FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has created a new Research Advisory Committee to help reshape the built environment through a future-oriented research agenda.
This international panel of multidisciplinary subject matter experts will reshape the built environment to improve both people’s wellbeing and buildings’ sustainability. The panel consists of academic and business-oriented researchers focused on human experience and engagement, human-machine interfaces, facility management, real estate, sustainability and more.
Jeffrey Saunders, IFMA Director of Research commented: “The facility management (FM) industry faces several inflection points induced by the sudden shift toward hybrid ways of working, ongoing sustainability challenges, rapidly digitising operations and the adoption of circular approaches to building management. As a result, the industry needs to transform. We need a globally-oriented and multidisciplinary team of advisors to help IFMA set a future-oriented research agenda, and we are truly excited to see what they will recommend.”
IFMA President and CEO Don Gilpin said: “Thought leadership is – and always has been – paramount for IFMA. With this new globally diverse panel, IFMA will increase the number of resources provided to the FM community. We’re excited to see how the Research Advisory Committee will help IFMA evolve and innovate as we make the FM industry, and world, a better place.”
Led by Saunders and overseen by Lara Paemen, Managing Director of IFMA Europe, Middle East and Africa (IFMA EMEA), the Research Advisory Committee includes:
- Ryan Anderson, VP, Global Research and Insights, MillerKnoll (formerly Herman Miller)
- Colleen Conklin, Client Relations Executive and Former Director of Research, Sodexo Global Corporate Services
- Dr. Duygu Erten, Director, IKLIMER, Climate Research Center, member of LEED International Committee and advisory committee of WGBC, co-founder of Turkish Green Building Council, former board member USGBC
- Prof. Dr. Moacyr Eduardo Alves da Graça, Professor at the Escola Politécnica da USP, Brazil
- Dr. Joseph Lai, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Dr. Kathy Michell, Associate Professor, Deputy Dean (Undergraduate Studies), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town, and member of the editorial board and regional editor (Africa) for the Journal of Facilities Management
- Professor Dr. Mark Mobach, Lector Facility Management at the Hanze University of Groningen, Lector Spatial Environment and the User at The Hague University and Leading Lector of NoorderRuimte, the Hanze Research Center for Built Environment
- Thomas Nørmark, Global Head of AI and Robotics, NTT Data, member of the Board of Advisors, AI Innovation House, and Chairman of the Copenhagen AI Festival
- Professor Dr. Andreas Pfnür, FRICS, chair of Real Estate Business Administration and Construction Management at the Department of Law and Economics of the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, and member of the boards of directors of the German Real Estate Institute and the German Federal Association of Public-Private Partnership (BPPP e.V. Netzwerk Infrastrukturmanagement)
- Dr. Peggie Rothe, Chief Insights & Research Officer, Leesman Index
- Nancy Sanquist, Author, Member, IFMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Former SVP, Global Strategic Marketing, Planon
- Pa Sinyan, Managing Partner, Gallup Europe
IFMA will not only conduct novel research surrounding the ongoing FM transformations, but also examine global trends, innovations and more shaping the future of FM.
As workplaces open up and restrictions lift the role of the FM has become more important than ever.
The challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic are now providing a valuable opportunity for FMs to demonstrate their skills and adaptability. Whilst on a practical level FMs are responsible for making buildings safe and comfortable, they are also crucial in attracting people back to the office.
In speaking with industry leaders, it is clear that there are six key areas of focus. Zip has published a white paper which looks at each one, suggesting ways that facilities managers can tackle the complexities and pace of a return to the workplace, whilst demonstrating clear and effective leadership along the way.
To find out more download the white paper here.
