Kerala has embarked on its journey toward a sustainable and resilient future with the commencement of the UL International Conclave on Sustainable Construction. The event, hosted at the Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction (IIIC) in Chavara, Kollam, was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan. During the inaugural address, the Chief Minister underlined the importance of inclusive development, a key tenet of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and reaffirmed Kerala’s dedication to environmentally responsible growth and proactive climate action.
The three-day conclave gathers eminent national and international experts to deliberate on sustainable construction practices and policy frameworks. Organized as part of the Uralungal Society’s centenary celebrations, the event addresses Kerala’s distinct climate challenges while crafting eco-friendly and resilient development strategies.
Renowned participants include Mark Goldman, Director of ESRI Denver Industries Solutions, USA; Prof. Narayanan Neithalath from the University of Arizona, USA; Prof. Pat Rajeev, Chair of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University, Australia; Dr. Manoranjan Parida, Director of CSIR-CRRI; Dr. L. P. Singh, Director of NCCBM; and Prof. Koshy Varghese from IIT Madras, among others from leading global institutions.
The conclave also features representatives from prominent construction and engineering firms, such as Joseph Martin, Senior Director of ESG Platform at PwC India; Amit Barde, Head of Precast at Larsen & Toubro; Kalyan Vaidyanathan, Business Development Director at Bentley Systems India; and Manoj Verman, a tunneling and rock engineering expert associated with the ISRM Commission on Hard Rock Excavation. Esteemed figures from Kerala, including Dr. Jayakumar, former MD and CEO of the Vizhinjam Port Project, will provide additional insights.
The event includes four panel discussions, seven technical sessions, and concurrent skill-development workshops. On the opening day, a panel discussion titled ‘Building Today with Tomorrow: Strategic Insights on Sustainable Infrastructure as the Pillar for a Developed and Resilient India and Kerala’ will be moderated by Srikanth APV, Director of Global Operations at Singapore Arcadis. Distinguished speakers such as Dr. Jayakumar, Joseph Martin, and Prof. Abhilash S. Nair of IIM Kozhikode will present their perspectives.
Another highlight is a discussion on ‘Innovation in Low Carbon Materials and Design: Challenges and Opportunities’, featuring experts such as Dr. Sivakumar Kanthaswamy from L&T Construction, Dr. R. Manikandan from Dalmia Cements, Dr. L. P. Singh, Prof. Pat Rajeev, and Prof. Narayanan Neithalath.
The conclave is organized in collaboration with prestigious institutions like Arizona State University, IIT Madras, NIT Calicut, and NICMAR University. It is one among a series of international conferences commemorating the centenary of the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society.
