IFMA Announces High-Octane Slate of Keynote Speakers for World Workplace Conference and Expo in Charlotte
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has named three keynote speakers for the first time at its World Workplace Conference and Expo. NASCAR icon and philanthropist Kyle Petty will deliver the opening keynote and former White House CIO and cybersecurity expert Theresa Payton will present the awards luncheon closing keynote. Delivering the first plenary session keynote is Scott Breor, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
IFMA will hold World Workplace in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, on Oct. 3-5 in collaboration with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This year’s keynote speakers offer insights into the dynamic facility management profession — a US$1 trillion global industry with more than 25 million practitioners — aligned with the conference theme, “Create your own success.”
Kyle Petty’s keynote, entitled “What a Ride: Life, Family, Community and the Race Track,” draws insights from his life’s journey as part of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing’s most famous family. For more than three decades as a driver, owner and media commentator, Petty competed with class while working to help those around him. Petty has been named or nominated by NASCAR, plus various media outlets and corporations, as Person of the Year, Father of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and the USA’s Most Caring Athlete. He is an inductee in the Philanthropy Hall of Fame, the Humanitarian Hall of Fame and the Little League Hall of Excellence. His keynote presentation is sponsored by Davies Office (www.daviesoffice.com).
In his role at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Scott Breor oversees the coordinated national efforts to reduce the risk to critical infrastructure posed by acts of terrorism, and to strengthen national preparedness, timely response and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster or other emergency. His talk “Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Spaces Against Evolving Threats,” will provide information on free tools and resources available through DHS to assist facility managers as they work to ensure the safety and security of their organizations’ visitors and employees.
As the White House’s first female CIO, Theresa Payton knows cybersecurity. Her talk, “Hype or Reality? Your Workplace and Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and the Internet of Things,” provides timely insight as more facilities are upfitted with interconnected smart devices. When buildings get wired, threats via cybercrime mean FM strategy must include maintaining critical operations using information technology, cybersecurity and automated controls. She will address specific concerns for facility managers regarding identifying and mitigating potential risks. Payton’s keynote session is made possible in part by sponsorship from AECOM (www.aecom.com).
Registration is open at www.worldworkplace.org.
What:Â World Workplace Conference and Expo
When:Â Oct. 3-5, 2018
Where: Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, USA
World Workplace is the original all-encompassing learning and networking event on facilities and how to manage them. There’s program value for FM professionals at every point of their careers and across all types of facilities. World Workplace remains the gold standard for discovering new ideas and technology impacting the FM industry.
Learn more about the keynote speakers online at:Â https://worldworkplace.ifma.org/whats-happening/keynote-sessions
About IFMA
IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in more than 100 countries. This diverse membership participates in focused component groups equipped to address their unique situations by region (136 chapters), industry (16 councils) and areas of interest (six communities). Together they manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$526 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management; conducts research; provides educational programs, content and resources; and produces World Workplace, the world’s largest series of facility management conferences and expositions. To join and follow IFMA’s social media outlets online, visit the association’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.
About RICS
RICS is a global professional body. We promote and enforce the highest professional qualification and standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Our name promises the consistent delivery of standards – bringing confidence to the markets we serve. The work of our professionals creates a safer world: we are proud of our profession’s reputation and we guard it fiercely.  www.rics.org
