Innovation celebration at Total Facilities 2019

PropTech, the rise of the digital twin, workplace ‘emotional technology’ trackers and the latest energy-saving initiatives in the built environment will be taking centre stage at Total Facilities 2019. The two-day event in Sydney is set to celebrate innovation in facilities management (FM) and will showcase the latest ideas and technology in the built environment and provide opportunities to connect with leaders in the FM community.

Renowned experts, academics and thought leaders will discuss the industry’s main challenges and opportunities, exploring how the use of technology and data is transforming the way buildings are constructed and operated to create a future of smart, connected buildings.

Industry experts include keynote speaker Libby Sander, who will examine leading-edge workplace practices, with insights and practical examples from the newest workplaces of Google, Twitter and Boston Consulting Group in New York. Trends in smart devices and the impact of AI and data monitoring on the workplace will also be explored.

Meshed IoT Director Catherine Caruana McManus will discuss how smart technologies are providing valuable insights into building and business performance. She will examine the role of the systems integrator, explaining how it aligns with the FM function and how to maximise its value.

Tica Messing, Human Geographer and Tenant Advisor at Cushman & Wakefield, will share insights on the latest technology tracking emotional wellbeing and productivity in the workplace.

Additional speakers include Living Future Institute Australia Executive Director Stephen Choi and Professor Tony Arnel, Global Director of Sustainability at Norman Disney & Young. Prof Arnel will discuss how close the built environment is to truly embracing net-zero energy and what the role FM industry can play in achieving it.

“Our next big exciting challenge is moving from the rating tool technologies we’ve used for the past 15 years to the next level, which is ‘net-zero energy’. What does this mean? It’s simple — in terms of a building and its energy use over a 12-month period, it actually produces enough energy to meet its demands. This can be achieved via solar, wind energy, geothermal — it means supplying 100% renewable energy. For the FM industry, whose focus is on improving the quality of buildings in terms of energy, water and waste, it’s about moving to the next stage. The focus now is on truly transforming our built environments to a net zero energy outcome for the future,” Prof Arnel said.

Total Facilities Event Manager Andrew Lawson said, “We are excited to explore new opportunities by partnering this year with the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage and the Design Institute of Australia (DIA). These new partnerships highlight how much the scope and influence of FM has changed in recent years. We hope that by providing meaningful training in energy management with the NSW Government, and greater insights into how design can transform the workspace environment through the DIA’s thought leadership, that we’re helping raise the profile of FM in the commercial market.”

Total Facilities 2019 will be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on 20–21 March 2019.

Registrations are now open at totalfacilities.com.au.

Image credit: ©Oneill Photographics