Wednesday 19 April 2023

Workplace Trends Research Summit #WTRS23


Cavendish Conference Centre, London & Online #WTRS23
9:00am – 5:30pm GMT + 1
Workplace Trends Research Summit #WTRS23
*LIMITED TIME OFFER*
You can now purchase access to watch the recordings from this event. Simply make payment via the button to the right and your confirmation page will take you directly there.
Please bookmark the page for future reference. (We will also email you the link within 24 hours).

This is a workplace event with a difference. It bridges the gap between a full academic research conference and our Workplace Trends October conference, featuring the best of recent applied research and data-driven case studies into work and the workplace.

Aside from a small number of invited speakers, the presentations have been selected for their robustness and relevance from a call for abstracts, and so attendees will have access to some of the most up-to-the minute research and thinking.

It’s a packed day as you can see below. To ease any pressure for delegates we’ve arranged some desks and the live stream of the event into our catering and reception areas. So if you’re up for multi-tasking, need to take time out for a call, or simply want to spend more time networking, it’s no problem. And we send all attendees the recordings after the event so you can catch up / rewatch at your leisure.

There are good reasons why so many workplace professionals return to our events and conferences time and time again. Here’s just a few of them:

  • Meet and network with like-minded workplace professionals.
  • Mingle with established thought-leaders in workplace.
  • Gain access to the latest research that can be applied for practical benefit.
  • Non-commercial, relaxed environment.
  • Quality, pitch free presentations.
  • Delegate access to video recordings after the event.
  • Support the environment – we plant a tree for every delegate place booked.
  • Award-winning sustainable venue.
  • Complimentary post event drinks social.
  • All in a non-commercial, relaxed environment.
  • CPD certificates available on request.
  • Join our exclusive LinkedIn Group for all our past and present delegates.

Our delegates are a friendly mix of workplace occupiers, consultants, designers, architects and suppliers.

Registered delegates receive a link to view the full details of their fellow attendees. Before you’ve booked your place you can still check this live list of companies and job titles:

Last update Tuesday 18 April.

