IFMA Focuses on the Future of Facility Management Oct 12, 2021 New Research Advisory Committee to help reshape the built environment through future-oriented research agenda The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) enthusiastically announces the creation of IFMA’s Research Advisory Committee. This international panel of multidisciplinary subject matter experts will reshape the built environment to improve both people's well-being and buildings’ sustainability. The panel consists of academic and business-oriented researchers focused on human experience and engagement, human-machine interfaces, facility management, real estate, sustainability and more. Together, this panel will help create IFMA's future research agenda. "The facility management (FM) industry faces several inflection points induced by the sudden shift toward hybrid ways of working, ongoing sustainability challenges, rapidly digitizing operations and the adoption of circular approaches to building management. As a result, the industry needs to transform,” stated Jeffrey Saunders, IFMA Director of Research. “We need a globally-oriented and multidisciplinary team of advisors to help IFMA set a future-oriented research agenda, and we are truly excited to see what they will recommend.” Led by Saunders and overseen by Lara Paemen, Managing Director of IFMA Europe, Middle East and Africa (IFMA EMEA), the Research Advisory Committee includes: Ryan Anderson, VP, Global Research and Insights, Herman Miller Colleen Conklin, Client Relations Executive and Former Director of Research, Sodexo Global Corporate Services Duygu Erten, Director, IKLIMER, Climate Research Center, member of LEED International Committee and advisory committee of WGBC, co-founder of Turkish Green Building Council, former board member USGBC Prof. Dr. Moacyr Eduardo Alves da Graça, Professor at the Escola Politécnica da USP, Brazil Dr. Joseph Lai, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kathy Michell, Associate Professor, Deputy Dean (Undergraduate Studies), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town, and member of the editorial board and regional editor (Africa) for the Journal of Facilities Management Professor Dr. Mark Mobach, Chair Facility Management at the Hanze University of Groningen, Chair Spatial Environment and the User at The Hague University and Chair of NoorderRuimte, the Hanze Research Center for Built Environment Thomas Nørmark, Global Head of AI and Robotics, NTT Data, member of the Board of Advisors, AI Innovation House, and Chairman of the Copenhagen AI Festival Professor Dr. Andreas Pfnür, FRICS, chair of Real Estate Business Administration and Construction Management at the Department of Law and Economics of the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, and member of the boards of directors of the German Real Estate Institute and the German Federal Association of Public-Private Partnership (BPPP e.V. Netzwerk ) Peggie Rothe, Chief Insights & Research Officer, Leesman Index Nancy Sanquist, Author, Member, IFMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Former SVP, Global Strategic Marketing, Planon Pa Sinyan, Managing Partner, Gallup Europe “Thought leadership is - and always has been - paramount for IFMA,” said IFMA President and CEO Don Gilpin. “With this new globally diverse panel, IFMA will increase the number of resources provided to the FM community. We’re excited to see how the Research Advisory Committee will help IFMA evolve and innovate as we make the FM industry, and world, a better place.” IFMA will not only conduct novel research surrounding the ongoing FM transformations, but also examine global trends, innovations and more shaping the future of FM. For more information, contact Lara Paemen. About IFMA Founded in 1980, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is the world’s largest association for facility management professionals, supporting over 20,000 members in more than 130 countries. This diverse membership participates in focused component groups equipped to address their unique situations by region (140 chapters), industry (16 councils) and areas of interest (six communities). Together, members manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$526 billion in products and services. IFMA is a key contributor to the development of international FM standards and works with decision makers globally to inform and shape FM-related policy. IFMA provides career resources and continuing education, offers three industry-respected credentials, maintains the largest repository of FM-related content on the web and hosts year-round global events. To join and follow IFMA's social media outlets, visit the association’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram pages. For more information, visit www.ifma.org.
