AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people.
- Date
- 21 November 2023
- Time
This event has now ended
Overview
ICE, together with the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), invite you to the Middle East and North Africa region lecture of our 14th Brunel International Lecture series building on the theme of resilience and sustainability in infrastructure development.
Chaired by ICSI executive director Savina Carluccio, the lecture will focus on challenges, opportunities, engineering solutions, and best practice examples specific to the Middle East and North Africa.
Massive population growth and migration has stimulated the creation of new cities in a region that is already challenged by water scarcity and inadequate waste management. These challenges have created a pressing need for building robust and resilient urban planning initiatives and developing waste management systems.
Despite growing wealth from natural resources, issues such as coastal erosion, flooding, and biodiversity loss are major issues across the region and especially for those countries within the region that are already struggling to secure sustainable development finance.
The keynote address will be given by Dr Georges Youssef, the Mayor of Menjez. The city lies on the northern boundary of Lebanon and Syria, and despite its socio-political issues, Dr Youssef has been part of the team that has created a multitude of sustainable and resilient initiatives. These have included reforestation activity planting over 25,000 trees, increasing power generation via a new photovoltaic power plant, developing rainwater harvesting plans, and a move towards municipal lighting using LED lights.
A Board Member of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), Mayor Youssef serves as an ambassador for urban climate action at the local, national, and global levels. He has considerable experience in developing and financing sustainable and green infrastructure in the MENA region.
Join us as we explore subjects including:
- Water scarcity and water insecurity
- Cultural heritage and cultural identity
- Climate change and energy
- Climate resilience and adaptability
We will also identify how engineers can support positive change by influencing policy, improving communication, and cooperating across regions to share knowledge.
Following the keynote address, Savina Carluccio will moderate an interactive panel discussion with an expert line-up including:
- Professor Khalifa Saif Sultan Al-Jabri, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
- Moustafa Yehia, Director of Sustainability, AtkinsRéalis
- Nick Gardner, Head of Programme, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
- Dr Hala Omar, Senior Sustainability Manager at Dar Al-Handasah and Vice President, Egypt Green Building Council
- Sarah El-Battouty, UNFCCC Global Ambassador, High Level Climate Champions
The Brunel International Lecture Series shines a spotlight on equitable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure challenges around the world and showcases what engineers globally are doing to help address those challenges.
Mitigation and adaptation efforts are both necessary for tackling climate change impacts, however, the latter is often overshadowed by the former. It is important to tackle climate change impacts that are felt now, whilst preparing for the future with resilient infrastructure.
The lectures provide a platform for dialogue with high-profile leaders across the globe while focusing on practical engineering issues in tackling climate change at the local level.
To catch up on any of the previous lectures, please visit the ICE Brunel International Lecture Series page.
Sponsored by:
With support from:
International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI)
This coalition continues to broaden participation across other stakeholder communities to accelerate innovation, adoption and scaling of strategic resilient and sustainable infrastructure solutions built upon a commitment to tangible and collaborative action.
Programme
Local times are as follows: 15:00 – 16:30 GMT and 19:00 – 20:30 UAE
15:00 - 15:10
Welcome by Savina Carluccio, executive director, International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI)
15:10 - 15:30
Keynote address by Mayor Georges Youssef, municipality of Menjez, Lebanon
15:30 - 16:00
Introduction to panellists and panellist remarks
16:00 - 16:25
Panel discussion and Q&A
16:25 - 16:30
Closing remarks by Savina Carluccio
16:30
Event close
Speakers
Savina Carluccio
International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI)
executive director
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Savina Carluccio
Savina is the executive director of the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI) and a fervent advocate of the role of civil engineers in tackling our society’s biggest challenges. She is an experienced civil engineer and infrastructure practitioner with almost two decades of experience advising government, infrastructure owners and operators, multi-lateral development banks and NGOs to develop and implement inclusive, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure that is fit for the future. Prior to taking her role at ICSI, she served as associate director and infrastructure advisor at Arup as well as head of guidance and standards at the Resilience Shift.
Georges Youssef
Lebanon
Mayor of Menjez
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Georges Youssef
Dr Georges Youssef has been the mayor of Menjez, Lebanon since 2012. He is also a member of its agricultural cooperative association and has been a university teacher since 2000. Mayor Youssef has developed excellent knowledge and expertise in areas including integrated local sustainable development, renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate resilience.
