Andrew Bowerbank

Andrew Bowerbank is the Executive Director of the World Green Building Council, honorary board member of the Canada Green Building Council -Toronto Chapter, and board member of the EcoSmart Foundation.

Mr. Bowerbank regularly draws from his diverse background in his efforts to engage community leaders and encourage energy & environmental conservation, and the adoption of climate change mitigation strategies. He has extensive entrepreneurial experience in business start-up including not-for-profit initiatives. As a published author, Mr. Bowerbank has had two of his books on Canada’s “best selling authors” list. In 2007, He received the Leader of the Year award by EnerQuality Corporation and the Ontario Home Builders Association for his contributions to sustainable community development and green home design.

Mr. Bowerbank’s direct support for Green Building Councils began in 2001 while working as the Senior Manager of Sustainable Development with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The TRCA is a leading Canadian organization with over 300 staff that oversees urban development surrounding the primary watersheds throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Mr. Bowerbank has been responsible for the development of high profile projects in Canada including:

• the Archetype Sustainable House National Design/Build Competition.

• the Municipal Green Building Tool Kit Project,

• the City of Vaughan Block 39 Green Community Project

• the Toronto Green Building Festival,

• the WorldGBC International Congress

• the Ontario Green Building Development Strategy.

• Mr. Bowerbank has also acted as the green design consultant for a number of leading construction projects in Canada.

In addition to his expertise in green building and sustainable community development, Mr. Bowerbank is a professor of design certified by the Ontario Ministry of Education; a member of the Ontario College of Teachers; a respected authority of Japanese martial arts and culture; and a national certified sports coach where he has trained elite athletes to compete at the Pan American Games. He also holds an honors diploma in Industrial Design with a focus in ergonomic science, materials and manufacturing processes, transportation design, and perspective illustration. Mr. Bowerbank operated his own Toronto based design firm from 1994 to 2000 where his team specialized in green strategies for commercial interiors and custom furniture design. Prior to 1993, Mr. Bowerbank worked in the manufacturing sector as an engineering supervisor.

Mr. Bowerbank was recently voted Best Speaker of the 2008 New Zealand National Green Building Conference. Mr. Bowerbank’s energetic style combined with his use of high resolution graphics, photographs and animations make his presentations an event not to be missed.

Speaking Topics:

1. Climate Change and the Role of Green Buildings: Solutions through a Common Language.

Urban societies around the world are on the verge of realizing an extraordinary transformation in the marketplace. We are witnessing a transformation away from current sector specific practices to a more holistic and collaborative approach to how we do business. Leaders are recognizing that a transformation is needed as it becomes more evident how the effects of climate change could impact future generations. Andrew Bowerbank will review current climate change perspectives; explore how market transformations of the past could help us plan for the future; and demonstrate how buildings and infrastructure need to be a major part of our efforts if we are to reduce the resource intensive demands of the built environment. 

2.Exploring the Human Factor in the Triple Bottom Line.

The United Nations has estimated that global populations will grow from today’s 6.5 billion to 9.5 billion by 2050. The natural resources on this planet required to provide food and shelter are already being depleted to dangerous levels. Humans are the apex species on this planet with the intellect, foresight and emotion required to find solutions to ensure the future health of the planet and the survival of our way of life. As the final chapter on the waste intensive industrial era draws to a close, leaders around the world are looking to how the next era in our development will evolve.

The principles of the Triple Bottom Line are being adopted by large corporations around the world as leaders begin to understand that economic success and social development are dependant on the health of the natural environment. Andrew Bowerbank will explore how we as a species are rethinking the way we live work and play. Once motivated, humans have an uncanny ability to resolve the challenges put before us however, these are unusual times. We must continue to recognize that although we are a passionate, highly creative, self aware species that are capable of wonderful accomplishments we are just as capable of unimaginable cruelty and destruction.

3. Leadership Collaboration: Working Together for Economic & Environmental success.

Our Planet is showing visible signs of stress and we are realizing for the first time in our history that the resources required to develop new products and materials are reaching their limits. Leaders are beginning to rethink their development strategies as they strive to adapt to change; they are also recognizing the fact that no single group will have all the answers to ensure success. Leaders are breaking down competitive silos and are working together to educate professionals, engage public interest and advance corporate objectives. Collaboration in the marketplace is an effective strategy that has been showing positive results for many years now. Andrew Bowerbank will discuss strategies for collaboration in the marketplace and present projects that have successfully demonstrated how working together can transform an industry.