Dave Cooper Appointed CIBSE President for 2026–2027 with Focus on Resilience

Dace Cooper delivering his address

The CIBSE has appointed Dave Cooper as President for 2026–2027. His theme, "Future-proofing through resilience", highlights the need for adaptable and sustainable buildings.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has appointed Dave Cooper as its President for 2026–2027, marking the beginning of a new chapter focused on resilience, adaptability and long-term thinking within the built environment sector.

Dave officially succeeded outgoing President Vince Arnold following his inauguration at the CIBSE Annual General Meeting 2026, held at the organisation's London headquarters.

Bringing more than 40 years of experience in the lift and escalator industry, Dave Cooper is widely recognised as one of the sector's most respected figures. His career has combined technical expertise with a passion for education, professional development and safety, helping to shape standards and best practices across the industry.

A longstanding member of CIBSE, Dave has played a key role in the development of several editions of CIBSE Guide D: Transportation Systems in Buildings, one of the industry's most influential technical publications. His contributions to engineering have earned him both a CIBSE Silver Medal and an MBE, reflecting his impact on the profession over many years.

Alongside his new presidential duties, Dave continues to hold a number of influential positions across academia, industry and charitable organisations. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of East London and has previously been involved with the MSc in Lift Engineering programme at the University of Northampton. His extensive portfolio of roles also includes leadership positions within professional engineering bodies, educational trusts and industry charities.

In his Presidential Address, Dave introduced his theme for the year: "Future-proofing through resilience." The theme focuses on the need for engineers to design buildings, systems and infrastructure capable of adapting to changing demands, emerging technologies and future challenges.

Speaking at the AGM, Dave stressed that engineering professionals must think beyond immediate problems and consider the long-term needs of society. His message was straightforward but powerful: "Future-proofing isn't optional, it's essential."

The theme comes at a time when businesses and organisations across the construction and property sectors are facing increasing pressure to deliver sustainable, efficient and adaptable buildings. From climate resilience and energy efficiency to digital transformation and evolving workplace requirements, the challenges facing today's engineers are more complex than ever.

Commenting to That's Business on his appointment, Dave said he was honoured to serve as President and looked forward to working with CIBSE members around the world to promote engineering excellence and support the next generation of professionals.

His presidency promises to place resilience at the heart of engineering conversations, helping ensure that the buildings and infrastructure created today remain fit for purpose for decades to come.

You can read Dave's full address here:- https://www.cibse.org/about-cibse/governance/our-people/cibse-president/presidential-addresses/

https://www.cibse.org/

CIBSE Certification launches refreshed brand identity

CIBSE Certification has officially launched its refreshed brand identity, marking the next phase of its evolution following the recent brand refresh of CIBSE.

The updated identity aligns closely with the core CIBSE brand while introducing a distinct and recognisable visual approach for CIBSE Certification, with green established as the primary colour palette. 

The refreshed brand presents a modern, accessible look and feel, supported by clearer and more focused messaging.

CIBSE Certification is a wholly owned subsidiary of CIBSE. 

It provides accredited certification, registration and verification services across the built environment, supporting professionals, organisations and products in demonstrating competence, compliance and quality. 

Its services span areas including energy assessment, building performance evaluation, management systems certification and personnel registration schemes.

As part of the wider CIBSE family, CIBSE Certification plays a critical role in upholding professional standards and supporting regulatory compliance across the building services sector. While operationally independent to maintain impartiality, it shares CIBSE’s commitment to competence, integrity and advancing building performance.

The refreshed identity strengthens CIBSE Certification’s global presence through a more contemporary visual language and refined positioning. It reflects confidence, clarity and continued commitment to supporting industry as it addresses energy efficiency, climate resilience and the transformation of the built environment.

Kieran O’Brien, Director of CIBSE Certification, told That's Business: “We welcome this brand refresh as an important step in ensuring CIBSE Certification reflects the modern, evolving needs of the built environment industry. 

"As demand grows for transparency, assurance, verified performance data and competence, it’s vital that our identity represents the clarity, credibility and professionalism that underpin our services. This refresh is not just about how we look it’s about reinforcing CIBSE's role within certification and supporting higher standards across the industry.”

The launch reinforces the relationship between CIBSE and CIBSE Certification, ensuring a cohesive yet distinct identity that clearly communicates the role each plays in supporting professionals and raising standards across the industry.

