As the call for healthier and more sustainable buildings continues, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has enlisted more experts to help advance adoption of its WELL healthy building standard.
The organization appointed several new members to its Governance Council, a coalition of global thought leaders, doctors, public health professionals, and business executives who uphold the integrity of the WELL standard development process and accelerate market transformation through expert input.
According to IWBI, the WELL standard is a library of over 500 evidence-based, design, policy, and operational strategies that can improve the health and well-being of people. To date, WELL is being utilized across nearly 6 billion square feet of real estate globally at over 74,000 commercial and residential locations in 136 countries.
New council members include:
- Jane Burns, Enterprise Professor, The University of Melbourne
- Rick Fedrizzi, Executive Chairman, IWBI; Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council
- Ali Khan, CEO, SHAPE Global
- Dr. Tauni Lanier, Director, Sustainability and Economic Growth/International Projects Group, BDO LLP
- Ana Karen Mora, Sustainability Director, ESG Lead, Fibra Uno
- Brendan Owens, Principal, Black Vest Strategy; Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment and Department of Defense Chief Sustainability Officer
- Chrissa Pagitsas, CEO, Pagitsas Advisors
- Sigrid Zialcita, CEO, APREA
Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO of IWBI, said, “We are honored to have such esteemed professionals join us in advancing people-first places.”
These leaders join a distinguished group to total 18 members hailing from nearly 10 countries in every region of the world, including:
- Dr. Richard Carmona, M.D., MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States; Chair, IWBI Governance Council
- Cheryl Durst, Executive Vice President and CEO, International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
- Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI
- Stephen Huddart, Adjunct Professor, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
- Yasushi Kinoshita, Representative Member, Eminence Partners G.K.; Co-chairperson, Green Building Japan (GBJ)
- Alessandro Miani, President of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Professor of Environmental Prevention, University of Milan
- Alison Omens, President, JUST Capital
- Avi Rajagopal, Editor-in-Chief, Metropolis Magazine
- Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia
- Khoi Vo, CEO, American Society of Interior Designers
Formally constituted in February 2020, the Governance Council recently ratified the WELL Coworking Rating in spring 2024. Members serve a two-year term on a volunteer basis.
To learn more about healthy buildings and certifications, join IWBI Chief Product Officer Jessica Cooper for Facilities Management Advisor’s upcoming webinar, “How to Turn Your Facilities into Healthy Buildings,” on March 19. More info and FREE registration are available here.