On 23-24 April 2018, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) World Built Environment Forum (WBEF) Summit will explore how industrial transformation, urbanisation and digitalisation will shape the world we live in.
The two-day programme, developed in collaboration with internationally renowned and respected industry figures, will begin with a keynote address from Tesla chief technology officer and co-founder, J.B. Straubel will highlight the role of innovative technology in creating disruptive business models.
With an audience of more than 1,000 high level delegates representing industry, finance, government, and regulators, Straubel will discuss with how new types of transport and energy storage are transforming urban design. Martin Wolf, associate editor and chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, will join Straubel and share his wisdom from 40 years of working in international economics with the crowd.
Further speakers include:
Guy Grainger, chief executive officer for global property services firm JLL’s EMEA division and a prominent commentator on the real estate world, and Rohan Pradhan, Deliveroo vice president will discuss how the gig economy is transforming the way people interact with cities. Chris Choa, head of engineering giant AECOM’s Cities and Development practice will bring a Transatlantic perspective on the growth of cities, while Greg Clark CBE, chairman of the advisory group The Business of Cities and honorary UCL professor, will explore best practice in seizing the opportunities from urbanisation. Taylor Wescoatt, founding partner at property technology venture capital firm Concrete VC will give his thoughts on the best start-ups transforming our cities; and Richard Templer, director of innovation at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute and a sustainable development commissioner at the Greater London Authority, will share his insight of how city leaders are reacting to climate change. Andrew Rose, chief executive officer of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association, will also take part in a panel discussion on how to harness the power of cities as engines of growth.
Now in its third year, the summit is the flagship event in the calendar of the RICS’ World Built Environment Forum, a network of leaders drawn from the worlds of the built environment, government, policy, wider industry, technology and academia. Under the banner of ‘Our Changing World — Urbanisation, Innovation and Civilisation’, experts at the summit will debate three driving forces of change: industrial transformation, urbanisation and digitalisation, and their impact on the planet’s natural and built environment.
Sean Tompkins, chief executive officer at the RICS, said:
“Tesla is a company at the cutting edge of sustainable engineering, and as one of the world’s foremost experts on energy storage, JB Straubel has been a driving force behind that. The impact of these disruptive tech firms on the built and natural environments is not yet known, so it’s great to have the co-founder of one of the most high profile companies in this space kicking off the summit later this year. His thoughts on green energy and urban transport will be well received; I’d encourage everyone to sign up for the event soon.”