. On behalf of the WorldGBC, I congratulate Ms Mary Chan and thank organisations like AkzoNobel for their valued contributions to raising the profile of green buildings in the region.”
For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com.