The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Smith Mordak
as the incoming Chief Executive of UKGBC.
Smith will take on the role on 1 June 2023, with a handover from Julie
Hirigoyen, who will be standing down after over eight years at the helm.
Over six months, the Board of Trustees conducted a rigorous and extensive
search process to find the right person. They are delighted to appoint Mordak,
who brings a wealth of industry knowledge, deep technical expertise, first-hand
insights as a longstanding member of UKGBC, and plenty of fresh ideas to the
role, at this critical moment in time.
Mordak, currently Director of Sustainability and Physics at Buro Happold is
an award-winning architect, engineer, curator, and writer, working across
disciplines to realise a regenerative economy and built environment.
Their career has centred on creating and implementing strategies for the
transition to a healthy, fair and sustainable built environment, and has
included leading roles in architecture and engineering firms including Buro
Happold, Webb Yates Engineers, and Studio Weave. Mordak is also a driving force
behind numerous industry initiatives, including as Board Member for the Journal
of City Climate Policy and Economy and The Architecture Foundation, and as a
nationally elected Councillor at RIBA. In addition, Mordak is a regular and
well-respected thought leader across a range of media including Dezeen, the Architects’
Journal and The Guardian.
Sunand Prasad, Chair of the Board
of Trustees said: “UKGBC is delighted to appoint Smith
Mordak as our new Chief Executive. We look forward to their leadership of the
team in this critical period for taking urgent and effective action to limit
and reverse environmental degradation. Smith combines a deep, science
based and systemic understanding of the climate emergency with a clear sighted,
principled and pragmatic approach for what needs to be done in response. From
founding an innovative, award-winning design practice to helping a major
international consultancy, Smith has consistently shown imagination and
determination in achieving change. Along the way they have been active in
significant industry initiatives to achieve an equitable and lasting
transformation of the built environment to a sustainable and regenerative
model.
“I would also like, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, to give heartfelt
thanks to Julie Hirigoyen for her 8 amazing years as CEO. She has been an outstanding
leader, growing consensus around the urgent need for action on the climate and
biodiversity crises, building a highly effective and networked
organisation equal to its critical mission, as well as steering
UKGBC adeptly through times of global crisis. We wish Julie every success
in her future endeavours.”
Smith Mordak, incoming Chief
Executive of UKGBC said: “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity
to work with the amazing team, trustees, and membership at UKGBC. I’m looking
forward to building on the charity’s extraordinary body of work and Julie’s
inimitable legacy. We live in existentially challenging times. Our actions over
the next few years will have an outsized impact on the Earth’s ecosystems and
on many generations to come. I’m honoured that I’ll be playing my part in this
crucial period as part of this powerful, change-making coalition.”
Duncan Price, Partner and Global
Lead, Sustainability & Climate Change, of Buro Happold said: “As
founding members of UKGBC and Advancing Net Zero Programme Partners, Buro
Happold is delighted that Smith Mordak will be stepping up to lead UKGBC at
this pivotal moment for our industry. Since joining us three years ago, they
have demonstrated a unique ability to couple advocacy with action. We look
forward to continuing our journey together as we help clients achieve ambitious
sustainability goals.”
Julie Hirigoyen, current Chief
Executive of UKGBC said: “It is with great confidence and the
utmost respect that I will hand over the stewardship of UKGBC to Smith. They
bring creative wisdom, technical expertise, and a deeply human-centric approach
to the challenge of transforming our built environment into one where both
people and planet can thrive. On behalf of everyone at UKGBC I am excited at
the prospect of warmly welcoming Smith to this unique organisation.”
In view of the pivotal moment in time for UKGBC’s mission, as well as a
changing political landscape, the Board of Trustees is also taking the
opportunity to further strengthen the executive team. Simon McWhirter, current
Director of Communications, Policy and Places will move into a Deputy Chief
Executive role – with a laser focus across international, national and local
policy work.
