CIOB’s new president is calling on the sector to focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Throughout his year in office, Mike plans to use his platform as CIOB President to increase focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking yesterday at the annual CIOB Members Forum held in Cape Town, South Africa, he said the sector must focus on goals such as building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and supporting innovation.

“In 2015 – it feels like a lifetime ago – the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to set out a framework for how we, as a global community, tackle humanity’s greatest challenges,” said Mike, vice-chancellor of business research and innovation at De Montfort University in Leicester.

“It’s about sustainability in a broader sense. They are about our quality of life, access to justice, economic growth and productive employment.”

Mike added that many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals seen here can be easily linked to the construction sector, as well as CIOB’s corporate plan.

He continued: “The built environment affects everyone. It is the backbone of economies around the world – offices, shops, infrastructure, hospitals, schools and housing.

“Moreover, our people delivering these buildings and infrastructure are part of the community – through our workforce, our supply chains and the users of what we create.”

Mike is the 121st President of the CIOB, taking over from Sandi Rhys Jones OBE, FCIOB.

He was previously Vice-Chancellor for Global Development (Europe and UK) and Dean of Engineering, Design and the Built Environment at Western Sydney University (WSU) in Australia.

Notable achievements over the course of his distinguished career, which began as an integrated systems engineer, include leading two government-funded research centers for innovative manufacturing in the built environment and healthcare infrastructure, overseeing the creation of innovative learning units and structures at three universities and two countries, and often serving as an expert in the evaluation of programs, subject areas, research councils and universities around the world.

Caroline Gumble, CEO of CIOB, said: “I am delighted to welcome Mike as CEO of CIOB. Mike’s international perspective and experience as an academic will be of great benefit to CIOB’s work, particularly in further strengthening links between industry and academia.

“His knowledge will contribute to many of our focus areas, but with his expertise, I know he will play a critical role as we continue our work on environmental sustainability and our efforts to close the skills gap.”