Adze Designs Research Head (V)
Aberley Managing Director of Workplace
Agilita Marketing Executive
AECOM People + Place Advisory Associate Work Experience Consultant & Change Management Lead
Apex Acoustics Managing Director (V)
Atkins Architect
Audiem Director
Autonomy Research Limited Founder
Avison Young Workplace Consultant
Bank of England Manager, Change, Engagement and Space Utilisation
Bank of England Senior Manager, Change, Engagement and Space Utilisation
Bettys and Taylors Group Aesthetics Director (V)
BiBO Director
Brunel University and Saint-Gobain Ecophon Concept Developer
BVN Architecture Strategy Director
CBRE Director
CBRE Director
CBRE Senior Director – EMEA Project Management Lead
CBRE Associate Director of Projects – EMEA
Chapman Taylor Director
Chapman Taylor Director
Claremont Group Interiors Workplace Psychologist
Colebrook Bosson Saunders Ergonomic Business Development Manager
Colebrook Bosson Saunders Insight Programme Manager
Colliers Associate Director | Latvia Office Agency & Workplace Advisory (V)
Colliers Senior Workplace Consultant (V)
Conclusion Consulting B.V. Consultant Digital Strategy
Conrad Wildsmith Consulting Limited Managing Director
Coor AB Workplace Strategist
Crown Workspace Account Manager
Crown Workspace Head of Move & Change Management
Crown Workspace Sustainability Co-ordinator
CRTKL Associate
CRTKL Associate Interior, Designer
Cushman & Wakefield Junior Consultant in Total Workplace
Cushman & Wakefield Partner – Lead Scientific Research and Insights – Occupier Strategy & Workplace
Cushman & Wakefield PR Lead, Tri-State & Northeast Regions (V)
Cushman & Wakefield Senior Managing Director of Workplace Innovation (V)
Cushman & Wakefield Vice President, Global Head of Occupier Insights (V)
DSTL Manager
DSTL Portfolio Manager – Where and How We Work
DSTL Where and How We Work Portfolio Change Manager
DSTL TBA (V)
DSTL TBA
DSTL TBA
Ecophon Concept Developer
Eindhoven University of Technology Policy Maker
Eisai Europe Ltd Senior Facilities Manager (V)
EMCOR UK Business Development Director
EMCOR UK Executive Director Business Development
EMCOR UK Business Development Manager
EMCOR UK Head of Workplace
EMCOR UK TBA
Flexibility.co.uk Director
Estilo Interiors Designer
Facilitate Magazine News Editor
FCA Project Interior Designer (V)
FMJ Editor
Foster+Partners Workplace Consultant & Design Strategist
Fujitsu IT Services & IT Consulting| Fujitsu Client team HMRC
funky jump Co., Ltd. CEO  (V)
Gensler Director and Studio Lead, Consulting at Gensler
Gensler Principal
Gensler Research Institute Research Communications Strategist
GoSpace AI Chief Workplace & Change Strategist
Government Property Agency Head of Customer Insights and Smarter Working
Government Property Agency Smarter Working Programme Lead
GXN Innovation Partner
Hassell Senior Researcher (V)
HCG Director
HM Treasury Change Lead
Imagery Coaching Co-Founder
Inclusive Cultures Workplace & Culture Change Director (V)
Information Facilities Management Ltd Managing Director (V)
iPWC Ltd Associate Director
Jacobs Interior Designer
Jacobs Interior Designer
Journal of Biophilic Design Editor
JAEs Interiors Ltd Director
JPA Workspaces Business Development Lead
JPA Workspaces Workspace Consultant
KLM Workplace Architect (V)
Knoll Specifier Account Manager
Kohlert Workplace Consultant, Speaker, Author (V)
Kragelj Architects Architect, Project Manager (V)
LAIKA Rumdesign CEO and Founder
LAIKA Rumdesign Space Commander, Partner
LAIKA Rumdesign Space Commander, Partner
Leonardo UK VP Leonardo Global Solutions UK Facilities
Logovisual Managing Director
Magenta Associates Senior Consultant
MCM Associate Consultancy
MCM Director of Consultancy
MCM Client Development Director
Measuremen Workplace Consultant
Medtronic Regional Facilities Manager (UK & Ireland)
Michael Laird Architects Strategic Consultant
MillerKnoll National Account Manager
MillerKnoll Sales Manager
MillerKnoll Director, Global Insight Group
MillerKnoll Workplace Specialist
MTRE Architect (V)
Nook Founder Director
Openroom Consulting Change Manager  (V)
Orientate Co-Founder
Osmond Ergonomics Managing Director
Paramount Office Interiors Commercial Workplace Lead (V)
PLACEmaking Founder
PTS CTO Office
Overbury Architectural Design Manger
Overbury Design Manager
Overbury | Morgan Lovell Head of Brand
Perkins&Will Associate Partner
Perkins&Will Workplace, Design Strategy & Change
Perkins&Will Sr. Workplace Strategy and Change Consultant
PM Workplace Consultancy Director
Remit Consulting Real Estate Consultant
Remit Consulting Consultant
Rockfon Global Acoustics Ambassador (V)
Rockfon Global Acoustics Ambassador
Seeds of Transformation Founder Director (V)
Smart DCC Chief People Officer
Smart DCC Head of Workplace Experience
Sodexo Workplace Director
South Pole Head of Workplace
SPACE Solutions Associate Workplace Consultant
SPACE Solutions Group Director Consultancy & Design (V)
SPOR Group Account Manager
Statsbygg Senior Architect (V)
Studio LIST Marketing Content Manager (V)
Sunshine Interiors Consultant
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Senior Estates Optimisation Manager
The Changing Work Company Director
The Flow Independent Consultant
Them Design CEO / Founder
tp bennett Project Director  (V)
TTSP Director of Interiors
University of Exeter Head of Strategic Space
University of Surrey Associate Professor
University of the West of England MSc Student, Environmental Psychology
Valleys to Coast Workplace Manager  (V)
Workplace&Place Editor (V)
Workplace Insight Publisher
Workplace Unlimited Workplace Consultant, Speaker, Author
Workplace Scotland Limited Director (V)
Zetta Scope Interiors Founder / Architectural Designer
Zumtobel Business Development Manager

(V) = Virtual Attendees

With sincere thanks to the support of our 2023 sponsors and media partners.

Workplace Geeks Audiem

We’re not as sales-driven as some other workplace conferences, preferring to concentrate on people and relationships. But we do have a handful of friendly exhibitors at each event. Here’s who’ll be at the Research Summit on 19 April. (There are a few spaces still available so get in touch if you’d like to know more).

