Webinar: From Operations to Strategy: Leveraging Facilities Management to Drive Campus Sustainability
Facilities management is often seen as operational—but in reality, it is one of the most powerful levers for advancing sustainability in higher education. This session explores how institutions can transform facilities and operations into strategic drivers of sustainability, using data, governance, and cross-campus collaboration.
Drawing on real-world experience from The American University in Cairo (AUC), the session will showcase how integrating energy, water, and waste management into institutional decision-making can deliver measurable environmental impact while strengthening financial performance and institutional resilience. Participants will gain insights into building strong data systems, identifying quick wins, and scaling initiatives into long-term strategies.
The session will also highlight how facilities can serve as a “living lab,” connecting operations with academics and student engagement to foster a culture of sustainability across campus. Attendees will leave with practical approaches to reposition facilities management from a support function to a central pillar of institutional sustainability.
Presenters
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Yasmin Mahmoud, Sustainability Director, The American University in Cairo Yasmin Mansour is a passionate and accomplished sustainability professional with over 15 years of experience in sustainable facilities management and operations. As Sustainability Director at The American University in Cairo (AUC), she leads the Office of Sustainability, advancing institutional efforts to address critical environmental challenges, including climate change, energy efficiency, water conservation, resource management, pollution, and waste reduction. Yasmin has played a key role in embedding sustainability into AUC’s operations and strategy, driving data-informed decision-making and cross-campus collaboration. She has extensive experience in developing technical and strategic reports, including carbon footprint assessments, ESG disclosures, and sustainability reports aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also led the development of AUC’s UN Global Compact Communication on Engagement (COE), reinforcing the university’s commitment to principles of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. She holds a Master’s degree with high honors in Construction Management from AUC and a B.Sc. in Architecture Engineering from Ain Shams University. Yasmin is a certified Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) and Facility Management Professional (FMP) from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Beyond her institutional role, Yasmin contributes to the advancement of the field through leadership and service. She is a board member of the Egyptian Facility Management Association (EGFMA) and a member of the ISO/TC 267 Facility Management Committee, supporting the development of international standards. She is also an AUC Executive Education instructor and course developer. Yasmin has served on the Advisory Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for the past three years. She is also a design thinking coach, committed to fostering innovation and human-centered problem-solving among students and professionals. Her work focuses on integrating sustainability into institutional culture and operations, strengthening organizational performance, and positioning AUC as a regional leader in sustainability across the Middle East and North Africa. |