The Property Council is currently interviewing its committee chairs to share with the members the key activities of each policy area. This week we speak with the Chair of our Sustainability and Wellness Committee, Chris Chuah
What are the committee’s priorities for the next few months?
In line with the Property Council of Australia themes of Productivity, Affordability and Liveability, there are three priorities for the committee over the next few months.
The first being consulting with the Victorian Government on the rollout of a ‘Residential Efficiency Scorecard’ which has implications on the residential industry regarding energy efficiency disclosure at point of transaction and the impacts it may have on housing affordability.
The second is around ‘Resilience’ which has broad implications on the property industry depending on who you talk to. The committee is committed to defining what resilience means for our industry and the risks and opportunities it presents for building owners. There is a need to assist our members in understanding how resilience can be incorporated into the development and management of assets for long term value.
Thirdly, ‘Wellness’ which is the big ‘elephant in the room’ for our industry. There is so much being discussed in this arena and similar to resilience the committee is committed to defining and showcasing wellness programs and projects being delivered in our industry which are innovative and delivering value to businesses. Recently the committee has been providing input on how Wellness can be incorporated into the Property Council of Australia Building Guide to Office Quality which is currently being updated.
But notwithstanding the above, the Victorian State government elections are next year, so there will be renewed focus on key policy platforms in sustainability that I am sure our committee will be busy with.
What do you think are the characteristics of a great committee member?
Leadership! Whilst I might be the chair and my role is to lead and organise the committee, by providing direction and ensuring we are obtaining results, each member that sits around the table with me is a leader in their own right. My challenge is to ensure their knowledge and expertise is being harnessed to the benefit of the Property Council of Australia members. And ensure we have a voice with government which moves our industry forward in a sustainable way.
What is the biggest sustainability issue in Victoria currently?
Sustaining our ‘way of life’ is certainly the big issue for Victoria. Consider that Victoria has the fastest growing population year-on-year of any State, combine that with a nation that has low income growth, housing affordability pressures, increasing household debt and an ageing population. The impacts on liveability is amplified for Victoria due to our attractiveness as a destination which is not sustainable unless something changes. Australia has been labelled the Lucky Country, and in Victoria, Melbourne has been voted the most liveable city in the world for seven years in a row. I travel to Asia a fair bit and I can see the rapid pace that governments in developing nations and emerging economies are incorporating sustainability into their planning, infrastructure, cities and communities. I believe Victoria is at risk of being left behind from a liveability perspective. The Victorian Government should show leadership on protecting our way of life and deliver with the help of industry to remove red tape and improve productivity through sustainability thinking.
What does “success” mean to you in terms of your work as a Committee member?
Our committee is made up of passionate individuals eager to volunteer their time to learn and contribute in promoting the benefits of sustainability for our sector. Every little forward step that advances the sustainability thinking of our committee in turn can be translated to a big step for our industry through education, advocacy and collaboration, and that is success to me.
What was your first role within the sustainability sector and what roles have you had since?
I am a mechanical engineer with a consulting background in Asset and Energy Management, after 7 years in consulting I moved to NAB with their corporate real estate group where I was responsible for delivery of Facilities Management across the Australian property portfolio. It was an exciting time to be at NAB as the company was releasing their first corporate sustainability report, so I was responsible for driving environmental performance across the Australian property portfolio. After 6 years at NAB I moved across to ISPT as the Portfolio Facilities Manager providing technical and sustainability support to the business.
Sustainability had been a integral part of my professional career.
After 10 years with ISPT I decided to resign and go on a career break, so this year I have been a stay home Dad to my 4-year-old daughter before she starts kindergarten next year.
If you weren’t working in sustainability, where could you see yourself working?
My first thought is probably back to my engineering roots in some capacity be it in property or infrastructure. But if I had to start all over again, probably in the medical industry improving the health and well-being of others. Funny how it relates back to sustainability.
Using only one word, how would you describe the Property Council of Australia?
Influential.