The World Green Building Council recently awarded David Gottfried, the founder of the US Green Building Council, the inaugural World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award at the Chairman’s Awards Gala Dinner. As well as starting the US Green Building Council, David Gottfried founded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system.

Gottfried was selected by the council for his contribution to the development and growth of the global green building industry. When presenting the award, Tony Arnel, chairman of the WorldGBC, said, “an author, green building activist and keen entrepreneur, David is an inspirational role model for the global property and construction industry.”

Recognition of service awards were also presented at the gala dinner to retiring board members, for their contributions to the WorldGBC and the green building industry:

• César Treviño, president of the Mexico GBC
• Dr Chilin Cheng, founder and board member of the Chinese-Taipei Green Building Council 
• Parasu Raman, founder of the India GBC.

A number of chairman’s awards for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the global green building movement were also given to the following people:

• Ché Wall from Lend Lease, first chairman of the WorldGBC 
• Dan Slone from McGuire Woods, who established the WorldGBC’s governance structure; WorldGBC legal counsel
• Brian Denney, chief administrative officer at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Huston Eubank, WorldGBC’s founding corporate secretary and first executive director 
• Dr Kath Williams, a vice-chair of the WorldGBC board and staff member for many years in the setup phase 
• Nellie Cheng, who served on the WorldGBC board for six years; current head of USGBC China operations 
• Province of Ontario, accepted by David Lindsay. Province of Ontario provided $1.2 million in seed funding over four years.

The Chairman’s Awards Gala Dinner celebrates the global green building industry’s accomplishments, and acknowledges the individuals who have contributed to the rapid green transformation of the global property and construction industry.