Building the Next Generation of Interdisciplinary Sustainability Leaders

The need for transformational improvements in the sustainability of the built environment has never been clearer.

The need for transformational improvements in the sustainability of the built environment has never been clearer. From the way we design and construct places to how we operate and occupy them, the sector’s impact on the natural environment is profound. Without urgent change, that impact will continue to drive us towards irreversible and catastrophic climate outcomes.

At UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), our mission is to catalyse radical change in the built environment so it minimises harm and actively helps restore and regenerate the natural world.

Central to this is people: their skills, their perspectives and their ability to lead change. Developing professional capacity for sustainability leadership is therefore not just important – it’s essential.

Why Interdisciplinary Skills Matter From Day One

Delivering genuinely sustainable buildings and places is a complex challenge. It involves balancing environmental, social and economic priorities across design, engineering, planning, construction, finance, operations and beyond. No single discipline holds all the answers. 

Yet sustainability learning across the built environment often remains siloed. Graduates entering the sector frequently have strong technical skills, but perhaps have limited experience of how sustainability is delivered in real projects. Many haven’t had exposure to interdisciplinary teams, conflicting project demands and the practical realities of decision-making across the supply chain.

UKGBC members consistently tell us that early career professionals arrive with little understanding of how sustainability is embedded conceptually or achieved in practice. As a result, there is a clear need for learning experiences that encourage collaboration across disciplines from the very start of a professional journey.

Closing the Early-Career Leadership Gap

UKGBC already delivers a well-established portfolio of leadership programmes tailored to professionals at different stages of their careers. These courses bring together interdisciplinary cohorts from across the built environment and have supported hundreds of participants to strengthen their sustainability leadership.

However, a significant gap remains at the point where people first enter the industry. Early career professionals often have limited opportunities to develop the interdisciplinary skills, networks and real-world experience needed to drive sustainable outcomes.

To address this, UKGBC is launching a new leadership programme designed specifically for those at the start of their built environment careers. The programme focuses on cross-disciplinary collaboration, practical problem-solving and the development of sustainability leadership skills from the outset.

The programme is supported by the Ove Arup Foundation and has an interdisciplinary group of industry professionals as its Steering Group.

What Participants Can Expect

The programme is designed to equip early career professionals with the skills, insight and networks needed to accelerate change across the sector. Expected outcomes include:

A strong foundation in interdisciplinary working

with a clear understanding of the connections and opportunities for change across the built environment.

Enhanced sustainability knowledge and skills

drawn from multiple disciplines and parts of the supply chain.

Hands-on experience of real-world challenges

giving participants insight into how sustainability is delivered in complex project environments.

A lasting community of practice

creating a network of peers and collaborators that participants can draw on throughout their careers.

Our Steering Committee 

To ensure this programme responds to the needs of industry, we’ve convened a group of highly experienced and skilled people to support us in the design of the programme:

Full Steering Group
NamePosition Organisation
Dr Simon AddymanAssociate Professor of Project ManagementUniversity College London 
Ashley BatesonHead of SustainabilityHoare Lea 
Maria CachafeiroHead of Sustainability and Social ValueMultiplex 
Alison CromptonHead of Existing Buildings Decarbonisation UKAECOM 
Professor Graeme LarsenAssociate Dean (Sustainability)University of the Built Environment
Sally GrewcockSupply Chain Sustainability & Governance LeaderLaing O’Rourke
Jordan JefferyHead of Property ManagementJLL
Mark RichardsonPartnerTroup Bywaters + Anders
Derek RobertsDirector Property, Science and IndustryMaría Cachafeiro

Thank you to all members of our Steering Committee for their support.

Investing in the Leaders of Tomorrow

If the built environment is to meet the scale and speed of change required, we must start by equipping the next generation of professionals with the right skills and mindsets. Interdisciplinary thinking, collaboration and leadership cannot be optional extras – they must be embedded from the very beginning. 

By supporting early career professionals to learn, collaborate and lead across disciplines, UKGBC aims to build the capacity the sector needs to deliver a truly sustainable future. 

If you’re interested in the programme and would like to know more, please email Leaders@UKGBC.org 

Our thanks to the Ove Arup Foundation

who are generously supporting this important work

Related

Sustainability Leadership in the Built Environment: My Journey with UKGBC

My leadership journey with UKGBC, through the Future Leaders and Change Accelerator programmes, has been one of connection, and transformation. From navigating personal and professional uncertainty to discovering the power of collective action and systems change, these experiences helped me find clarity, purpose, and confidence.
12 Aug, 2025
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