CIBSE CEO Ruth Carter is driving the Institution’s growth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), highlighting the importance of adapting global standards to local contexts to deliver safer, greener, and higher-performing buildings. In an exclusive interview with MEP Middle East, Ruth shared insights into CIBSE’s regional evolution, its growing influence, and its commitment to empowering professionals across the built environment.
From UAE to MENA: a natural evolution
CIBSE’s transition from a UAE-focused chapter to the newly restructured CIBSE MENA marks a key milestone in its regional engagement. Ruth explained that the change reflects the Institution’s increasing activity and member involvement across the wider MENA region.
“Renaming to CIBSE MENA is a natural evolution, not just a name change. It ensures our regional structure truly reflects where our members are working and where the industry is growing,” she said.
The move aims to foster inclusivity, collaboration, and professional development across diverse markets, reinforcing CIBSE’s position as a global, member-centric organisation.
Global expertise, local relevance
Ruth emphasised the value of combining global knowledge with local insight, ensuring technical guidance is meaningful in regional contexts. A notable example is TM65 UAE, CIBSE’s embodied carbon calculation methodology adapted to local data and practices.
“Tools like TM65 empower professionals to set meaningful targets and track real progress, making sustainability efforts more credible and impactful,” she noted.
Bridging ambition and action
With MENA governments setting ambitious net-zero targets, she highlighted the need to translate policy goals into practical, measurable action. CIBSE is supporting this through training, guidance, and technical expertise, drawing from its experience leading the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and collaborating with regional partners to build capacity, raise standards, and support innovation.
A new era of learning
Ruth also introduced CIBSE’s ‘Building for the Future’ campaign, centred on the creation of a new Skills Hub at its London headquarters. The Hub will serve as a global centre for training, events, and collaboration, with a focus on lifelong learning and supporting the next generation of building services professionals.
“The Skills Hub is designed to serve CIBSE’s global community, including professionals across the MENA region, enabling knowledge exchange and cross-regional collaboration,” she explained.
Defining excellence in MENA
CIBSE’s mission in MENA is to set a trusted benchmark for excellence, balancing global standards with local ingenuity. Ruth highlighted the importance of empowering professionals through training, accreditation, and professional networks, while also learning from innovative practices emerging in the region.
“Excellence in MENA should reflect both global leadership and local ingenuity” she said.
Collaboration as a catalyst
Ruth underscored that addressing challenges like decarbonisation and sustainability requires collaboration across governments, academia, and industry.
“Facing the challenge of decarbonisation is a team effort. It will not be achieved by one country or organization alone, but through selfless collaboration” she stated.
Looking ahead
As CIBSE continues to expand its footprint in MENA, Ruth’s vision is clear: to bridge the global and local, empower professionals, and redefine building services engineering.
“Our goal is to help professionals deliver better buildings—safer, smarter, and more sustainable ones—and ensure they have the skills, recognition, and community they deserve,” she concluded.
With its strengthened regional structure and commitment to collaboration, CIBSE is well-positioned to shape the future of building services engineering across MENA and beyond.
Read the full interview in MEP Middle East:
CEO Ruth Carter on CIBSE MENA expansion
Access the November edition of MEP Middle East magazine