Together with the convention will be an exhibition, which will showcase an extensive range of green building, technologies, products and services that are available in South Africa.

“The green building movement is sweeping the globe and local corporates are committing to it, almost across the Board”, says Bruce Kerswill, executive chairman of the GBCSA.

“This Convention is a chance to get right up to speed in one sweep, to be inspired and informed by some of the most accomplished international practitioners.  It’s on par with some of the best conferences worldwide and we’re expecting over a thousand delegates.”

While the Conference provides the inspiration, the exhibition will provide the solutions - a challenge in SA is finding suppliers of ‘green’ products and services.  “The exhibition provides the opportunity for suppliers to showcase their products to a targeted and interested audience. 

We would like to invite the providers of services and products to take a stand and show off what they’ve got.  We’re looking at services such as energy efficient products, alternative energy, water efficient fittings, recycled material products, non-toxic materials and other green building components (to name a few), as well as consultancies and other service providers.  This is an opportunity to get focussed exposure to a top audience of developers, consultants, builders and corporates.

The Convention programme includes topics like the response of the built environment to global warming, the world-wide green building movement, costs and benefits of green building, and SA’s energy crisis.  It will cover international and local case studies, and provide practical guidance on green building techniques.

It will include presentations, topical discussions and opportunities to network and learn.

Speakers include Rick Fedrizzi architect, one of the pioneers of the green building movement, CEO of the USGBC and an inspirational speaker; Jamie Lerner, ex Mayor of Curitiba in Brazil and ex President of the International Union of Architects, world-renowned for his pioneering work in the design of sustainable cities; Che Wall, Mechanical Engineer, one of the world’s most accomplished green building professionals.

MD of Lincoln Scott in Australia and ex-chair of the World GBC; Andrew Borgers, MD of Leighton Properties, a leading developer in Brisbane, presenting a case study with members of his professional team, Vivian Loftness, Professor of Architecture at Canegie Mellon University, on the impact of green building on occupants; Lindsay Parnell, President of Interface Flor Europe, an inspiring company aiming for zero waste and a zero carbon footprint.  Davis Langdon, a member of this global quantity surveying firm’s International Sustainability group to talk on costs of green building.

Additional international speakers and participants are Kevin Hydes, sustainability specialist, Vice-President of the global Stantec consulting group and current President of the World GBC; Romilly Madew, CEO of GBC of Australia; Robin Mellon, Technical Manager of the GBC of Australia.

“Exhibitors and Convention goers alike are guaranteed an outstanding event with an amazing line up of speakers.  If you are in the property or building industry you simply must be at this event, and if you have a green building product this is the ideal opportunity to expose it to you target customers.”

The event will be taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from the 2nd to the 4th of November 2008. For more information or to book a stand contact the Green Building Council of South Africa.