The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), in partnership with Georgetown University’s Global Cities Initiative, is proud to host its second annual Healthy Building Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., on September 29. This landmark, full-day event is dedicated to exploring the critical role of policy at all levels of government in transforming workplaces, buildings and cities to improve health, build resilience and foster thriving communities.
The Summit will focus on critical topics and timely issues impacting the built environment including indoor air quality, the evidence-based return on investment (ROI) of healthy buildings, as well as the influence of legislation on market transformation. Other key topics include access to healthy environments, the leadership role of cities and states, and the contribution of professional organizations and technical standards in advancing healthy building initiatives.
Join us at our annual policy summit, exploring opportunities to advance healthy buildings.
Location:
McCourt School of Public Policy
125 E Street NW Washington, DC 20001
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Registration + Coffee
9:45 AM - 9:55 AM
Opening Remarks
- Jason Hartke, IWBI
- Dr. Christopher King, Dean, School of Health, Georgetown
9:55 AM - 10:10 AM
Opening Plenary
- Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General
10:10 AM - 10:55 AM
Panel: Unlocking Policy Solutions to Accelerate Healthy Indoor Air
- Nora Wang Esram, CEO, New Building Institute
- Sean McCrady, Vice President of Software & Advisory, UL
- Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, Brown University School of Public
- Jonathan Gritz, SVP of Energy Solutions, WellStat
Poor indoor air quality represents a pervasive public health crisis–one that demands urgent, coordinated global action. With Americans spending 90% of their time indoors–often breathing air more polluted than outside–the need for bold, coordinated policy has never been more urgent.
10:55 AM - 11:10 AM
Movement Break
11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
Panel: Investing in Health Pays Back: Lessons from the Field
- Whitney Austin Gray, SVP of Research,IWBI
- Denise Hauck, President, Department of Defense, Corvias
- Susan Chung, Associate Director,HKS
- Serene Almomen, Co-Founder and CEO, Attune
While the benefits of people-centric practices have long been established in public health and building science research, recent studies outline a clear connection between these investments and enhanced business performance, increased asset value and higher financial returns. Discover how research-backed strategies strengthen the business case for health investments.
12:05 PM - 12:15 PM
Georgetown’s Commitment to Health and Sustainability: A Campus Perspective
- Rachel Kohli, Director of Campus Planning, Georgetown
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Networking Lunch
1:15 PM - 2:05 PM
Fireside Chat: Built for Health: The Path to Scale
- Erin Billups, National Health Reporter, Spectrum News
- Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI
- U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D, NY)
From cutting-edge technology to legislative momentum, this conversation explores how buildings have become a defining opportunity to transform how we live, work and thrive.
2:05 PM - 2:50 PM
Panel: How the Private Sector is Raising the Bar on Healthy Buildings
- Chris Pyke, GRESB
- Tanya Eagle, Director of Sustainable Buildings, JLL
- Wendy Feldman Block, Savills
Across industries, pioneering companies are turning buildings into engines of health, productivity and business performance. By showcasing what’s possible–and profitable–the private sector is setting a new standard. This panel dives into how policy can accelerate adoption and bring these benefits to communities everywhere.
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
A Special Conversation with ASHRAE President William McQuade
- Erika Heet, Editor-In-Chief, BuildingGreen
- William McQuade, President, ASHRAE
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM
Movement Break
3:40 PM - 4:30 PM
Panel: Unleashing innovation to propel the healthy buildings movement
- Cameron Oskvig, NAS
- Trisha Miller, VP and Market Dev., Aeroseal
Cities and states are proving that big change starts at home. From bold building codes to public-private partnerships, local leaders are advancing health-first policies that are reshaping neighborhoods and inspiring national action. This panel highlights the power of place-based leadership to drive scalable impact.
4:30 PM - 5:20 PM
Panel: The role of states and cities in pioneering healthy building policy
- Uwe Brandes, Georgetown
- Kazukiyo Kumagai, California Department of Public Health
- Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel, USGBC
- Seydina Fall, Senior Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University
Technology is reshaping the way we think about our spaces: enabling healthier, more responsive buildings at a pace once thought impossible. From real-time air quality monitoring to AI-driven design, innovation is fueling a healthier built environment.
5:20 PM - 5:30 PM
Closing Remarks
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Networking Reception + Tour
Hosted at the Daikin Sustainability & Innovation Center