Fiona Cousins, Immediate Past President of CIBSE, recently visited the CIBSE Hong Kong region, where she delivered a keynote presentation on Building Performance Reimagined, her 2024–2025 CIBSE Presidential theme. The presentation was part of the event Beyond Building Systems – Next-gen Technologies and Approaches for a Sustainable Future, jointly supported by CIBSE Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited (HKGBC), and organised by the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong.
Fiona’s theme, Building Performance Reimagined, challenges traditional boundaries in how building services engineering is approached, advocating for greater integration of systems, collaboration across disciplines, and a more people- and outcomes-focused mindset. Her address highlighted the need to reframe building performance by considering not only technical efficiency, but also user experience, adaptability, health and resilience.
During her presentation, Fiona explored the potential of next-generation technologies and system approaches in reshaping the built environment. She spoke about the importance of embracing innovation while grounding engineering decisions in measurable outcomes and long-term sustainability. The talk was well received by a diverse audience of engineers, academics, and sustainability professionals, who engaged in a lively discussion around the evolving role of building services in addressing climate and societal challenges.
The event provided an excellent platform for regional knowledge exchange and for strengthening the relationship between CIBSE and its international members. Fiona’s visit underscored the global relevance of her Presidential message and reflected CIBSE’s commitment to supporting engineers across borders in advancing sustainable, high-performance buildings.
CIBSE extends its thanks to CIBSE Hong Kong, HKGBC and the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong for their warm welcome and for hosting such a valuable and forward-looking event.