Agilita offer sustainable, innovative office furniture with exceptional craftsmanship, designed to encourage collaboration, creativity and productivity in flexible workplaces. They’ll be bringing their newly-launched Bio Wall and Ring Chairs from VANK – a Polish company with a fantastic sustainability story.

Audiem is a workplace experience analytics platform that uses cutting edge technology to uncover actionable insights from employee feedback. Explore not just what matters to your people, but why.

Our wide range of sustainable workplace services is constantly evolving to cater to the needs of today’s businesses. We support your sustainability agenda and are always looking to offer new and innovative ways to assist your needs.

Saint-Gobain Ecophon develops, manufactures and markets acoustic products and systems that contribute to a good working environment by enhancing peoples’ wellbeing and performance. Our promise »A sound effect on people« is the core backbone of everything we do.

We provide a range of customer-centric solutions through workplace transformation, integrated facilities management, project solutions, data-led asset management services and carbon reduction.

Bringing the beauty of nature to you.
We are academic publishers and broadcasters of research into the health and environmental benefits of Biophilic Design, we interview thought leaders on many different aspects from urban planning to home design, architects to acousticians. We also offer a networked consultancy service, advising on the benefits of Biophilic Design connecting you with the expertise you need.

At Logovisual we specialise in custom designed whiteboards and related accessories. We are well known for our trademarked ThinkingWall® solution, a frameless premium grade whiteboard system.

Our brands are leading the conversation on design—just as they have for over 100 years. United by a belief that design can change the world for the better, they’re anticipating and shaping what’s to come, in ways large and small. 

We’re proud to announce that we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted and plant a tree for every delegate booking.

Agenda

0815 Registration, coffee and pastries

0900 Welcome and Introduction
Nigel Oseland, Workplace Unlimited – Morning Moderator

Nigel is an environmental psychologist, workplace strategist, change manager, researcher, author and international speaker. Nigel works with his clients to redefine their workstyles and create cost-effective and space-efficient workplaces that enhance concentration, collaboration, creativity and business performance. Where appropriate he helps design and implement sustainable agile working environments. Nigel’s approach to consulting is to apply his knowledge, obtained through both academic research and practical experience, to workplace strategy and design. He is a firm believer in evidence based design and delivering unique workplaces that support the occupying business. As a psychologist he campaigns for workplaces that cater for all personality types. Nigel’s latest book, “The Workplace Zoo: Humanising the Office” was published in autumn 2021.

0915 Latest Trends for The Future of Work
Bertie van Wyk, MillerKnoll Insight Group

Join our session where we deep dive into the key insights from the Future Forum quarterly survey of 10,000+ global knowledge workers. We’ll be discussing the latest data around hybrid working, workplace management and office design to help you prepare for the future of work.

Laptops and Wi-Fi untethered workers from the office years ago, but it took a global pandemic to spark a widespread acceptance of distributed work. Lessons learned over the last two years point to a historic opportunity to reimagine the role of the modern workplace.

To help you prepare for what’s next, we have delivered actionable insights along with practical solutions that offer immediate and long-term support for the future.

We’ve gathered some eye-opening data and created some probing thought-starters to help you evaluate where you are on the path to the future of work—and what needs to be done get you where you need to be.

Read more about this session here.

#FutureOfWork #HybridWorking #OfficeDesign #WorkplaceManagement

I am a critical thinking Workplace Specialist with a quick grasp of emerging trends and changing business processes. Through my understanding of humancentric design and workplace strategy, I can effectively equip organisations and individuals with the knowledge and skills to become more productive, healthy and connected in work.

0940 Move Forward, Go Ahead, Try To Measure It
Dr Brett Pollard, Hassell

We know people sit too much, particularly while at work. But how do you encourage people to ‘sit less and move more’ and is there a link between the lack of movement and the office itself? Indoor Positioning Systems (GPS for inside buildings) may be a useful tool to investigate the relationship between peoples’ movement and the physical environment of the office. However, there are questions around the accuracy of these systems, how much data is needed, and whether the data can be combined with other workplace data.

This talk presents the results of a 4-year research project, undertaken in a real-world office, that investigated whether Indoor Positioning Systems can be used to capture office workers’ movement behaviour and if there is a relationship between these behaviours and features of their office. You will learn best practice techniques for using high resolution data streams to evaluate workplaces and promising opportunities to help people move more at work.

