September 9, 2026 in News
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September 8, 2026
A.G. Coombs Advisory Leader – Sustainability John Bourne will share practical insights on upgrading occupied buildings at the Green Building Council of Australia’s Upgrading Existing Buildings: Practical Strategies event on 17 Sep 2026. The national industry event will bring together experts from across the built environment sector to explore strategies for improving building performance, reducing emissions and extending asset life.
In addition to presenting during the event, John will participate in an expert panel discussion examining the opportunities and challenges associated with upgrading existing buildings. The discussion will draw on the experience of sustainability, property and design professionals working across a range of building uplift and transformation projects.
Improving performance in occupied buildings
John’s presentation, Delivering improvements in occupied and operational buildings, will focus on practical approaches to enhancing building performance while maintaining business continuity.
The session will explore HVAC, ventilation and building services upgrades that can improve energy efficiency, occupant wellbeing and operational outcomes. Attendees will also hear lessons learned from delivering upgrades in occupied buildings, along with strategies for managing tenant requirements, project staging and infrastructure constraints.
Contributing to the industry conversation
Following his presentation, John will join an expert panel discussion exploring how organisations can balance sustainability objectives, commercial priorities, tenant needs and operational constraints when delivering building uplift initiatives. Topics will include common challenges associated with occupied buildings, approaches to sequencing improvement works and opportunities to improve resilience and long-term asset value.
The panel brings together experts from across the property and sustainability sectors, including representatives from IFM Investors, BVN Architecture, Cundall and the Green Building Council of Australia.
The opportunity within existing buildings
Existing buildings play an important role in Australia’s transition to a lower-carbon built environment. According to the Green Building Council of Australia, improving the performance of existing assets can help reduce emissions, extend asset life and support long-term building resilience.
Through case studies, technical presentations and panel discussions, the event will explore practical pathways for improving building performance and future-proofing existing assets in response to evolving sustainability expectations, market demands and regulatory requirements.
Learn more
For enquiries about upgrading existing buildings, improving building performance and sustainability outcomes, contact John Bourne, Leader – Sustainability, A.G. Coombs Advisory.
To register for Upgrading Existing Buildings: Practical Strategies, visit the GBCA event page.
