The People Project: Andrew Thai - Frasers Property Australia

20 Nov 2017

In this series, we profile the inspirational people making sustainable buildings, cities and communities come to life. Meet Frasers Property Australia Sustainability Manager, Development, Andrew Thai.

What’s your day-to-day role at Frasers Property?

I’m a Sustainability Manager, Development at Frasers Property, so my role is to assist in integrating sustainable design into our developments, as well as supporting our design and delivery teams to reach their Green Star aspirations.

Who else do you work with within your team?

I work closely with the design and delivery teams of our commercial, industrial and retail business units. I also work closely with the rest of the sustainability team within the business and we constantly collaborate to deliver better value to the business.

What’s the most memorable sustainability project you’ve worked on?

I am most proud of our industrial development for CEVA Logistics in Truganina, Victoria. The largest warehouse in the southern hemisphere, this project was recently awarded 6 Star Design & As Built v1.1 certification. It’s memorable because it challenges the current way industrial developments are designed and built and is evidence that all building types can integrate quality sustainable design.

What were some of the biggest challenges of this project?

CEVA Logistics was the first project we certified using a standard volume certification approach. Developing the volume process with the Green Building Council and adjusting our internal processes was definitely a challenge, particularly striking the right balance between time and rigour in providing evidence. This effort has paid dividends by streamlining our internal processes and integrating Green Star into our business as usual.

How did you use Green Star to achieve the project’s sustainability objectives?

Green Star certification is how we prove that we are being real and delivering on our promises. It is our way of independently verifying that we have achieved meaningful sustainability outcomes for our customers.

What does sustainability mean to you?

There is always a smarter way to do things, that can enhance the experience for others – whether that is our tenants, our communities, or our environment. I get up out of bed every day with the aim to challenge how to do business as usual and to push boundaries.

Where would you like to see the sustainable property industry in 10 years?

My mantra is to do myself out of a job. I see this happening through the empowerment and engagement of everyone in the industry, not just sustainability professionals. My vision for a sustainable future is fairness in the way we use resources as a society and equitable access for all.