Belgian Economic Mission to the United Kingdom
“How Brussels and London can help each other to accelerate the path to Net positive companies, buildings and cities by boosting the sharing of innovation between businesses and governments ?”
Unique in their kind but connected around certain activities such as advanced services, innovation and the creative economy. And linked by flows of people, labour, capital and ideas. London and Brussels are dynamic capitals with their ever-changing urbanism, combining heritage and architectural audacity. But do they still correspond to the new expectations of their inhabitants and users and to the new challenges they/we all face? Because the climate emergency continues to reveal or accelerate profound changes that question the companies that have made them a place for their activities, and shake up the certainties of the developers, promoters, investors or architects who design and manage the spaces. How can users and professionals work together to draw the outlines of “net positive cities”, giving more to the world than they take?
This ambitious goal will only be achieved with a coalition of construction and real estate innovation players sharing technological solutions to actively fight for the reduction of emissions. On what certainties and through what alternatives can we reflect on the future of London, Brussels and other international metropolises? How can we draw inspiration from the push for a clean economy and the unprecedented focus on diversity and inclusion? How can we improve the lives of our customers, suppliers, employees and communities? How can we provide opportunities for innovation and savings while building a more humane, connected, and purpose-driven culture by taken ownership of all the social and environmental impacts we create? And finally why should we partner with competitors, civil society, and governments to drive transformative change?
When?
10th May 2022
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where?
InterContinental London Park Lane hotel,
One Hamilton Place, Park Ln,
London W1J 7QY,
United Kingdom
Program
08:00 Registration
08:30 Welcome speeches
- Welcome Gabriel Uzgen CEO BESIXRED – Chair ULI Belgium & Luxembourg
- Official speech by HE Pascal Smet
08:50 Opening Keynote
Roadmap to Net-zero Marylis Ramos (UK), Director, Savills Earth Advisory
09:15 1st Panel “London and Brussels face the challenges of the 21st century”
What is the future for our metropolises with the huge challenges of decarbonisation, the recovery of economic activity, resource and energy scarcity, strong pressure on costs, the transformation of tertiary work modes and demographic changes in the urban population? The questions collide for developers, promoters, investors and architects, but also for users and residents… How can London and Brussels meet today’s needs and adapt to tomorrow’s developments?
- Moderator : Megan Walters (GB), Head of Global Research, Allianz RE
- Sebastian Moreno Vacca(BE), Architect – Founding partner, A2M
- Ami Kotecha(GB), Co-Founder & Head of Venture Investments, Amro Partners (TBC)
- Steven Beckers (BE), Circular Economy Expert, BoPro
10:00 Coffee break
10:25 2nd Panel “How bio-based materials can both decarbonize buildings and increase value?”
In a context where the decarbonisation of real estate is becoming more urgent than ever, what innovative solutions and materials are available to us? How to effectively take into account the carbon impact of the building, from its construction to its demolition? How to meet the challenge of scaling up the use of bio-based materials in buildings? But most of all, how to reduce embodied carbon through smarter design, and without a cost premium?
- Moderator : Steven Ware (BE), Architect – Senior Partner, Art Build
- Pertti Vanhanen (UK), Managing Director, Europe, Cromwell European Management Services Limited
- Raymund Trost (BE), CEO, CFE
- Ana Gatóo (UK), PhD Candidate in Architecture, Centre for Natural Material Innovation
- Stephan Kampelmann (BE), Managing director, Sonian Wood Coop
- Ron Bakker (UK), Co-founder, PLP Architecture
11:10 3th Panel “ Today, renovation is an economic and environmental necessity”
Achieving the highest environmental score has been a strong business argument for the past decade or so, even if it does not necessarily mean significantly higher rents. This is the new normal: as in other sectors of the economy, sustainability has made its way into the real estate world. But how can accessibility, mixed use, density and innovation help us reduce the carbon footprint of buildings? How to combine greater comfort and climate neutrality in one cost-effective renovation solution?
- Moderator : Hala El Akl (GB), Senior Director of ESG and Operations, Oxford Properties Group
- Scheelam Chadha (BE), Country Director Belgium, Atenor
- Michael Moradiellos (BE), Head Of Real Estate, EPEA Benelux
- Anette Simpson (GB), director of development and partnerships, Legal & General Affordable Home – Chair of ULI United Kingdom
- Sunita Van Heers (BE), Managing Director, Sureal
11:55 Closing remarks
Lisette Van Doorn (NL), CEO, ULI Europe
12:15 Walking lunch
