About the Speaker

As an entrepreneur, sustainability professional, now and President & CEO of the Green Building Initiative (GBI), Vicki Worden has supported a myriad of industries, corporations, government agencies, and international nonprofits to advance sustainability goals while increasing ROI.  

She has more than 30 years of experience in combined experience in the building materials real estate industries. In this age of great change in the real estate sector, GBI is dedicated to improving the impact of buildings on climate and society. GBI owns the global rights to the Green Globes® building certification and its new Journey to Net Zero program and is celebrating the organization’s 20th year anniversary. Through Green Globes, GBI has supported owners in certifying more than 650 million square feet of space throughout North America, while also beginning global expansion.  

In her previous role as President of Worden Associates, Inc., Worden provided sustainability consulting and strategic planning expertise for a diverse range of industries including solar, wind, parking, furniture, mattress, composites, wood products, and rainwater harvesting. She is a member of Women Executives in Building and a former Chair of the National Institute of Building Sciences Consultative Council.  

Worden holds an MBA from Loyola University in Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & International Relations from West Chester University. For the last 17 years, she has traveled from a home base in Camden, Maine, following almost 15 years of work life in the Washington, DC area. 

About the Talk

The world building stock is expected to double by 2060 – equivalent to constructing a New York City every month. Although the built environment currently accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, climate targets and stakeholder demands are driving impactful change. Specifiers play a critical role in constructing and delivering sustainable, healthy, and resilient buildings for all. As key influencers for the design and construction industries, specifiers improve the built environment’s impact on climate and society through thoughtful and deliberate material selections.  

Vicki Worden, President & CEO of Green Building Initiative, will highlight the critical nexus between sustainability goals and the decisions made by specifiers.  Worden will address integrating sustainability into specification processes, navigating challenges, and harnessing innovative solutions to create a more sustainable built environment. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Explore the significant threats posed by climate change and regulatory trends that are influencing owner requirements and choices related to materials and construction.
• Understand the critical role of specifiers in promoting sustainability, health, and resilience in building construction. 
• Identify opportunities for overcoming challenges and leveraging innovative strategies for sustainable design and construction to deliver high performing buildings.
• Recognize how specifications are being adapted in a way that will impact the health and wellbeing of future generations.