Industry reacts as Simon McWhirter appointed Chief Executive of UKGBC

Leaders across the built environment sector have reacted to the appointment of Simon McWhirter at Chief Executive of the UKGBC.

Mr McWhirter, who served as UKGBC Deputy Chief Executive for the past three years and has been responsible for leading UKGBC’s policy, public affairs, member engagement and international work, succeeds Smith Mordak as CEO.


Reacting to the announcement, Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council said:

We at WorldGBC warmly welcome the appointment of Simon as UKGBC’s new Chief Executive. I am greatly looking forward to working closely with him over the coming years and continuing our collaboration with UKGBC – an influential and long-standing member of our international work. I am excited for UKGBC’s future under Simon’s continuing leadership – and to work with Simon to ensure that we are collectively placing the built environment front and centre of the UK and global green transition. I would also like to thank Smith Mordak for the leadership and dedication to the sustainable built environment which they brought to the role, and wish Smith every success for the future.”

Tor Burrows, Group Sustainability Director at Grosvenor, said:

Transforming the built environment to deliver a more sustainable future is an urgent priority for all responsible businesses in the sector. We can only achieve the transformative outcomes that this requires through industry-wide collaboration; which is one of UKGBC’s core roles. From having worked together at COP26 and beyond in positioning UK leadership on these issues, I look forward to working with Simon as he continues to strengthen the UKGBC as a platform that successfully connects the supply chain to find innovative solutions, while representing the industry in advocating for positive and enabling policy change.” 

Paul King, CEO at Built by Nature and former UKGBC CEO, said:

From the time we first worked together at WWF-UK Simon has been an outstanding campaigner, advocate and thoughtful mediator between public, private and third sectors. Having worked on both sides of the proverbial fence, as a private sector housing developer and for a range of NGOs, he is highly qualified to really lean in with UKGBC’s members and the wider industry. I have no doubt that Simon will take the UK Green Building Council to even greater heights of influence as the UK’s leading champion of a sustainable built environment.”  

Stephen Good, CEO of innovation centre, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) said:

I want to express my thanks to Smith Mordak for their leadership of the UK Green Building Council over the past two years, and for the positive engagement with BE-ST during this period and thrilled to see Simon appointment as CEO going forwards. Simon’s commitment to driving forward a more sustainable, decarbonised built environment is clear and regularly demonstrated to my colleagues and I at BE-ST through his role as an active and committed member of our Governance Board. Huge congratulations Simon and we’re looking forward to ongoing collaboration as we accelerate the built environment’s just transition to net zero.” 
 

The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE, former Energy Minister, and Chair of the Climate Action Coalition said:

Simon’s appointment as CEO of UK Green Building Council is extremely well deserved but also a recognition of the key role he has already played in being an active champion and leading policy maker within the sustainable built environment community. He is not only a strong advocate for the sector, but also a passionate voice for change who is well respected within Westminster and also internationally across the global Green Building Council network. His appointment is a significant moment for U.K. leadership in the built environment internationally also: I have been honoured to work alongside Simon on several reports that have been published both at COP and the Buildings Breakthrough global conference last year. At a time when policy development on our future built environment is at a critical stage- whether across future building standards, energy efficiency measures or future frameworks on embodied carbon, it is extremely welcome that Simon will undoubtedly provide the strong leadership that the UK and the wider green building movement needs to deliver on our net zero ambitions.” 

Kevin McCloud, designer, writer, and host of Grand Designs commented:

I’m sure Simon will inject UKGBC with his usual vigour, passion and intelligence. As if you want a job done, give it to him.  A polemicist, activist and tireless campaigner, Simon has ‘nous’, political acumen and dedication in abundance.” 
 

Judith Everett, chair of UKGBC added:

Simon brings strong relationships across the built environment sector, government and our partners, attuned to the nature and climate crises we face. His sector experience across domestic and international networks, and – supported by UKGBC’s passionate and capable team – makes him well-placed to lead this next phase. As well as knowing the sector well, he has been involved with UKGBC from its inception 18 years ago – most recently leading our political, communications, membership and international work. The Trustees felt he was the right person to lead the organisation.“


Commenting on his appointment, Simon McWhirter, said:

Having been involved with UKGBC since its formation, I’m pleased to be taking on the role of Chief Executive at such a crucial time. With the current backdrop of political and economic upheaval, UKGBC is exceptionally well positioned to help bring clarity, certainty and a wealth of positive solutions for decision-makers across government and industry – about how we design, deliver and indeed revel in buildings and places that are not just radically more sustainable – but radically better places to live, work and play. I want to express my thanks to Smith for their sterling work over the past couple of years, and the support for me over that time; and their leadership helped set the stage for me and the team to really shift the dial about how we can really use the UK’s built environment as a positive lever for change in combatting the climate and nature crises.“

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