Read more about this session here.

#ActiveWork #OfficeDesign #HealthyOffice #IndoorPositioningSystems

Brett Pollard is a Senior Researcher at the multidisciplinary design practice, Hassell. He is passionate about creating healthy places that have a positive impact for people and the planet. Brett also believes in the power of research and collaboration to create innovative solutions for complex problems. He holds a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine and Heath at the University of Sydney, a Master of Design Science and is a registered Architect and Landscape Architect. Brett also promotes the social and environmental benefits of cycling, and has clocked up over 30,000km riding to and from work.

1005 ReTurn to Office…Or Not?
Lorna Landells and Darren Yates, Remit Consulting LLP

In early 2021, Remit Consulting set up an initiative to monitor how the pandemic had impacted workplace trends, notably office occupancy levels. To ensure the project’s use to the wider industry, we collaborated closely with the British Property Federation and The Windsor Group, the latter comprising the UK’s leading commercial property agents. Both groups remain key supporters of the project and use our analysis within their ongoing dialogue with policy makers and the industry at large.

The sample covers around 150 offices, 1,500 leases, and over 200,000 workers in ten UK cities, with about half of the buildings being located in London. The data contributors include major property managers such as British Land, Great Portland Estates, Cushman & Wakefield, Knight Frank, Mapp and Savills.

This project is important because it seeks to provide more clarity on one of the current major issues – not just for the property sector but the whole economy and the way we live, work and do business.

Ultimately, the data we collect is a crucial part of helping to understand the growth of the hybrid working model, and where it might finally settle, and how this will impact on our urban centres.

#HybridWorking #OfficeOccupancy #UrbanDesign

Lorna Landells has worked in the property industry for over 30 years, during which time she has gained experience across most disciplines and sectors.  For the last decade Lorna has focussed on the corporate occupier and its occupational needs, be that in office, warehouse, or retail environments.  Since joining Remit, she has been using her direct, hands-on experience of the built-environment to advise clients on strategy, process, and technology to enhance their business and workplace experience.  Lorna has had many years of presenting to clients and public alike on many topics, predominantly relating to real estate.

Darren Yates has over twenty years’ experience in property market research and analysis, across different sectors and geographies.  During this time, he has produced market-leading publications, from writing and editing through to promoting them in the media, including TV and radio.  In addition, he has presented to clients and at numerous events for several leading real estate agents. As an independent consultant, he has undertaken a number of projects which have included the occupancy monitoring and analysis for a portfolio of offices, blogs about workplace trends and a report on cycling facilities in offices.

1030 Organisational Network Analysis (ONA) – A Statistical Measurement of Collaboration, Employee Capital at Work
Rachel Casanova and Sophie Schuller, Cushman & Wakefield

For years, the real estate industry has highlighted how inspired workspaces drive collaboration, relationship development, mentorship and knowledge sharing. For example, a work environment with a range of work settings, natural light and informal meeting spaces can facilitate desired behaviours. The pandemic provided an opportunity to test the hypothesis; What happened when offices were no longer an active asset to support employee connection, networks and relationships.

Prior to the initial global lockdown, Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) were engaged in exploratory field research of Client A’s communication patterns linked to office design features, such as open-plan vs traditional workplaces. Once the lockdown began, the research was extended to complete an Organisational Network Analysis (ONA) across Client A’s global organisation. The objective of this ONA was to evaluate the change to the strength, density, and formality of networks across Client A’s business and how spatial design impacted these networks, including the impact of where you work.

Findings from this research highlight the impact on organisational networks when employees work together in an office vs when at home, as well as the impact of occupying a single floor plate vs multiple. Findings across these two scenarios also include the difference in ONA across departments, job types, gender, age, and tenure of employees. Initial insights also into the correlation between employee engagement and ONA highlight future research opportunities to understand how increased network strength drives employee capital and engagement.

#OrganisationalNetworks #OfficeDesign #EmployeeEngagement

Rachel Casanova is a Senior Managing Director of Workplace Innovation based in the firm’s Midtown Manhattan office. Having joined Cushman & Wakefield in 2018, Rachel is equipped with more than 25 years of diverse industry experience advising companies on how to transform their real estate assets to reinforce long-term business strategies and create a workplace experience unique to the company’s corporate culture. In a time of uncertainty about the future of office space, Rachel provides solutions for a range of workplace programs to support the evolving demands of a post-pandemic ecosystem. Forward-thinking and creative, Rachel is passionate about the convergence of organizational behaviour, the human experience and real estate.

