Carleton University today conferred a Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, on Gordon Hicks “in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to a sustainable low-carbon future, through innovation, leadership and advocacy for the highest standards of practice in energy-efficient buildings.”
Hicks, a Faculty of Engineering and Design alumnus, was honoured during Carleton’s Spring Convocation. About 3,500 students received their degrees over the course of four days.
During his speech, Hicks congratulated the graduates, encouraging them to continue their dedication to learning, challenge conventional thinking and use their talents to address today’s challenges to secure a brighter future for all.
“Our world is besieged with disruption where change is the new normal, where technological advances and artificial intelligence are increasing productivity and enhancing how human beings interact and communicate, and where a country’s and company’s survival is reliant on continuous innovation,” Hicks said. “This is a world where an individual’s greatest asset is their ability to learn, which is the skill that enables you to create, implement, embrace and adopt change. This is the cornerstone of knowledge that each of you have gained here at Carleton University.”
He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carleton in 1987 and became a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 1990.
Hicks has been the chief executive officer of Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions (BGIS) since 2015 and he held numerous executive roles since joining the organization in 1997. As the CEO, Hicks oversees a team of more than 7,000 people, operating in 15 countries around the world. Hicks has held a number of industry board positions over the years, including the Global Board of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).
In 2012, Hicks was recognized by the CaGBC with the prestigious Industry Leadership Award for his commitment to the green building movement. In 2014 he was named one of Canada’s Clean 16 and in 2015 was named Canada’s Greenest CEO by Corporate Knights, in recognition of his leadership role in creating awareness around the impact of buildings on the environment. In 2016, in an effort to mobilize the real estate industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Hicks founded and became the first chair of the Building Energy Innovators Council (BEIC).
“Gord is absolutely passionate about the sustainability of our planet and uses that passion to make a difference.” said Prof. Ron Miller, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, noting that, though often overlooked, homes and office buildings account for about a quarter of energy consumption. “As a manager of Brookfield and a manager of so many facilities around the world, Gord saw that greener practices in his organization could make a big difference.”
“His leadership and commitment to these ideas have been recognized by a number of national and international awards. He demonstrated to the world that what is good for the environment is also good for business.”
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Thursday, June 14, 2018 in News Releases
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