Earlier this month, CIBSE had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Shanghai Association of Science and Technology (SAST) to our new head office in central London. The delegation met with CIBSE’s CEO, Ruth Carter, President Vince Arnold, Technical Director Dr Anastasia Mylona, Director of Membership Richard Goldsbrough, and Head of Government Affairs Sam Baptist, marking an engaging and insightful visit.
During their time at CIBSE, the SAST delegation learned more about our membership, network, history, and our royal charter status. Dr Mylona highlighted key examples of our work in driving industry standards and best practice, including our recently launched weather data set and the UKNZCBS project. The delegation expressed interest in our pioneering approach, noting the significance of CIBSE leading initiatives that are later adopted by the UK Government — a testament to our influence and expertise.
The delegation also discussed opportunities for collaboration and expansion in China, highlighting the exciting potential for CIBSE to broaden its reach and membership internationally.
As a gesture of goodwill, the SAST delegation presented gifts to the CIBSE Executive team. Among them was a gold-plated magnolia flower, symbolising prosperity and good fortune in China, presented in a red box representing luck.
Another thoughtful gift was a cloth, made entirely from renewable materials, which beautifully depicted a stained glass window from their HQ building in Shanghai — a representation of their building and the stained glass within it, reflecting both artistry and sustainability. Ruth Carter warmly noted that the delegation were some of the first visitors to CIBSE’s Saffron Hill office, making their visit all the more special.
The visit continued with a tour of the Passivhaus block of flats in Acton and the McLaren Site Office, joined by Joel Callow CEng MCIBSE, Founding Director of Beyond Carbon, Emma Osmundsen from Ealing Council, and the team from the McLaren Group.
The visit concluded with a visit to UCL’s historic Bloomsbury campus, rounding off an inspiring programme of knowledge sharing and collaboration.
CIBSE extends its sincere thanks to the SAST delegation for visiting and for their continued support of the Institution. We look forward to welcoming them again in the future and continuing to strengthen our ties across the global built environment community.