In a bid to integrate principles of safety and environmental responsibility into all aspects of planning and operations in shopping centres, Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) will organise a three-day advanced Operations and Facilities Management workshop in Dubai.

The programme will be held at the Burjuman Rotana Suites from November 25 to 27 and will be conducted by managing director, FM Intelligence Pty Ltd, Australia, Duncan Waddell.

Offered under license from the Property Council of Australia, the training programme is targeted towards facilities, operations and asset managers to enhance their skill sets and thereby embellish the burgeoning retail real estate property industry, said an official spokesman.

"The workshop will highlight ways in which the shopping centre and retail industry can improve environmental management and sustainability, and encourage them to adopt sound environmental practices," said Waddell.

Already acknowledged as a leading authority on facilities management, Waddell said the advanced course will spell out the importance of broadening knowledge and increasing value to the businesses the participants are connected with.

Waddell's Essential Skills course on the same subject had received tremendous response earlier this year in Dubai.

"The Ops-FM advanced workshop will provide an overview of the present issues facing facility managers with a view to establishing best practice systems at work. Operations managers, contractors, property engineers, maintenance managers and anyone interested in a career in facilities management will benefit from this workshop and Waddell's vast experience in international management," said regional director, MECSC, Kim Redman.

This advanced course outline includes an understanding of building services and maintenance, occupational health and safety, environmental aspects associated with property, emergency response planning and other areas of interest to facility managers.

It will also discuss current issues like ecological sustainable development that recognises greenhouse, water and waste management issues impacting on property and evaluate trends in environmental performance reporting and accountability. - TradeArabia News Service