When an individual turns 18, there’s excitement as they step into adulthood and enjoy freedoms such as the right to vote and getting a driver’s license. For GBCSA, our 18th birthday is the celebration of the growth of our team and wonderful achievements in the green building space.
The journey to this milestone for the organisation hasn’t always been easy, but it did result in something marvellous: The development of a green building community. Through advocacy efforts, comprehensive training programs, cutting-edge certification systems, and a spirit of collaboration, GBCSA has been able to deliver on the commitment to a more sustainable built environment and has been joined on this journey by amazing organisations and industry leaders. Let’s reflect on some of the achievements.
From humble beginnings to big successes
GBCSA was started in 2007 with Nicola Milne (then Douglas) as the CEO who helped get the organisation off the ground. There was valuable support from the Australian Green Building Council, and both Neil Gopal from SAPOA (South African Property Owners Association), as well as Bruce Kerswill from Spire Property Group that played a pivotal role in bringing to life an industry body to facilitate the growth and adoption of green principles in the property sector in South Africa.
Under the leadership of four CEOs, GBCSA has gone from strength to strength. Brian Wilkinson succeeded Nicola Douglas and led the organisation from 2011 to 2017, then Dorah Modise from 2017 to 2020, and current CEO Lisa Reynolds took the reins from 2020. They’ve each guided the organisation through different growth phases, with legacies that have a lasting positive impact.
GBCSA is also one of 75 members of the World Green Building Council and a member of the WGBC’s Africa Regional Network. This relationship means GBCSA can share its expertise on international stages and also stay abreast of global trends, the latest international breakthroughs, and collaborate with organisations that have a global reach.
In the 2024 Integrated Report, Lisa stated, “Someone recently described us as having an outsized impact on green buildings in South Africa – and I think that’s exactly right. We may be a small team, but the quality and consistency of our work go above and beyond, allowing us to ‘box above our weight range’ as an organisation. We’re having a massive impact, and it shows in the numbers.”
GBCSA’s achievements in numbers to date
- 1364 buildings have received green certification since the inception of GBCSA’s green rating tools
- 23.3 million square metres of property have been certified
- 2500+ individuals trained by GBCSA Academy
- Africa’s first-ever 6 Star Green Star Sustainable Precincts rating awarded
- GBCSA has awarded green building certifications in 12 countries on the African continent, and this continues to grow
- GBCSA uses 3 certification tool systems and continues to meet needs of the market with updates and innovation
Teamwork makes the GBCSA dream work
The GBCSA team is comprised of 25 talented and passionate individuals. Although the team is split between Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, they work closely together to advance certification, advocacy, and education. This is a team that believes in the value of good relationships, diligence, and fostering an environment where everyone can grow and find real meaning in their work.
Among the team, four individuals reached their 5 year anniversary with GBCSA, and two others have been with the organisation for a decade and counting! Bakang Moeng, Manager: Public Sector Advocacy & Sustainability at GBCSA, has also been appointed Vice Chairperson of the Africa Regional Network of the World Green Building Council. A wonderful achievement! The staff are the driving force behind GBCSA’s success and continued growth. It’s no wonder they are well respected in the green building community, and many are invited to attend industry events or serve as speakers, sharing their insights and knowledge.
The power of partnerships in the green building community
An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” GBCSA focuses on building industry partnerships because we know we can transform the built environment and the industries that contribute to it by working with organisations that share our commitment and vision. The result is groundbreaking research and data, and initiatives that support the development of green careers and improved rating tools.
- MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property Index, in partnership with MSCI and Growthpoint Properties
- Green Building in South Africa: A Guide to Costs & Trends, in partnership with the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) and University of Pretoria
- Greenovate Awards, in partnership with Growthpoint Properties
- Women In Green Building Competition, in partnership with the IFC
- Building the Future Report, in partnership with REdimension Capital and RMB
The above are just some of the many partnerships and collaborations we enter to advance our shared vision. In addition, we are frequently engaged with the public sector. Through partnerships with government stakeholders at national, provincial, and local levels, we share our expertise and help shape policies that create an enabling environment where green buildings are the standard.
Our annual Green Building Convention is where stakeholders from both the private and public sectors come together, and the future of sustainable development takes centre stage. This event is one of the most powerful gatherings of the green community on the African continent. Our most recent event in 2024 brought together over 800 visitors and 130 companies. It’s a point of pride that the Convention grows every year with a roster of phenomenal, diverse speakers.
GBCSA steps into a new era
With the GBCSA team growing plus the property and construction sectors showing even greater interest in green building certification, an exciting time is ahead. Green Star New Build V2’s pilot technical manual was launched in 2024, and training has begun on this new rating tool that responds to current market needs and will drive green building transformation at scale.
Partnerships are in the pipeline for opportunities to upskill more individuals as well as provide environments for networking and collaboration. GBCSA is also working on providing more support for our valued members and engaging with them at our sought-after events. The next generation of brilliant minds entering the green building space can also benefit from the opportunities GBCSA creates for members and broader green community. Through this, our future green professionals can discover how they can help transform the built environment with innovation and resilience.
As one staff member said, “GBCSA is finally old enough to have a drink.” And we’re certainly raising a glass and toasting to 18 inspiring years so far and many more successful years to come!