WorldGBC Award named for David Gottfried
WorldGBC Award named for David Gottfried
October 14, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Founder of the world's first and largest green building council, David Gottfried, has been presented with the inaugural World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award. The WorldGBC also announced that as of next year the name of the award will be the David Gottfried Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award.
First president of the U.S. Green Building Council, Gottfried also founded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system in the 1990s.
Presenting the award, Chairman of the WorldGBC Tony Arnel said that "David was selected by the WorldGBC's board for his distinguished lifetime achievement and contribution to the development and growth of the global green building industry.
"An author, green building activist and keen entrepreneur, David is an inspirational role model for the global property and construction industry. David has been a passionate crusader of the green building council model, which is driving a worldwide transition to sustainable building practices," Mr Arnel said.
Speaking at the gala dinner, President and Global Chief Operating Officer of Brookfield Office Properties, Tom Farley said: "It is a pleasure to be part of an industry that is revolutionizing itself, and redefining the very working spaces where business does business. We have all made a personal and professional commitment to a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable building and our industry has made tremendous strides. But as far as we've come in the past decade or so, it is only just the beginning."
"We congratulate the green building industry leaders who are honoured today," said Valerie Chort, Partner and National Leader, Sustainability & Climate Change for Deloitte in Canada. "Their remarkable achievements are a living template for sustainable business strategies."
Recognition of Service Awards were also presented at the gala dinner to retiring board members for their contributions to the WorldGBC and the green building industry. These awards were presented to:
- César Treviño, President of the Mexico GBC
- Dr Chilin Cheng, founder and board member of the Chinese-Taipei Green Building Council
- Parasu Raman, founder of the India GBC.
A number of Chairman's Awards for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the global green building movement were also awarded to:
- Founding WorldGBC board member Ché Wall from Lend Lease, who was first Chairman of the WorldGBC
- WorldGBC Legal Counsel, Dan Slone from McGuire Woods, who established the WorldGBC's governance structure
- Chief Administrative Officer at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Brian Denney, for his ongoing support of the WorldGBC
- Huston Eubank, who was the WorldGBC's founding corporate secretary and first Executive Director
- Dr Kath Williams, who was a vice chair of the WorldGBC board and staff member for many years in the set-up phase
- Nellie Cheng, who served on the WorldGBC board for six years, and who now heads up the USGBC China operations
- Province of Ontario, accepted by David Lindsay, Deputy Minister, Energy, Province of Ontario, which provided $1.2 million in seed funding over four years.
