Town Hall Meeting:
Day Two
19 October 2026
19:00 h
Michael Burnard is an associate professor at the University of Primorska and was the deputy director of InnoRenew CoE, a research organisation creating solutions for sustainable construction with renewable materials from 2017 to 2025 when it merged with the University of Primorska. His research interests are focused on enhancing human health and wellbeing in the built environment as well as advancing sustainability through intelligent use of renewable resources like wood. Mike also works in many other areas including business management, innovation, data science, ICT, and policy development. Mike teaches and mentors students in sustainability, data science, ethics, and human health in the built environment.
Achieving the ambitious goals set forth in the New European Bauhaus requires upskilling and reskilling the existing construction ecosystem and newcomers to it. Identifying the core and complimentary skills and competences necessary is a continual process and must be managed by novel collaborative structures that are inclusive, representative, and innovative. Delivering high-quality training to supply sufficient skills and compentences also requires a widespread network of diverse trainers and training institutions that can reach audiences from across Europe and address all aspects of the construction ecosystem. NEBA Alliance established a network of training hubs that set the foundation for the NEB Academy and continues to build towards a sustainable and impactful resource for skills and competences.