Prof Kathy Michell

Kathy holds a Doctorate in facilities management from the University of Salford, an MPhil in cost engineering and BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying from UCT. She is the Director of the Sustainability oriented+Cyber Research Unit for the Built Environment at UCT.

Kathy serves on the Editorial Board and is the Regional Editor (Africa) for the Journal of Facilities Management, the Editorial Board for the African Journal of Real Estate Research and the Editorial Board for the Journal of Real Estate Literature.

She is a past Head of the Department of Construction Economics and Management and Deputy Dean for Undergraduate Studies (Teaching & Learning) in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. She currently serves as an elected member of the Board of the CIB International Council for Building and Construction Research and is a member of the International Facilities Management Association Research Advisory Committee.

She is a founding Director of the Africa Facilities Management Association and a Past-President of the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession. In addition, she has served a four-year term on the Council for the Built Environment in South Africa and as the Africa Market Seat holder on the Governing Council of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Technological innovation is expected to profoundly impact the future of the built environment, shaping how we interact with space, develop infrastructure and buildings, and invest in the sector. The 4IR is driven by innovative cyber technologies that embrace smart cities, infrastructure, and facilities, with a strong emphasis on achieving Net-Zero targets. A critical aspect of technological innovation is its influence across different segments of the built environment value chain. While previous industrial revolutions have propelled economic development, they have often done so at the expense of social and environmental sustainability.

To maximize the benefits of 4IR, we must ensure that innovation not only drives economic growth but also enhances social well-being, reduces environmental impact, and accelerates the transition to Net-Zero. We now have a window of opportunity to leverage technological advancements to support the built environment in achieving sustainable development, aligning with the UN’s 17 SDGs. By integrating Net-Zero principles with cutting-edge innovation, we can enhance the sustainability and efficiency of construction projects, improve the overall performance of the sector, and redefine how communities and enterprises engage with the built environment, particularly in Africa and other emerging economies.

Keywords: Sustainability, Technological Innovation, Infrastructure.