Speaker: John Brodie

John Brodie, the principal of VIM Sustainability has been a construction professional for over thirty years. John is a licensed builder and graduate project manager from the University of Technology in Sydney .

John established Vim Sustainability in 2003.

Vim Sustainability provide practical, cost effective sustainability strategies and solutions across all genres of the built environment from Health and Aged Care facilities through to high rise offices, homes , apartments , hotels, education facilities, industrial, retail and indigenous projects.

John has presented at a broad range of conferences, written numerous articles for an assortment of publications on all aspects of sustainability and the built environment. He is guest lecturer on Sustainability at the University of Technology in Sydney .

In 2006 one of his Aged Care projects won the Master Builder's ‘Merit' Award for Energy Efficiency across all industry genres.

Last year Vim Sustainability consulted on projects with a total value of over $350 million.

In August, 2008, Vim Sustainability were appointed Sustainability Consultants on the world's first ZED (Zero Emissions Development) Healthcare and Retirement community projects here in Australia .

Introduction
As the acceptance of the benefits of sustainability in the built environment increase there is a compelling reason to understand the intricacies and nuances of implementing sustainability practice into your facility or project.

Methods
What issues will arise? How do I choose the right team? Will it be more trouble than it is worth?

How can we make this work? What are the risks? What are the opportunities?

No mater what the business or the size of the building project, the ‘lessons learned' are similar.

Results
A must see for any individual or organisation contemplating combining sustainability with a new home or building, with refurbishing an old facility , or simply intrigued about sustainability, this informative and humorous presentation will:-

• Examine the pitfalls in embracing sustainability
• Highlight the ‘do's and don'ts'
• Elucidate the ‘lessons learned'
• Provide insights into the sustainability design process
• Define recommendations to maximise outcomes
• Gain a clear understanding of the pitfalls encountered when incorporating sustainability into the design, build and operations of your project

Based on the experience of John Brodie, a successful sustainability consultant and project/design manager, the attendees will be taken on a journey of discovery as we expose the risks, opportunities and attitudes experienced by the writer while trying to introduce a valuable concept to a world full of sceptics reluctant to embrace change.

Conclusion
The attendee will leave this presentation with a clear understanding of the issues they must be aware of and the ‘lessons learned' that must be considered when going down the sustainable building path.