A board member of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), Mayor Youssef serves as an ambassador for urban climate action at the local, national, and global levels.
He has always been considered a champion for urban sustainability and climate solutions in the MENA region. As a mayor, he has relentlessly tried to identify the climate change adaptation responses that best meet his municipality’s needs. He has also secured funding from various donors for a multitude of projects that were implemented to help build resilience and green infrastructure in the city of Menjez.
Nick Gardner
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Head of Programme
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Nick Gardner
Nick is a civil engineer and project manager with more than 35 years of global experience in the design, construction, and project management of physical infrastructure works in both public and private sectors. He is a former chief technical advisor to the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia.
He is currently head of programme for the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Afghanistan, responsible for a portfolio of over US$300m of projects focused on delivering essential services that help improve livelihoods and the well-being of people.
A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Nick holds an MSc in Development Management from the Open University and a BSc in civil engineering from Imperial College, London.
Moustafa Yehia
AtkinsRéalis
director of sustainability
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Moustafa Yehia
Moustafa, a fervent advocate for the planet's future, has devoted over 14 years to fostering sustainable advancements, and currently works as a director of sustainability at AtkinsRéalis. His contributions to the MENA built environment are marked by the various development of pivotal sustainability standards and significant involvement in transformative urban major programmes including the first Energy NetZero GCC projects. As a certified sustainability professional and a chartered construction manager, Moustafa seamlessly blends design expertise and site experience with policy advisory roles, embodying a relentless pursuit of Engineering a Better Future for our Planet and its People.
Prof. Khalifa Saif Sultan Al-Jabri
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
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Prof. Khalifa Saif Sultan Al-Jabri
Prof. Khalifa Al-Jabri is a professor in civil and architectural engineering at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. He earned his BSc from Sultan Qaboos University and his MSc and PhD from The University of Sheffield, UK.
Throughout his career, he has held various academic and administrative positions, including serving as the head of the department of civil and architectural engineering. Notably, he was ranked among the world's top 2% influential scientists by Stanford University and received "The Order of Royal Commendation (2nd class)" from the Sultan of Oman.
Prof. Al-Jabri's research focuses on material behaviour at elevated temperatures, utilisation of waste materials in civil engineering, seismic hazard assessment, and sustainable construction materials. He has published extensively and led numerous research projects, contributing significantly to his field.
Additionally, he holds fellowships in prestigious engineering institutions and serves in key roles in international engineering bodies. Prof. Al-Jabri's remarkable contributions are evident through his extensive citations and influential publications.
Prof. Khalifa Al-Jabri FICE is also the ICE representative in Oman.
Dr Hala Omar
Dar Al-Handasah / Egypt Green Building Council
senior sustainability manager / vice president
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Dr Hala Omar
As senior sustainability manager at Dar Al-Handasah, Dr Omar plays an influential role in the development of high-performance design. She works closely with clients to enhance their missions and meet project goals, bringing her expertise in net zero, embodied carbon, integrated design, resiliency, transport, mobility, health and well-being, and green certifications to projects.
She provides thought leadership on projects sustainability impacts and advises clients on developing and delivering ambitious carbon reduction pathways and broader sustainability visioning at a building, infrastructure, and cities scales.
Dr Omar is also the vice president of Egypt Green Building Council. In parallel to her professional experience, Dr Omar has continuously demonstrated a record of research and publishing excellence.
Sarah El-Battouty
High Level Climate Champions
UNFCCC Global Ambassador
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Sarah El-Battouty
Sarah is an architect and climate policy specialist with 20 years’ experience in the sustainable design and development field. She has been a senior advisor to the Egyptian President since 2014 and is a UNFCCC Global Ambassador with the High Level Climate Champions.
Sarah is the recipient of the Vital Voices award for greater MENA 2020. She founded Egypt's leading green building consultancy & multi award winning ECOnsult in 2013 which have the highest portfolio of green certified projects by a local architect and the first carbon neutral project in the region. She is also the founder of an scrap waste upcycling company MùBun which transforms the waste into high-end furniture. Sarah Graduated from the University of Cambridge Architecture BA, MSC in Project Management and Climate Policy.