For more information about CIBSE Certification and its services, please visit CIBSE Certification https://www.cibse.org

CIBSE delegation strengthens international collaboration on visit to Australia

CIBSE recently concluded a successful visit to Australia, engaging with industry leaders, academic partners and early-career engineers across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. 

The trip focused on knowledge sharing, professional development and promoting sustainable, high-performing buildings.

During their time in Sydney, CIBSE CEO Ruth Carter, 2025/26 President Vince Arnold and Director of Membership Richard Goldsbrough met with the CIBSE New South Wales Committee, Engineers Australia, Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), International Code Council (ICC) and NABERS representatives.

Discussions centred on professional mobility, mutual recognition, sustainability initiatives, embodied carbon verification and opportunities for international collaboration to advance building performance globally.

The delegation also hosted a Heads of Industry Breakfast attended by over 50 leaders and participated in the CIBSE ANZ Young Engineers Network (YEN) “Aspirational Engineer” event, inspiring early and mid-career professionals.

In Melbourne, meetings with RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), AIRAH (Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating) and the University of Melbourne focused on supporting students and graduates, expanding professional development opportunities and strengthening links between academia and industry. 

A successful Heads of Industry Breakfast provided a platform for discussion on emerging trends, competence and mentoring the next generation of engineers.

The delegation concluded the visit in Adelaide, hosting a Heads of Industry Breakfast with over 40 local leaders and engaging with the Institute of Healthcare Engineering Australia (IHEA) to discuss global professional connections and collaboration in healthcare engineering.

The visit highlights CIBSE’s ongoing commitment to fostering professional standards, sustainable building practices, and the development of engineering talent worldwide.

https://www.cibse.org

CIBSE Technical Symposium 2026 explores the future of buildings fit for 2050

The CIBSE Technical Symposium 2026, one of CIBSE’s flagship events, took place at Loughborough University on 26–27 March, uniting top industry experts, academics, policymakers and practitioners to explore how the built environment can be reshaped to prioritise wellbeing, inclusivity and sustainable performance.

Under the theme “Fit for 2050 – Redesigning Spaces for Wellbeing, Inclusivity, and Sustainable Performance”, the two-day Symposium provided a dynamic platform for sharing cutting-edge research, practical insights and bold ideas that will shape the next generation of building services engineering.

The Symposium covered a wide range of topics critical to the future of the built environment, including indoor air quality, ventilation, thermal performance, overheating mitigation, energy-efficient retrofits, circularity in design, net zero pathways, AI and machine learning applications and the evolving role of engineers in an increasingly data-driven industry.

The two-day event reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and a shift from compliance-driven design to performance-led, people-focused outcomes, highlighting the critical steps needed to prepare buildings and communities for a sustainable, resilient and inclusive future.

To see how the Symposium unfolded and explore the key highlights please visit https://www.cibse.org/policy-advocacy/news/cibse-technical-symposium-2026-explored-the-future-of-buildings-fit-for-2050

Performance in practice took centre stage at CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2026

CIBSE has announced the winners of the CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2026, which took place on 5 March 2026 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

Hosted by comedian Maisie Adam, the annual flagship CIBSE event has once more brought together leaders from across the built environment to recognise projects, products and professionals delivering measurable building performance outcomes and advancing excellence in building services engineering.

The CIBSE Building Performance Awards celebrate evidence-based performance, rewarding those who demonstrate a commitment to closing the performance gap and delivering buildings that work in practice, for people and for the planet.

Dr Julie Godefroy, Chair of the Judges and Head of Net Zero at CIBSE, told That's Business: “The CIBSE Building Performance Awards have long promoted a focus on how buildings actually work, for people and for the environment. 

"I'm delighted that they have kept growing, with a record number of entries to the 2026 edition. This year saw the introduction of dedicated categories to reward Building Performance Evaluation, which attracted huge interest, reflecting the range of products and services now on offer in this field. 

"Across all categories we've seen a wide spread of entries, from individuals to large organisations, from small projects to portfolios, new builds to retrofits and FM projects, and from across the world. Thank you and well done to everyone for their continued work in driving engineering excellence.”

The awards ceremony concluded with a renewed call for the industry to continue prioritising building performance as a central pillar in achieving net zero and creating healthier, more resilient buildings.

For more details and the full list of winners visit https://www.cibse.org