What you need to know
We are excited to hold the NZGBC Future Thinker of the Year 2026 Awards Evening on 10 August 2026. Join us to celebrate some of the country's brightest and most passionate new sustainable building champions.
The NZGBC Future Thinker of the Year 2026 recognises an individual who has demonstrated leadership, innovation, and a commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment. This could be from their participation in industry related activities, research or study initiatives, or their work achievements.The four finalists will present on the evening and the final winner will be announced.
If you are a student or recent graduate and want to attend this event, find out more about joining our NZGBC Future Thinker Membership here.
Bobby Shen (MC)
Impact Manager – Buildings, NZGBC
Bobby works with the property and construction sector to unlock long-term value in asset portfolios by focusing on drivers including energy efficiency, lower carbon outcomes, and the growing influence of sustainable finance.
With a background in commercial architecture, Bobby brings expertise across the full life cycle of buildings — from design and construction through to the operational phase. At NZGBC, he helps industry apply tools such as Green Star and NABERSNZ to deliver assets that are energy-smart, low-emissions, and aligned with evolving sustainability expectations.
Amanda Bryan
Technical Director, Environment and Society, Mott MacDonald
Amanda Bryan has 20 years of consulting experience and is a qualified building scientist with expertise in governance, holistic sustainability, and building performance modelling. Her specialisations include climate resilience, adaptation planning, life cycle assessments, carbon management, net zero pathways, and regenerative practices.
Amanda has held leadership and mentorship roles across various sectors, including built environment, infrastructure, transport, energy, water, and digital advisory. She has delivered Sustainability strategies and climate risk assessments and resilience plans for assets such as commercial buildings, retail spaces, hospitals, public areas, and roads.
Adam Bruce
NZGBC Future Thinker of the Year 2025
Master of Architecture (Professional) student at Victoria University of Wellington, Adam’s research explores scalable, low-carbon construction using natural materials and advanced fabrication techniques. His work bridges traditional and modern methods to support a more sustainable, equitable built environment.