Sophie Schuller brings 16 years of Global Real Estate Consulting experience.  Sophie has expertise in leading client engagements in strategic consulting, real estate finance and total workplace (facilities management); although Sophie’s education and interests lie in research into the intersection of workplace and psychoneurophysiology. Sophie is currently responsible for leading C&W’s ‘Living Lab’, researching what really happens when we go to work. Sophie is specifically interested in whether through neuroimaging and cognitive testing, we can demonstrate whether workplace design can cultivate the cognitive states intended, such as concentration, creativity and productivity.

Further, Sophie is interested in how specific elements of workplace design may influence the neurobiological basis of Affective Disorders, such as depression, anxiety and burnout. Sophie holds an MBA from London Business School, an MSc in Neuroscience from King’s College London and is currently studying for her PhD position in ‘psychoneurophysiology and workplace design’ at the Technical University of Eindhoven, Netherlands.

1100 Morning Break

1130 UK Four-Day Week Pilot 2022: Workplace Results and Learnings
Kyle Lewis, Autonomy Research Limited

The world’s largest national four-day week pilot took place in the United Kingdom for six months during 2022, with over 60 companies taking part.

Autonomy, the pilot’s research coordinator, will present the results and key learnings in this session, with a focus on its implications for the workplace. This presentation will provide valuable insight on the impact a four-day week can have in making teams and workspaces positive places to be. The four-day week is a rising trend across many sectors, and understanding its strengths, practical requirements and risks is vital for all workplace professionals.

Read more about this session here.

#4DayWeek #Productivity #WorkLifeBalance

Kyle co-founded Autonomy and leads on our shorter working week consultancy and research. With Will Stronge, he is the co-author of Overtime (Verso, 2021) and managed the research branch of the UK’s four-day week pilot in 2022.

Kyle has project managed the majority of our consultancy projects, leading client interaction, drafting reports and guiding our interview, workshop and survey processes.  He is currently completing a PhD in Political Theory and Sociology at the University of West London.

1155 Employee Engagement in the Post-Covid Workplace
Dan Wakelin, HCG

Hybrid working fundamentally changes what it means to be activity-based working – thinly populated offices reduce the need for switching behaviour and mobility, both previously seen as mainstays of ABW environments. Our expectations of what engagement behaviours look like also need to shift in a hybrid world – much collaboration now happens through a screen resulting in more ‘hiding’ either physically or metaphorically with headphones, and a sense that ‘getting in the zone’ is now easier to achieve at home.

Using a case study approach, this research explores two institutions where activity-based working has been introduced; the Weston Favell Institute (WFI), a biomedical research facility, and the Faculty of Business & Law at Herne Hill University (HHU). ABW was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic at the WFI for administrative staff, and at HHU for both academic and administrative staff.  Sources of data were semi-structured interviews with designers and users of the two workspaces; documentary sources such as floorplans and organisational communications; and observations.

#ActivityBasedWorking #HybridWorking #EmployeeEngagement

Dan has led workplace strategy and change management projects for organisations in a range of sectors. As a Director at HCG, Dan is responsible for leading accounts and projects for organisations such as Paramount Global, WTW, Marsh, BP, Deloitte, and the Dogs Trust. Having started working in the Higher Education sector, Dan implemented Activity Based Working at some of the UK’s leading universities before becoming a workplace consultant.

Dan is a Certified Member of the IWFM and is a committee member for the Workspace Special Interest Group. He is also undertaking a Doctorate in Business Administration which is focussed on how changing the workplace can impact upon employee engagement. His research interests also include behaviours in space, and the effect of artefacts and symbols on an organisation’s strategic narrative.

1220 Reclaiming Privacy in a Transparent World: Making Dens at Work
Dr Harriet Shortt, University of the West of England & Bibo Studios

This innovative research is based on a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) study of the Bristol Business School building – a flagship space that aims to attract students, facilitate links with businesses and foster a collaborative space for staff to work together. The strategic aim of the building was that it should be ‘generative’ and was designed to link with the strategic vision: a building to support a community that is professionally engaged, vocationally relevant, internationally connected and academically strong.

