The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) named Kate Boylan as the winner of its inaugural Future Thinker of the Year award. Boylan, a sustainability engineer at Tonkin + Taylor, said she was “beyond excited”.

Each of the four finalists – Boylan along with Priscila Besen, Delight M Sedzro and Alice Couchman – presented a five-minute lighting talk at a celebratory gala at Auckland University. Boylan offered an inspirational speech, highlighting the importance of leading by example. She is doing just that, having founded the sustainability team at her office.

Boylan says she intends to use her platform as Future Thinker of the Year “to inform, educate, and inspire – and be inspired. I will aim to stay positive and promote communication and collaboration.”

The NZGBC’s Joanne Duggan said, “Congratulations to Kate, and to all the finalists. The Future Thinkers Award has identified amazing young professionals and students across the country who are passionate and knowledgeable about the sustainable built environment.

“We are excited to give this group a platform from which to have their ideas heard, to challenge the industry status quo and we look forward to creating meaningful change together.”

The judging panel included Phil Eaton of Greenstone Group, Lloyd Budd from Bayleys Real Estate, Mott MacDonald’s Warner Brunton, Ritva Vilppolla, a former intern with the Green Building Council who kicked off her promising career with WSP Australia as a sustainability consultant, and Joanne Duggan.

Warner Brunton commented, “I was thoroughly impressed by the calibre of the candidates from academia, trades and private sector.

“Their depth of understanding of one of the most pressing challenges of our time and their ability to plan and articulate their engagement strategy for change was inspiring. My hope is for all of the finalists to work together to make a difference in 2019 and beyond.”

Learn more about the Future Thinker of the Year award and see the lighting talks from each of the finalists here.