Smith Mordak has been appointed as incoming chief executive of UKGBC, replacing Julie Hirigoyen, who will be standing down after over eight years at the helm later this year.
Mordak, who will take on the role on 1 June following a handover from Hirigoyen, is currently director of sustainability and physics at Buro Happold and previously held roles at Webb Yates Engineers, and Studio Weave
Mordak is a board member for the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy and The Architecture Foundation and a nationally elected councillor at RIBA.
Sunand Prasad, chair of the board of trustees said: “UKGBC is delighted to appoint Smith Mordak as our new chief executive. We look forward to their leadership of the team in this critical period for taking urgent and effective action to limit and reverse environmental degradation. Smith combines a deep, science based and systemic understanding of the climate emergency with a clear sighted, principled and pragmatic approach for what needs to be done in response.
“From founding an innovative, award-winning design practice to helping a major international consultancy, Smith has consistently shown imagination and determination in achieving change. Along the way they have been active in significant industry initiatives to achieve an equitable and lasting transformation of the built environment to a sustainable and regenerative model.
“I would also like, on behalf of the board of trustees, to give heartfelt thanks to Julie Hirigoyen for her eight amazing years as CEO. She has been an outstanding leader, growing consensus around the urgent need for action on the climate and biodiversity crises, building a highly effective and networked organisation equal to its critical mission, as well as steering UKGBC adeptly through times of global crisis. We wish Julie every success in her future endeavours.”
Mordak said: “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to work with the amazing team, trustees, and membership at UKGBC. I’m looking forward to building on the charity’s extraordinary body of work and Julie’s inimitable legacy. We live in existentially challenging times. Our actions over the next few years will have an outsized impact on the earth’s ecosystems and on many generations to come. I’m honoured that I’ll be playing my part in this crucial period as part of this powerful, change-making coalition.”
Duncan Price, partner and global lead, sustainability and climate change, of Buro Happold, said: “As founding members of UKGBC and Advancing Net Zero Programme Partners, Buro Happold is delighted that Smith Mordak will be stepping up to lead UKGBC at this pivotal moment for our industry. Since joining us three years ago, they have demonstrated a unique ability to couple advocacy with action. We look forward to continuing our journey together as we help clients achieve ambitious sustainability goals.”
Julie Hirigoyen, current chief executive of UKGBC, added: “It is with great confidence and the utmost respect that I will hand over the stewardship of UKGBC to Smith. They bring creative wisdom, technical expertise, and a deeply human-centric approach to the challenge of transforming our built environment into one where both people and planet can thrive. On behalf of everyone at UKGBC I am excited at the prospect of warmly welcoming Smith to this unique organisation.”