Both core funders of this POE research project, ISG plc (construction) and Stride Treglown (architects) identified a need to undertake an original POE of the building in order to explore the user experience and use of the new space using a creative and innovative approach. Whilst more traditional POE approaches focus predominantly on the technical and functional performance of a building, they rarely gather detailed, subjective, in-depth data based on the user experience of the building. This POE research project fills this gap.

The project provides a nuanced, personal, emotional and sensory exploration of a flagship building, using modern visual methods: through the use of Instagram and participant-led photography.

Read more about this session here.

#PostOccupancyEvaluation #Community #UserExperience

Harriet is an academic, researcher, and workplace consultant in the field of spatial change and user experience. She has seventeen years’ experience in researching and working with organisations exploring space, place, and the material world of work. She has expertise in qualitative research methods including visual, arts-based approaches to understanding user experiences of placemaking. She has worked with public and private sector organisations, such as the Environment Agency, Stride Treglown, ISG, and the Rugby Football Union. She is often invited to comment on spatial change and working practices in the media and has worked with BBC Radio 4, the Evening Standard, Work Wise UK, Bristol 24/7, and Workplace Geeks. Her research has been published in international journals and won awards for research excellence. Harriet is passionate about user experiences of buildings, places, and facilities and believes that successful placemaking encompasses an awareness of cultural shifts, diverse needs, innovative communications, and a sympathetic understanding of people and their everyday lives.

1245 Lunch

1355 Welcome Back
Jamesina Sainsbury, MCM – Afternoon Moderator

Jamesina is Director of Consultancy at MCM. Her expertise lies in helping organisations to connect the dots between their ways of working, organisational culture, and business strategy. By taking a human and holistic lens on a company’s ambitions and objectives, she integrates the physical, technological, and behavioural environments to inform conscious design.

Jamesina has developed and implemented ways of working strategies for both start-ups and established organisations across the FS, Pharma, Software and Manufacturing sector. Her most recent projects involved redefining the Future of Work for 2 large specialist insurance companies, who have now moved into 22 Bishopsgate. In her previous roles she has been responsible for designing and delivering training to many leadership, HR, and facilities teams across the globe. She has always been instrumental in bringing about change and is passionate about positively contributing to society through evolving the way we work.

She is also an Exec Coach, a people leader, and a guest lecturer at Cambridge Business School on the topic of High Performing Teams.

1400 Workplace Design for Connectedness and Mental Well-Being
Lene Becker, LAIKA Rumdesign

More and more people around the world deal with mental health related disorders. Millennials (who will constitute 75% of the workforce by 2025 (Deloitte) are an example of a challenged generation. Neuro-divergent persons are said to constitute up to 20% of us. And loneliness is spreading in all ages and across all layers of society.

How will the on-going office transformation and hybrid work life affect this implicit fragility related to lack of mental well-being. We risk a large group turning away from the office, especially if they find no psychological safety and no relationships there, no one to learn from, no flexibility and no meaning.

How can we support them – and everybody else – and use workplace design to make the office a centre of meaningful activities in human-centric facilities, to build social capital, resilience and sense of belonging?

#MillenialsAtWork #MentalHealth #EmployeeExperience

Lene Becker, CEO and founder of LAIKA Rumdesign (2010).

Lene has a background in advertising, interior design and workplace- and organisational psychology. For the last 15 years, she and the rest of the space commanders at LAIKA have been developing and designing work- and learning spaces. Lene is a strategic consultant, public speaker and debater and writes LAIKA’s books on e.g. ’Space for Your Brain at Work’ and latest ’The Hybrid work life’.

1425 Is Hybrid Working the Solution for the Organisational Commitment of Your Introverted Colleagues?
Esmeé Bechtold, Eindhoven University of Technology

In this thesis the perceived higher affective commitment for introverted employees while working hybrid is researched. Voluntary and non-voluntary working conditions are tested via self-developed vignette techniques. The research is done with a large set of respondents from the Eindhoven University of Technology, NL.

The outcomes of the study were determinants for the policy on hybrid working for the university, more specifically the supporting staff and workplace conditions.

Read more about this session here.

#HybridWorking #UniversityStaff #PersonalityType #IntrovertsAtWork

My name is Esmeé and I am a policy maker at Eindhoven University of Technology.

Most people know me as always positive and creative in coming up with solutions. I get energy from challenges and function best when I am surrounded by many inspiring people and processes. Everywhere I go I try to see the bigger picture, challenging myself to find the improvements.

