Tag: Main

Green Star Buildings v1.1 is the latest evolution of the Green Star Buildings rating tool. Five years in the making, this update sharpens the focus on climate action, nature and circularity, while introducing greater flexibility to make certification more accessible and practical for a wider range of projects.

This webinar unpacks what’s changed, and what it means for your team.

In this session, you will:

• Gain a clear overview of the key updates in Green Star Buildings v1.1, including the Climate Positive Pathway, Nature Positive Pathway and new circularity requirements

• Understand how v1.1 aligns with emerging regulatory and market drivers, including climate reporting, embodied carbon requirements, TNFD and the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

• Explore the new stepped point structures and usability improvements designed to offer greater clarity and flexibility for project teams

• Learn what these changes mean for your project pipeline and how to confidently transition from v1 to v1.1

This webinar is free for GBCA members.

Keen to know more detail?  Our Advanced Buildings courses now have updated content to reflect the changes of Buildings v1.1.  The next available course is on the 17th February.  Book here.

Keen to upskill your wider team?  We can also offer training as an in-house course.  Contact nicola.scudamore@gbca.org.au for details.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING WORKSHOP: WHAT DOES THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF 2035 LOOK LIKE?

Imagine walking through a city in 2035 – what will we build then? This interactive session explores the future of sustainable buildings and communities, tackling emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities that will shape the next generation of the built environment. Through collaborative discussions, participants will help define what world-leading and typical buildings should look like in 2035 and what it will take to get there.  We will cover embodied carbon, nature, circularity and more. 

Join us for this small group, interactive session followed by drinks.

Presented by:
Taryn Cornell, Senior Manager Strategy and Development, Green Building Council of Australia

Jorge Chapa, Chief Impact Officer, Green Building Council of Australia

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Places of education have a profound impact on students, educators and communities alike, so how do we ensure that we plan, build and operate the best possible learning environments for the next generation?

This session will explore everything from improving wellbeing and fostering connection to reducing environmental impact through the use of sustainable materials, climate adaption planning and strong water and energy efficiency.

Join leading practitioners as they share insights, lessons learned and how they used Green Star rating tools to embed sustainability and enhance experiences in our places of education.

Hear more about the world leading Edmondson Park Public School,  the first NSW public school to achieve a 6 star Green Star rating and Botanic High School in South Australia as well as a range of projects underway at the University of New South Wales.

What You Will Learn:

• Discover how to rise to the challenge of designing truly sustainable educational facilities

• Learn from those already leading the way in this sector

• Explore how best practice approaches can be scaled and integrated across a portfolio of projects for greater impact

• Whether you’re seeking to benchmark your project or drive change in performance and outcomes, this webinar will give you actionable insights and inspiration.  

Our experts:

• Melissa Nouel, Sustainable Built Environment Manager, UNSW

• Danielle Fogarty, Sustainability Manager, NSW Department of Education

• Adam Hannon, Director, Cox Architecture

• Ella Mudie, Senior Engagement Lead, Green Building Council of Australia

Who Should Attend

This session is suitable for architects, designers, project managers, sustainability consultants and education sector stakeholders working on or planning new or refurbished education facilities.  

Exploring the basics of embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon is one of the most important factors in meeting goals for achieving net-zero. However, it is an inherently complex issue that requires innovative, coordinated and collaborative approaches to make lasting change.

What you’ll learn:

• The fundamentals of embodied carbon – what is it and why is it critical?

• Basics of measuring and benchmarking carbon including using a carbon calculator

• Examples of low carbon materials

• Shifting business concepts to lower embodied-carbon thinking – how do we design out carbon?

Ideal for:  
This course will act as an introduction to embodied carbon for those who are starting their journey to addressing scope three emission or who want to be brought up to speed on the top-line information on what the industry is doing in this space.

