PANEL MEMBERS
Panel Discussion Members
Towards Net-Zero Construction: Challenges and Innovations
Romildo Dias Toledo Filho
CEO of the UFRJ Science Park
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Romildo Dias Toledo Filho is a Full Professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Executive Director of the UFRJ Science & Technology Park, one of Latin America’s leading innovation ecosystems. He also coordinates the Sustainable Materials Laboratory (NUMATS) and the LCI Urban Living Lab for Smart Construction.
His research focuses on sustainable and bio-based construction materials, CO₂-capturing cements, industrial by-product valorization, natural-fiber composites, and technologies supporting the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy.
He has coordinated more than 70 national and international research and innovation projects and authored over 350 peer-reviewed publications. He is a Full Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the National Academy of Engineering (ANE), and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
With more than three decades of experience, he works at the intersection of science, innovation, industry, and public policy, leading initiatives that connect research excellence to technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable industrial development in Brazil and internationally.
His research focuses on sustainable and bio-based construction materials, CO₂-capturing cements, industrial by-product valorization, natural-fiber composites, and technologies supporting the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy.
He has coordinated more than 70 national and international research and innovation projects and authored over 350 peer-reviewed publications. He is a Full Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the National Academy of Engineering (ANE), and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
With more than three decades of experience, he works at the intersection of science, innovation, industry, and public policy, leading initiatives that connect research excellence to technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable industrial development in Brazil and internationally.
Annemarij Kooistra
Director of City Deal Future-Proof Canals
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Annemarij Kooistra is currently the director of a City Deal Network “Future Proof Inner City Canals”, where she plays a key role in building alliances of municipalities facing large renovation challenges of the historic canal walls, bridges and sluices in the city centers. A challenge of preservation of cultural heritage combined with necessary climate adaptation, modal shift in mobility and energy transition in the public space of the canal systems. Together with industry and research institutions best practices are shared and new standards developed.
In the city of Amsterdam she was as a program director responsible for the assessment of the civil structures, and the research program to develop futureproof solutions for Amsterdam bridges and canal walls. Innovations on monitoring and sensoring, assessment strategies, value based decision making and synergy between renovation and future proof public space were tested and implemented. And within the city deal network now shared and further developed.
Scaling innovations and implementation of newly developed standards do not only ask for technical solutions. Real transition towards a net zero future ask for social innovations and new ecosystems. Leaving old ways that served us well in past decades is hard and should not be underestimated. Embracing the new can make us feel insecure. Creating a safe environment for leaving the old and facing the insecure and unknown future is part of building the alliances within the city deal.
In the city of Amsterdam she was as a program director responsible for the assessment of the civil structures, and the research program to develop futureproof solutions for Amsterdam bridges and canal walls. Innovations on monitoring and sensoring, assessment strategies, value based decision making and synergy between renovation and future proof public space were tested and implemented. And within the city deal network now shared and further developed.
Scaling innovations and implementation of newly developed standards do not only ask for technical solutions. Real transition towards a net zero future ask for social innovations and new ecosystems. Leaving old ways that served us well in past decades is hard and should not be underestimated. Embracing the new can make us feel insecure. Creating a safe environment for leaving the old and facing the insecure and unknown future is part of building the alliances within the city deal.
David Moses
Principal of Moses Structural Engineers Inc.
Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canada
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David Moses is the founder of Moses Structural Engineers, a Toronto-based firm whose core purpose is to have a “Lasting Impact” on our cities and communities. David has over 25 years of experience structural engineering projects across Canada and the United States, specializing in timber engineering, including many firsts: the first cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings in Canada, the first Passive Housebuilding in Canada, early CNCing of mass timber in Canada, and has always been an advocate to develop and adopt new structural systems and components.
David is a member of CSA O86 “Engineering Design in Wood”, and the Wood Structures sub-committee of CSA S6 “Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code”, co-author of the Ontario Tall Wood Building Reference and co-author of the Ontario Wood Bridge Reference Guide. David is also founder of TimberFever® a design-build competition run by his company for engineering and architecture students across Canada and the United States.
David is a member of CSA O86 “Engineering Design in Wood”, and the Wood Structures sub-committee of CSA S6 “Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code”, co-author of the Ontario Tall Wood Building Reference and co-author of the Ontario Wood Bridge Reference Guide. David is also founder of TimberFever® a design-build competition run by his company for engineering and architecture students across Canada and the United States.
Michael Haist
CEO of DAfStb (German Committee for Reinforced Concrete)
Stuttgart, Germany
Stuttgart, Germany
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Michael Haist is Professor and Director of the Institute of Construction Materials (IWB) at the University of Stuttgart, where he leads research and teaching in the field of construction materials and concrete technology. He also serves as Chairman of the Deutscher Ausschuss für Stahlbeton (DAfStb), one of Germany’s leading organizations for the development and standardization of concrete construction.
His research focuses on sustainable and resource-efficient concrete construction, low-carbon cementitious materials, durability and performance of concrete structures, as well as the digitalisation and automation of concrete production and quality control. In recent years, he has been particularly involved in advancing concepts such as “Concrete 4.0”, combining artificial intelligence, computer vision, and data-driven approaches with concrete technology.
Prof. Haist has coordinated and contributed to numerous national and international research projects and has published extensively on topics including climate-friendly concrete, fresh concrete rheology, durability, digital quality assurance, and circular construction materials, thereby contributing significantly to the transformation towards more sustainable concrete construction.
His research focuses on sustainable and resource-efficient concrete construction, low-carbon cementitious materials, durability and performance of concrete structures, as well as the digitalisation and automation of concrete production and quality control. In recent years, he has been particularly involved in advancing concepts such as “Concrete 4.0”, combining artificial intelligence, computer vision, and data-driven approaches with concrete technology.
Prof. Haist has coordinated and contributed to numerous national and international research projects and has published extensively on topics including climate-friendly concrete, fresh concrete rheology, durability, digital quality assurance, and circular construction materials, thereby contributing significantly to the transformation towards more sustainable concrete construction.
Hans Beushausen
Moderator of the Panel Discussion
Vice President of RILEM
Cape Town, South Africa
Vice President of RILEM
Cape Town, South Africa
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Hans Beushausen is Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, where he leads research in concrete materials, durability, and the long-term performance of infrastructure. He also serves as Vice President of RILEM, contributing to the advancement of international collaboration and research in construction materials and structures.
His research focuses on the durability of reinforced concrete, corrosion of steel reinforcement, repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures, sustainable cementitious materials, and the performance of concrete under aggressive environmental conditions. He has led numerous national and international research projects, particularly addressing the challenges of durable and resilient infrastructure in diverse climatic environments.
Prof. Beushausen has authored more than 250 scientific publications and is an active member of several international technical committees. Through his research, teaching, and leadership within RILEM, he continues to promote innovation and sustainability in concrete technology and structural durability.
His research focuses on the durability of reinforced concrete, corrosion of steel reinforcement, repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures, sustainable cementitious materials, and the performance of concrete under aggressive environmental conditions. He has led numerous national and international research projects, particularly addressing the challenges of durable and resilient infrastructure in diverse climatic environments.
Prof. Beushausen has authored more than 250 scientific publications and is an active member of several international technical committees. Through his research, teaching, and leadership within RILEM, he continues to promote innovation and sustainability in concrete technology and structural durability.