I am naturally curious about and driven by innovation and improvement and I want to create value for people. I have a background in real estate, facility management and organizational sciences.

For lovers of summaries: fresh look, ambitious, strives for results, creative thinking, communicative skills, flexible and above all positive!

1450 Burnout and the Relationship with Acoustic Perception and Personality Traits in UK Office Workers
Paige Hodsman, Brunel University and Saint-Gobain Ecophon

This pilot study explored the relationships between acoustic perceptions, personality traits and burnout. It builds on previous findings but uniquely brings into one study variables that had not previously been compared. Both home and traditional office workspaces were considered.

Overall, the findings put forward a strong argument for considering both acoustic perceptions and personality traits when assessing the causes and implications of burnout and the associated costs to individuals, businesses and society. This is particularly pertinent in light of the recent changes towards hybrid working.

#Acoustics #PersonalityTraits #OfficeDesign #WorkFromHome

Paige Hodsman is an office acoustics specialist with a background in office acoustics, office interior design, environmental design and psychology.  She regularly conducts research, speaks and writes on the subject of office acoustics and has co-authored the Acoustics chapter in the book Ergonomic Workplace Design for Health Wellness and Productivity by A. Hedge. She explores the subject of psychoacoustics in the context of office design, including the literature and research papers on Planning for Psychoacoustics: A Psychological Approach to Resolving Office Noise Distraction with Dr. Nigel Oseland.  This work has culminated in the development of a psychoacoustic worker profiling tool for practical application. She is currently writing on the subjects of office acoustics and sensory processing and utilises her academic and work experience to promote good office acoustic design solutions for human health, well-being and performance.

1515 Design for the Mind
David O’Coimin, Nook

Join David as he uses new design standards and latest academic research to illustrate how to help make our built environment inclusive for all types of brains, illustrating how organisations can use their workspace to help unlock buried potential, win the fight for talent and boost innovation.

#Neurodiversity #OfficeDesign #InclusiveDesign

David O’Coimin is a product and experience designer, digital nomad and social-minded founder with a passion for people, places and planet.
Operating under the mantra of ‘Design For The Extreme Benefits The Mean’ and guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, David helps organisations to realise the full potential of their space and the people who use them, with a particular focus on neuroinclusivity.

1540 Afternoon Break

1610 Hybrid Working Space, Moving From Individual to Teams’ Needs
Muriel Altunaga, The Flow, Independent Consultant

Employees and employers agreed on two/three days per week working from the office or another hybrid arrangement. Flipping the default from fixed to flexible (or from set to hybrid) represents a step change in the future world of work. Remote and in-time hybrid experience is a complex and evolving challenge that will be central to business continuity.

Combined with the technology and management, the office space would have to adapt to new, more complex requirements. The office should provide efficient accommodation for the employees, enhance the quality of the work, deliver better services and deliver on the sustainability and well-being aspects. As well as providing exceptional user experience.

Working with others is the trademark of the office purpose. Increasing collaboration, improving team communication, and enhancing learning are the ultimate purpose of real estate expenditure.  Many companies agreed to leave teams to decide how to organise their agendas- prioritising time together. This approach defines the office occupation by the teams’ dynamics.

The presentation will show how organising the workplace approach around teams impacts the office concept and design. Using workplace strategy case studies, I will discuss different teams’ requirements and ways of working, connecting the findings with the occupation challenges.

#OfficeTeams #HybridWork #RemoteWork #EmployeeEngagement #OfficeDesign

I am a trained architect with 20 years of experience working in the workplace. As a designer, workplace strategist and change manager, I have delivered projects for many companies, spanning different sectors, geographies, and scales.

Over the years, I have worked in design practices and real estate companies. This experience gave me a well-rounded understanding of the building cycle. I am passionate about human-centred design and how the built space shapes people’s behaviour. I enjoy providing integrated services and approach office design holistically. Combining an in-deep understanding of the user’s and businesses’ needs with technical knowledge of the constraints of the building and the sustainability objectives.

I have led teams to deliver multiple services, from defining strategy for a single intervention to creating global workplace standards, roll-out global transformation or defining real estate strategies.

I am a regular speaker in sector-related events, debates and professional panels.

