Catalina Ionita announced as a Judge for the 2024 ESG EDGE Property Week Awards

Architect Catalina Ionita based in our Manchester Studio has been announced as a judge for the 2024 ESG EDGE Property Week Awards. This inaugural event, part of the ESG Edge Conference taking part on 12th November 2024 at the Hilton Bankside, in London, is set to bring together industry leaders and visionaries to delve into the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies that are driving meaningful change across the property sector.

The ESG Edge Conference is the first of its kind and aims to spotlight the ESG practices benefiting people, communities, and the planet. This aligns with Chapman Taylor’s Responsible Design agenda, considering not just climate change issues, but also the social, economic, and ethical dimensions, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and principles of exemplary placemaking.

This conference will serve as a crucial platform for professionals in the property industry to gain knowledge into how ESG integration is reshaping the sector, fostering innovation, and setting new benchmarks for sustainability and social responsibility.

Catalina's involvement as a judge supports the event’s commitment to collaborative approaches involving ethical and responsible governance, her role involves evaluating submissions that demonstrate outstanding ESG practices, showcasing the innovative solutions and critical trends that are steering the industry towards decarbonisation, sustainability, and achieving net-zero goals.

Key themes at the ESG Edge Conference will include:

Decarbonisation: With the property sector significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, there's an intensified focus on reducing buildings' carbon footprints, establishing a feasible path to net zero, and adopting immediate measures like carbon offsetting.

Sustainability: Enhancing asset sustainability is crucial. This includes reducing energy use, water consumption, and waste, utilising sustainable materials and construction methods, and advocating for a retrofit-first approach.

Well-being: Recognising the built environment's impact on human health, the industry is exploring how to create spaces that promote physical and mental well-being, emphasizing natural light, green spaces, and quality air.

Social Value: The sector is increasingly tasked with generating positive social impacts, supporting local communities, offering affordable housing, and championing diversity and inclusion.

Governance: Effective ESG governance, transparent reporting, and alignment with key performance indicators around net zero and EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) are pivotal, alongside ethical interactions with stakeholders and long-term strategic planning.

Investor Demand: There's a growing appetite among investors for ESG-compliant assets, driven by the belief that ESG factors enhance asset performance and risk profiles.

Using her expertise in placemaking and urban activation, Catalina will play a key role alongside fellow judges in assessing and celebrating the innovative efforts and achievements within the property sector, setting a standard for others to aspire to. The Awards will undoubtedly shine a spotlight on the best practices and pioneering strategies in the industry, inspiring others to follow suit in the drive toward a sustainable, inclusive, and ethical future.

For details on the Conference and the Property Week ESG Edge awards (entry deadline 24th May 2024), please click here https://esg.propertyweek.com/esglive/en/page/home