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NewsNature Positive Infrastructure Forum showcases path to sustainable infrastructure

10 July 2023 | 3 min

International design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon announced the successful conclusion of the highly anticipated Nature Positive Infrastructure Forum on 6 July 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The forum was focused on promoting holistic planning and design of infrastructure to ensure sustainability and conservation of nature.

Officiated by the Minister of Transport Malaysia Yang Berhormat Tuan Anthony Loke, the forum brought together a diverse range of experts, policymakers, industry titans, researchers and environmental advocates, and provided a strategic platform to share knowledge, foster collaboration and drive transformative change in the sustainable infrastructure space that would benefit the society and the environment.

From L-R: Shikin Raja Zainal, Director of Operations, Environment – Malaysia; YB Anthony Loke; Bill Cox – Chief Executive Officer, Aurecon and Dr G Balamurugan, Market Director, Environment & Sustainability, Asia at the forefront with all attendees.

Aurecon’s Nature Positive Infrastructure Forum held on July 6, 2023 was officiated by YB Anthony Loke, Minister of Transport, Malaysia.

Aurecon’s Nature Positive Infrastructure Forum brought together a diverse range of experts, policymakers, industry titans, researchers, and environmental advocates.

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From L-R: Shikin Raja Zainal, Director of Operations, Environment – Malaysia; YB Anthony Loke; Bill Cox – Chief Executive Officer, Aurecon and Dr G Balamurugan, Market Director, Environment & Sustainability, Asia at the forefront with all attendees.

Enlightening presentations delivered by speakers at the forefront of sustainable development and nature conservation, explored in-depth the following topics:

Topic	Speaker
Developments in Nature Positive Infrastructure in Malaysia	Dr G Balamurugan, Market Director, Environment & Sustainability – Asia, Aurecon
Moving from Net Loss to Nature Positive: Advancing the Sustainable Infrastructure Agenda	Evan Freund, Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure & Finance, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, US
Environmental Safeguards for the East Coast Rail Link	Dato’ Sri Darwis Abdul Razak, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd
Wetlands Enhancement at Metro Stations in Hong Kong	Paul Leader, Managing Director, Aurecon AEC

The speakers shared profound insights, experiences and noteworthy case studies that demonstrated the need for infrastructure to be sensitive to nature as well as the innovations to achieve positive outcomes for the economy, society, and the planet.

The speakers highlighted the urgency for transitioning towards nature-positive infrastructure to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, promote biodiversity conservation, and ensure long-term sustainable development. In addition to the invaluable exchange of knowledge, the Nature Positive Infrastructure Forum also fostered an atmosphere conducive to meaningful networking opportunities.

"Aurecon has a long history in designing and planning sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure. As a company, we plan to achieve net zero target by 2025 and we are focused on reducing emissions and minimising the carbon footprint of the infrastructure our clients ask us to design. We also want to take this even further by designing nature positive infrastructure that will help enrich biodiversity, protect, and return life back into our landscapes, and contribute towards enhancing our ecosystems and habitats," said Bill Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Aurecon.

Stephane Asselin, Aurecon’s Chief Executive, Asia said:

"Aurecon recognises the pivotal role played by Asia, home to half of the world's population, in driving global economic growth. Anticipating the increasing demand for sustainable solutions, Aurecon made a strategic decision two years ago to expand into the environment and sustainability sectors.

"This was realised through the strategic acquisitions of the ERE Consulting Group in Malaysia plus Acuity & Acumen and AEC in Hong Kong, as well as the recruitment of several industry experts with extensive experience in the market across our nine Asian locations. Together with our colleagues in Australia and New Zealand, we have now over 400 environmental and sustainability professionals across Asia Pacific, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to serving our clients as they navigate the transition towards a more sustainable future."

The resounding success of the Nature Positive Infrastructure Forum in Kuala Lumpur reaffirms the unwavering commitment of participants to champion nature-positive practices and forge partnerships that will propel lasting change. The event served as a powerful catalyst, igniting discussions and inspiring concrete actions that will undoubtedly shape the future of infrastructure development in Malaysia.