Why New York is the perfect backdrop for Greenbuild 2026: A conversation with event director Katie Gillham

Greenbuild is heading to New York City for the first time in 2026, and event director Katie Gillham sees the location as a natural fit for this year's "Invest for Impact" theme. We sat down with Katie to explore how the program connects green building professionals with the real estate and finance sectors, why she's excited about the keynote from Fareed Zakaria and what attendees can expect from the Pre-Event Summits and the co-located Sustainable Finance & Investing Forum. Katie also shares her best advice for navigating the experience at the Javits Center.

Q&A with Katie Gillham

1. Greenbuild 2026's theme is "Invest for impact." What does that mean for the professionals attending this year and how does the program reflect that focus?

This year Greenbuild is coming to New York City for the very first time; the epicenter of real estate business in the United States, and it's the perfect backdrop for our Invest for Impact theme. Our program will feature speakers who are entrenched in the green building work every day and who will share their insights about strategic financing opportunities and improved processes to hit the expanding goals of real estate portfolio performance.

2. You're bringing Fareed Zakaria to deliver the Wednesday keynote. That's a big moment. What do you hope attendees will take away from his perspective on global systems, energy and the future of cities?

Fareed Zakaria will be so incredibly interesting to hear from because he has a unique way of drawing lines of connectivity within his storytelling to really drive home how global events are entwined. I think he will bring a unique and fresh perspective to the stage that may challenge how our attendees understand current global events and the effect it can have on our work.

3. The Pre-Event Summits on October 20 tackle resilience, decarbonization, embodied carbon, AI and global impact. How did you decide which topics deserved a full-day deep dive and what makes these summits different from the main conference sessions?

This is where our partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council is so vital. The products team within USGBC does a fantastic job of looking at the need of the market and where they can provide the best hands-on long form of education content. With many of the workshops at capacity and the summits nearing it, it's clear that they've really done a great job of meeting the needs this year.

4. This year you're co-locating the Sustainable Finance & Investing Forum with Greenbuild. Why was it important to bring the capital stack into the conversation and what does that signal about where the industry is headed?

The Sustainable Finance & Investing Forum is specifically designed for real estate investors and asset managers who are working on developing innovative and sustainable portfolios. Greenbuild has long been the home of innovative, resilient and sustainable development, and so this is a perfect opportunity to expand our conversations to a broader audience. I'm also excited about the new Sustainable Assets track that will be hosted within the Greenbuild Conference on Thursday and Friday to continue the conversations at SF&I through the week of Greenbuild.

5. With 10,000+ professionals from 60+ countries and 250+ exhibitors, Greenbuild offers an incredible breadth of experience. For someone attending for the first time, what's your advice for making the most of their experience at the Javits Center?

Download the Greenbuild Mobile App! This is the best way to find out what’s happening and to stay connected with the event, build out a schedule, and network with other attendees. Wearing comfortable shoes and dressing in layers is also key.

Join us October 20-23 at the Javits Center in New York City for Greenbuild 2026.