1635 The Sustainable Workplace: A Human-Centric Transformation
Jaime Blakeley-Glover, Orientate and
Dr Jonathan Rhodes, Imagery Coaching

Jaime and Jon will present the outcomes of action-based exploration of what is driving the gap between intention and action on sustainability and climate within the workplace; how we measure it; and most importantly, what we can do to close it. They draw together three linked pieces of applied research and action learning case studies undertaken over the last 18 months:

  • Climate Employee Engagement Survey – Short research study exploring the gap between intention and action on climate change within organisations. The study identified significant challenges around culture; employee engagement in strategy; and individual ownership of climate action.
  • The Most Sustainable Workplace Index – The Index demonstrates how we can apply the evidence-based psychological model of Self Determination Theory to develop a greater insight into the role of culture, mindset and motivation in driving sustainability and climate action in the workplace.
  • Climate Coaching Programme – Presenting the initial results of a psychologically based coaching programme designed to catalyse action on climate by focusing on a shift in mindset and culture. The evidence-based case studies are from four participant groups in the real estate industry. It demonstrates importance of a human-centric approach to Net Zero within the workplace.

#SustainableWorkplace #ClimateCoaching #EmployeeEngagement

Jaime Blakeley-Glover works at the intersection between the built environment, human development and the natural world. He supports clients within these sectors whilst continually exploring and shaping the spaces in between them. He brings a wealth of experience in the built environment through two decades working at senior levels within property, regeneration and sustainability sectors. Jaime is a consultant, coach and outdoor guide.

His work is increasingly focused on the connection between the built environment, humanity and the natural world. At the heart of many of Jaime’s projects is the concept of ‘place’ and the shifts required to create a sustainable, regenerative future.

Jaime is Co-Founder of Orientate, a human-centric consultancy and coaching business specialising in sustainability, property and social value. He is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS), accredited coach (EMCC Senior Practitioner) and Mountain Leader (SML). He holds an MA in European Real Estate, BA and ILM7 Diploma.

Dr Jonathan Rhodes is Co-Founder of Imagery Coaching, an organisation working with cooperate teams, athletes, the military and training coaches. He is also a Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth. Working over three Olympic cycles with athletes from a mixture of disciplines, Jon continues to work with the world’s top athletes competing for a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and in extreme sports, such as with Red Bull Cliff Divers and with athletes competing in the America’s Cup. Jon has appeared on the BBC and Sky News as part of the United Nations Ocean patron Lewis Pugh’s Long Swim, raising awareness for marine conservation by swimming 560 kilometres. As an academic, Jon has written peer reviewed papers on personality change due to overcoming adversity and has written several papers that use imagery to enhance performance consistency. Currently, alongside coaching, lecturing, researching, and delivering performance consultancy programmes, Jon is designing innovative imagery interventions for the British Military and corporate organisations. In June 2023, The Choice Point, a book on Jon’s and his colleagues’ work is set for global release.

1700 The Ripple Effect: How the Evolution of Hybrid Work Will Impact the Workplace and Our Cities
Kasia Maynard, Gensler Research Institute

While hybrid working has become a permanent fixture on the landscape of work, there are still big questions around the future of work that remain unanswered. How does the office fit into the new ecosystem of work? How can we build sustainable office spaces that meet new expectations? What is the wider implication of hybrid working on our cities?

The latest research from the Gensler Research Institute explores how to best enable hybrid working, optimise the office environment, meet goals of NET zero, whilst also maximising employee experience and engagement. The research highlights innovative case studies for sustainable design, alongside cutting-edge data on 30 cities across the world, and new survey results from UK workplace. As hybrid working develops in maturity, there is a greater opportunity to design workspaces that are sustainable, customisable, and effective.

#ConciousCities #SustainableDesign #HybridWorking #EmployeeExperience

Kasia Maynard is a researcher and writer with a background in the future of work and urban design. She holds an MA in Urban Design and Planning and has more than six years’ experience forecasting trends on the future of work. Kasia works across the global workplace surveys published by the Gensler Research Institute. Prior to this, she worked as an editor with the WORKTECH Academy – a global platform focusing exclusively on the future of work and workplace. She has presented research and insights on the future of work internationally, delivered workshops, and facilitated panels with prominent thought leaders across the industry.

1725 Moderator’s Wrap Up and Close

1730-1900 Drinks Social

All attendees invited!


With thanks to our sponsors

and our Media Partners