The 2014 edition of Building Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) will bring one central topic to parliament’s attention: that Australia’s cities are crucibles of national productivity.

Since its inception in 2008, CEOs from the Australian Institute of Architects, Green Building Council of Australia, the Planning Institute of Australia and the Property Council of Australia have worked in collaboration with key decision makers in Canberra to host BEMP: an annual event summit that bridges the gap between industry, politicians and the wider public.

Each year the host CEOs deliver a summit that attempts to expose built environment policy issues to federal political decision makers.

This year’s BEMP will be held on Tuesday 15 July at Parliament House, Canberra and will direct politician attention to innovative design solutions that promise to unlock waves of economic and social dividends in our cities.

The BEMP organisation says they will focus on the following design particulars:

  •  Design that joins up our cities and better connects people, ideas and commerce
  •  Design that delivers greater resilience and sustainability
  •  Design that radically transforms the way we build cities and communities
  •  Design that simultaneously boosts productivity
  •  Design that opens up clever approaches to infrastructure financing and funding
  •  Design that elevates liveability and inclusivity

The one-day program runs from 9:00am-5:00pm and includes seven 45-minute sessions that will discuss ‘opportunities for industry’, ‘climate adaption’, ‘city deals’, ‘funding and infrastructure future’ and the ‘next revolution’ in building.

The seminar sessions will be hosted by key note speakers picked from both the construction industry and from political spheres. 

The 2014 Keynote speakers are:

  • Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Federal Minister for the Environment
  • Barbara Norman, University of Canberra
  • Brendan Nelson, Principal of MWH Global
  • John Thwaites, Chair of Australian Building Codes Board and ClimateWorks Australia
  • Rene Van Meeuwen, Founder of Felix design firm
  • Garry Bowditch, CEO of the SMART Infrastructure Facility, University of Wollongong
  • Tanya Cox, Director of Green Building Council Australia

BEMP also segues from the Australian Award in Urban Design (AAUD) gala evening, which is scheduled for Monday 14 July, 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.

Registrations for the BEMP Summit and AAUD Dinner are now open via the BEMP website.