FUTUREBUILD ARENA PROGRAMME 2025

FUTUREBUILD ARENA PROGRAMME 2025

CHALLENGES INDUSTRY TO LEAD ON CLIMATE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Celebrating two decades of supporting positive change in the built environment, Futurebuild 2025 will be focusing on the theme of “impact”, with the Futurebuild Arena programme asking us all to question: Where are we today? Are we making the progress we need? What must we now do?

The Futurebuild Arena

Curated by The Edge and sponsored by heat pump experts Mitsubishi Electric, the CPD-accredited Futurebuild Arena sessions will explore how all who work in the built and natural environments can make an impact to achieve net zero. Central to this is how to achieve a vibrant circular economy that works within planetary boundaries, how to achieve social justice and fair use of resources.

Bringing together a distinguished line-up of industry leaders, each session will examine the decisive actions that are now needed with no more delays.

Day 1 – Putting Circularity And Reuse At The Heart Of Living And Working

The opening day sets the stage with strategies and real-world examples of embedding circularity in the built environment. Leading experts include:

• Tina Paillet, Past President of RICS and Co-founder of Circotrade will chair a debate on making the circular economy a reality.
• Sophie Thomas, Founding Partner and Chief Technology Officer, etsaW Venture, explores innovative material reuse.
• Duncan Baker-Brown, Practicing Architect, Academic, Environmental Activist and long-term advocate for the circular economy, will explain why designers can put circularity and reuse at the heart of what we do.
• Rachel Sayers, Partner, FCB Studios will look at real-world challenges and solutions for driving impactful change

Day 2: Sustainability, Social Justice, and Transition

The second day reminds us of global commitments and national challenges. Highlights include:

• Baroness Young of Old Scone will Chair a debate on why we need a land use framework with Dani Arribas-Bel, Alan Turing Institute, Maya Singer, IPPR, Stephen King, London Councils and Stephen Hill of C₂O futureplanners.

• Cressida Curtis, Group Sustainability Director at Wates, Saul Humphrey, Vice President, Chartered Institute of Building and Will Arnold, Institute of Structural Engineers will assess progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be delivered by 2030 in a discussion chaired by Sue Riddletone, Bioregional.
• Richard Simmons, Visiting Professor, UCL, Yolande Barnes, Professor of Real Estate, UCL,  Flora Samuel, Professor of Architecture, University of Cambridge and Alan Law, Chief Strategy Officer, Natural England follow a keynote by Housing Minister, Baroness Taylor to explore how we can tackle the polycrisis by fixing housing, climate, nature and health at the same time.

Day 3: Making It Happen

The final day promises to empower attendees with insights and actionable steps to implement sustainable solutions, featuring:

• David Partridge, Chairman, NZCBS and Related Argent and Jess Hrivnak, RIBA, each chair a session on the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard on which much expectation for really achieving net zero rests.
• Lord Matthew Taylor with  Hugh Ellis, Director of Policy, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), Jackie Sadek, Chair, UK Innovation Corridor, Clare Warburton, Natural England, Judith Sykes, Useful Simple Trust and Expedition, examine what the New Towns Taskforce should consider to deliver the best outcomes.
• Smith Mordak, UKGBC with James Low, Global Head of Responsible Business, Mace,  Polly Turton, Head of Climate Action and Public Health at Love Design Studio/Shade the UK and Anusha Shah, Senior Director, Resilient Cities and UK Climate Adaptation Lead – Arcadis, Immediate Past President ICE, Tadj Oreszczyn, Energy Institute and Dr Emily Nurse, Head of Net Zero,Climate Change Committee, will look back and look forward to consider if we are doing enough.

The full programme can be found here with speaker details and biographies.

“As a global leader in sustainable technology, Mitsubishi Electric is delighted to sponsor the Futurebuild Arena Programme 2025. The conference aligns with our commitment to driving innovation and building meaningful collaboration,” said Rachel Lekman of Mitsubishi Electric UK. “The built environment has a crucial role in addressing climate change and social justice, and by bringing together thought leaders and industry experts, the Futurebuild Arena will empower all of us to take bold, actionable steps towards a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.”

Futurebuild 2025 offers professionals the chance to hear from leading voices, gain considered insights, and help drive the change our industry urgently needs.  The aim of the conference is that attendees should leave feeling more empowered and inspired to make changes to support the environment in their own work.

Martin Hurn, Event Director at Futurebuild, eagerly anticipates the event:

“The launch of the Futurebuild Arena Programme marks a pivotal moment as we celebrate 20 years of driving sustainability in the built environment. This year’s sessions will challenge us all to confront the urgency of the climate crisis and explore bold, actionable solutions that will have a real, tangible impact. With just five years until 2030, the time for decisive action is now.”

Don’t miss out on Futurebuild 2025 – the platform for knowledge, solutions and inspiration. Whether exploring decarbonisation strategies, tackling affordability challenges, or engaging with future-ready materials, join us and be part of the change.

Join the movement and make your impact – Register here.