Sustainable management in office design, housing and developments
2010 AIM Mackay Discussion Forum Event

‘Sustainable Management’ is the overarching theme for the 2010 AIM Mackay Discussion Forum series and each event will address the topic from a different perspective.

The first event in the series will focus on environmental sustainability with concern for the built environment, and reducing a company’s carbon footprint through careful consumption and management of natural resources.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from local business leaders including:

• Mark Nicholls - Registered Architect, Mark Nicholls Architect Pty Ltd
• Philip Lane – President, Central Queensland Branch, Planning Institute of Australia.
• Jaco Ackerman - Strategic  Planner, Mackay Regional Council

Sustainable management will mean different things to different people depending on their profession, experience and areas of interest.  For some it may be in relation to environmental sustainability with concern for the built environment, commissioning custom-designed buildings and making efforts to reduce the company's carbon footprint through careful consumption and management of natural resources.  Many large organisations are already considering this aspect and in future clients may choose to work only with those organisations who practice such environmental sustainability.

For others it may be in relation to ensuring that their human ‘capital' is developed and maintained to ensure an adequately skilled and well-balanced workforce as part of succession planning and the longer term sustainability of the business.  It could also be in relation to financial sustainability particularly in the wake of the GFC when many companies have realised that previous management practices are no longer appropriate and have not place in the ‘new world'.

One thing is sure, to be successful in the future, organisations need to realise that sustainable management is about understanding the need for balance across all forms of capital - human, natural, manufactured, and financial, and managers should be keeping themselves informed of the latest developments and implementing necessary changes to ensure continuing future success.

Speaker Profiles

Mark Nicholls
Registered Architect
Mark Nicholls Architect Pty Ltd

Mark is a Registered Architect with over 15 years experience in the architectural industry. In more recent years, Mark has gained a variety of experience as a project architect with particular emphasis on design and construction management. He has been involved with the design and documentation of various projects including shopping centres, mine site support buildings, administration buildings, cinemas, aged care facilities, unit developments and individual houses. Recent projects include a Sustainable Housing Duplex, Mackay Central retail / Office Complex, Peak Downs Mine Infrastructure Expansion Feasibility Study, OzCare Administration Building , ARC Disability Respite House Complex and Blue Care Homefield refurbishment.

Philip Lane
President - CQ Branch
PIA (Planning Institute)

Philip is a consultant planner and project manager with over 30 years experience in the Mackay Whitsunday region. Professional activities have included initiation, planning, approvals and management of development projects ranging from small infill developments to major impact resorts. He is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, Past President of the Mackay Whitsunday Branch of the Urban Development Institute of Australia and current President of the Central Queensland Branch of the planning institute.

Jaco Ackerman
Strategic  Planner
Mackay Regional Council