The partnership
He presented the agreement as more than a sponsorship: a partnership uniting academia and industry on the future of cities. The first day of GDI 2025 was held at Beca’s new precinct in Wynyard Quarter, a 6 Green Star and 5 NABERSNZ rated workplace that embodies the sustainability agenda the conference exists to advance. A call for industry papers opened alongside the announcement.
The shared agenda covered digital twins, sustainable urban development, AI in construction and green infrastructure. He thanked Farzam Farzadi and Thomas Hyde of Beca for their leadership in making the partnership possible, and Thomas Hyde went on to deliver a keynote at the conference.
Why it matters
Industry partnership changes what a conference can be. Holding a day in a working engineering precinct, rather than a lecture theatre, signals that the research is meant for practice, and it brings practitioners into the room on their own ground. The aim, in his words, was a platform where ideas move beyond papers and presentations into industry practice and urban change.
For the School, a partner of Beca’s standing strengthens the case to future partners, sponsors and authors. The relationship has continued, including his invitation to Beca’s business roundtable on opportunity driven growth in 2026.
What a partner brings
An engineering partner of Beca’s scale brings more than a venue. It brings practitioners who present and attend, industry papers that test research against practice, and a reputation that encourages others in the sector to take part. For students and early career researchers, it offers direct contact with one of the largest employers in their field.