Join our experts including: 

• Katie Eyles, Sector Lead, Accelerating Net Zero Buildings, NABERS

• Evan Smith, National Sustainability Manager, Holcim 

• Catherine Trinh, Sustainability Consultant, Lendlease

• Emily Chung, Manager Future Focus, Strategic Projects, Green Building Council of Australia

As buildings electrify, energy efficiency is no longer just about reducing kilowatt hours; it’s also about how buildings interact with the grid. This session explores the concept of grid-interactive efficient buildings which use strategies such as time-of-use management, load shifting, smart controls, and battery storage to align building energy demand with a renewable-powered grid.

With solar and wind generation often peaking during the day and energy demand rising in the evenings, failing to shift demand risks increasing reliance on gas-fired power. Grid-interactive buildings, however, can support the transition by flexibly adjusting energy use, increasing demand when renewable supply is high, reducing it during periods of strain or proactively managing loads in anticipation of predicted demand surges.

Join us to uncover practical insights into how the building sector can play a pivotal role in accelerating deep decarbonisation and supporting a more resilient, renewable-powered energy system. Participants will also gain an understanding of how these strategies can translate into cost savings, improved energy security and future-proofed assets for their own organisations.

What you will learn:

• how grid ready, smart buildings can reduce emissions

• how to improve energy resilience and future proof assets

• what load shifting can mean for your projects and bottom line

Our speakers:

• Craig Roussac, Co Founder & CEO, Buildings Alive

• David Clark, Director, Positive Zero

• Alexandra Morgan, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Sydney Opera House

• Jess Roberts, Technical Advisor, Market Transformation, Green Building Council of Australia

Who should attend:

This session will be valuable for professionals working across the built environment and energy sectors including sustainability leaders, designers and utility providers

As our net zero deadlines draw closer and with less capital available for new builds the need to do more with what we have is critical. Reimagining, reusing and refurbishing our existing buildings over demolition brings a myriad of benefits including the reduction of embodied and upfront carbon, energy efficiency, cultural preservation and sustainable practice.

Join our experts as they discuss the environmental, social and economic drivers for adaptive reuse and refurbishment by highlighting learnings and outcomes from successful projects in this space.  
 

Learn about:

• the case for embodied carbon reduction and savings

• the increasingly important role adaptive reuse plays in driving impact

• considerations for adaptive reuse including electrification, circularity and waste

• the preservation of architectural heritage while reducing environmental impact

• learn how community consultation guided adaptive reuse in the restoration of Bondi Pavillion  

• the innovative construction methods and design features of Quay Quarter Tower

• the metamorphosis of 73 Miller Street where adaptive reuse breathed new life into an old building, creating quality, sustainable space.

• Gain insights into common challenges faced during projects and strategies to overcome them

Ideal for: Sustainability managers, ESD consultants, architects, developers, manufacturers, project managers, engineers

Our Speakers:

• Elizabeth Need, Principal, fitzpatrick + partners  

• Peter Tonkin, Director, TZG Architects  

• Daniel Cruddace, Partner, 3XN

• Gabrielle Pavicic, Green Star Program Lead, Green Building Council of Australia 

• Stefan Hill, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Cundall  

• Matt Williams, Principal, ESD, LCI Consultants

INSIGHT. ACTION. IMPACT 

The 2026 agenda will shine light on some of the most critical and emerging issues from the climate change and net zero transformation to a nature-positive future, circular design and material innovation. 

Through the insight and experience of both global and local experts, TRANSFORM provides the platform for learning exchange and invaluable knowledge transfer. 

The two-day program will feature a mix of interactive panel discussions, solutions-focused case studies and practical working groups that will inspire action and ignite change.  
 

Head to the TRANSFORM 2026 website for the agenda at a glance and further event information.
 

New for 2026:

• Spotlight on emerging areas such as data centres, new construction methods and material innovation

• Event app – providing enhanced networking and pre-event connection

• Immersive workshop day ( pre-event)

• Site visits (post event)

• Resource pack for attendees enabling directly transferable knowledge