Built Environment Academy

IHRB’s built environment programme advances human rights and climate action in the real estate, infrastructure, construction, architecture and engineering sectors. Our Built Environment Academy aims to inspire current and future leaders in these industries.

The Academy includes:

• Professional Certificate on social risks and opportunities in the built environment, supported by Ove Arup Foundation: forthcoming in 2025, see details below.

• Business student placements in the built environment programme. For example three CEMS students spent three months with the programme, focusing on built environment strategies in Canada, Czech Republic, India and Ukraine.

• Lectures and interactive workshops for companies, graduate, and undergraduate programmes. These have included lectures at LSE Cities, UCL, Ljubljana Faculty of Architecture, University of Copenhagen.

• Practical and reference materials that can be used for teaching and for practical assignments, starting with the Framework for Dignity in the Built Environment.

This certificate equips current and future leaders working in the planning, financing and delivery of the built environment with a practical grounding in human rights as a basis of advancing a just transition. With only 8.5% of infrastructure projects being delivered on time and on budget, and decarbonisation and resilience projects often facing community push-back, managing risks and opportunities for people from the outset makes sense environmentally, socially, and financially. 

Through ten interactive sessions, participants will hear from and discuss with field experts from across disciplines, and apply practical insights back in their workplaces. 

Our expert course faculty includes: 

• Simon Whistler, Head of Real Assets, UNPRI

• Nadia Cicek, Human Rights Manager, Arcadis

• Alejando Echeverri, URBAM and Universidad Tecnológico de Monterrey

• Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing 

• Alexandra Bezeredi, Lead Social Development Specialist, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank

• Maria da Graca Prado, CoST (Infrastructure Transparency Initiative) 

• Keiran Pereira, Chief Storyteller, Sand Stories

• Dr Natalie Galea, Expert in construction and gender, University of Melbourne

• Professor Dan Hill, Melbourne School of Design

Get in touch to express interest and for further information: be@ihrb.org