What an awesome few days we had at Te Pae Convention Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first South Island summit and our biggest one yet! The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive; it seems we’ve set the bar higher than ever for next year’s event at the Viaduct Events Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on 25-26 September. Book out your diary now!

FM Summit wouldn’t have been the success it was without our fantastic speakers and the support of our fabulous sponsors and exhibitors who turned out in record numbers – so a huge thank you to you all.

We’re looking forward to a few weeks’ rest on the summit front before we start planning for 2024. Watch this space!

Summit, Solutions & a Big Advocacy Call

The presentations at summit all pointed towards one conclusion: facilities managers are providing solutions for the most important issues facing us. That’s why we’re calling for the next government to create a new cabinet-level portfolio for a minister for the built environment.

We’ve created a snappy, succinct document outlining the reasons for this call, showing the importance of our industry. Have a read of it here, and please feel free to mention it to colleagues, share on your social media, or even use it in a presentation or two.

Warmly welcomed by summit attendees, the new ministerial role would focus exclusively on making the most of our existing buildings – rather than building new ones. It could, for instance, take the reins on vital projects such as improving and mandating levels of indoor air quality, which could have great health impacts, ensuring urban areas play a part in a predator-free Aotearoa, increase the longevity of assets saving billions of dollars, and driving energy efficiency deep into our built environment – slashing bills and carbon pollution.

Our key message? Facilities managers are the solution to the big issues – and, with the right support, stand ready to help millions of people in Aotearoa.