Habiba Al Marashi of EmiratesGBC Joins Global Sustainability Leaders on World Green Building Councils Board of Directors

Al Marashi was appointed to the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) Board of Directors for her leadership and dedication to the sustainable building movement, both in the United Arab Emirates and at a global level. She has previously served on the Membership Committee of the WorldGBC.

Habiba Al Marashi has been a true champion of sustainability,and has worked tirelessly to position the best practices in the building and construction industry as central solutions to face the climate change, health and environmental crises. said Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council.

It is this commitment, experience and strong leadership that has earned her place on our Board of Directors. Together with our fellow Directors, I look forward to working with Habiba as we continue our collective journey with our 70 member Green Building Councils to transform the built environment and provide on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

It is my honour to join the Board of the World Green Building Council, which has been actively engaged in promoting sustainable built environments as well as innovative initiatives that support climate change action. This is a true recognition of the work of EmiratesGBC, which has pioneered dialogue and concerted action to promote the culture of sustainability across the construction supply chain. With the UAE focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter by the turn of this decade and having invested significantly in transitioning to a clean energy mix, we will continue to support the nation and the region through the global insights gained from WorldGBC. This new position will also enable us to share best practices and learn from others on how we can progress towards net zero by 2050. said Al Marashi.

Al Marashi co-founded the EmiratesGBC in 2006 and works as its Treasurer and Board Member. She is also the Co-founder and Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), a pioneering non-government organisation established in the UAE in 1991. She established the Arabia CSR Network all by herself in 2004, as the MENA regions first and only multi-stakeholder platform with local and multi-national entities. Under her leadership, both organisations achieved ultimate success and repute, emerging as preferred partners across sectors. She guided EEG to become the first environmental NGO in the world to receive ISO 14001 certification.

Al Marashi has been actively associated in leadership roles in global bodies such as UN Global Compact (Board Member 2006 2013), UNEP (civil society representative), Global Reporting Initiative Stakeholder Council (GRI), a member of the Advisory Committee of the Det Norske Veritas (DNV-GL) Certification Advisory Board for the Middle East. She is presently a Vice Chair of the Global Urban Development and Patronage Committee member of myclimate. She is also a member of the board of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance at the invitation of the UN Secretary-General, which works to unlock impediments and promote solutions for mobilising long-term private investment for sustainable development. She is a member of the Advisory Board for several Academic Institutions, and works extensively on empowering women and promoting sustainability.

The WorldGBC Board of Directors comprises senior leaders that have been put forward by 14 Green Building Councils from around the world. The Board guides the strategy of the WorldGBC and ensures that it successfully delivers on its mission.

The following Directors have been appointed to the WorldGBC Board for the term of 2021-2023:

1. Michael Brooks, nominated by Green Building Council Canada (Treasurer) CEO of REALPAC and former Treasurer of Canada GBC

2. Habiba Al Marashi, nominated by Emirates Green Building Council (Board Member & Treasurer of EmiratesGBC), President of Arabia CSR Network, Co-Founder and Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)

3. Elizabeth Wangeci Chege, nominated by Kenya Green Building Society (Vice Chair) Founder Kenya Green Building Society

4. Rachel Skinner, nominated by Chile Green Building Society Executive Director, WSP

5. Hastings Chikoko, nominated by France Green Building Society Regional Director Africa, C40

6. Ilari Aho, nominated by Finland Green Building Council (Secretary) Vice President of Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs at Uponor Corporation

7. Dario Ibarguengoitia, nominated by Sustentabilidad para Mexico AC President, IBALCA

8. Felipe Faria, nominated by Green Building Council Brazil CEO of GBC Brazil