ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8132-7683
Current Organisations
CENT-GPS
,
UNSW Sydney
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Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/EC14261
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 14-07-2014
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 07-09-2015
Abstract: – This paper aims to share the success story of a residential college based in Australia through a case study approach. – The paper discusses the setup of the college in terms of its management structure, demographics of residents, sustainability initiatives and the resident life programs which run every semester. A survey was conducted to gather feedback from the residents and identify areas for future improvement. – Generally, residents are satisfied with the living conditions. Affordability, the collegiate experience and the convenience of living on c us are primary factors affecting the decision of residents to move into a residential college. – The paper provides an insight into the management of a residential college which has not been discussed in the literature.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-04-2016
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 24-05-2013
DOI: 10.1108/20466091311325827
Abstract: Over recent years, a number of companies have committed to sharing information relating to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities, in response to a higher demand for transparency from stakeholders. This paper aims to explore the impact of such reporting on the financial performance of construction companies. This paper first examines the state of non‐financial reporting of publicly‐listed construction companies on climate change, environmental management, environmental efficiency, health and safety, human capital, conduct, stakeholder engagement, governance and other matters deemed to be of concern to institutional investors. It then presents the results of an empirical study on the impact of issuing non‐financial reports and the extent of companies’ sustainability practices (represented by ESG scores) on the financial performance of the companies. Financial performance is measured via a range of financial ratios. The paper finds that a majority of the publicly‐listed construction companies studied have low levels of reporting, while construction companies issuing non‐financial reports largely outperform those which do not in a number of selected financial ratios, although the correlation between financial performance and ESG scores is not strong. The originality of this research lies in its use of “hard data”, and it is supported by a wide range of financial ratios this is distinguished from the existing, largely qualitative literature.
Publisher: University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
Date: 04-06-2014
Abstract: While environmental sustainability has been the subject of much debate in the last decade, it was not until recently that attention started to shift towards human resource management as an enabler for sustainability. Yet, this is still a relatively under researched area. Much is still unknown about the role of an in idual worker in contributing towards sustainable development. This paper addresses the gap by proposing a framework to measure sustainability competencies of employees within the construction industry sector. As part of the framework, four proficiency levels together with relevant descriptions are defined for a total of eight sustainability competencies. Suggested proficiency levels are then mapped to main construction related jobs based on the framework. An ex le is also given to illustrate the manner in which competencies should be assessed. This framework is original and of practical use to construction managers and human resource practitioners.
Publisher: Thomas Telford Ltd.
Date: 12-2015
Abstract: The transition to a sustainable economy is inevitable as population and consumption continue to grow, ecosystems decline as a result of increased business activity and resources are stretched to a limit. The survival of businesses is very much dependent on their ability to adapt and transition to a business model that addresses important sustainability ‘megaforces’ such as climate change, energy and fuel, material resource scarcity, water scarcity, population growth, urbanisation, wealth, food security, ecosystem decline and deforestation. This research identifies megaforces that are most important to the construction industry sector and examines the level of preparedness of Australian construction companies in responding to these megaforces. It also identifies the value drivers behind these megaforces through content analysis. Recommendations are then provided for construction companies to develop resilience and remain competitive in the future. This paper will be of interest to both construction management and sustainability practitioners.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-10-2015
Publisher: Inderscience Publishers
Date: 2016
Publisher: Thomas Telford Ltd.
Date: 06-2018
Abstract: Relatively few tools have explored beyond the boundaries of buildings to consider also the sustainability of a township or its surrounding communities. This paper focuses on introducing the Green Township Index (GTI), developed by a leading Malaysian property development company. GTI is an amalgamation of a few other frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, Green Building Index, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Green Mark and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. GTI consists of a total of 86 indicators across three main dimensions: people, planet and prosperity. Based on the percentage scores obtained from the assessment of townships, three award levels are proposed: platinum, gold and silver. GTI was tested across three different townships and the findings from the results are documented through a case study approach. From the feedback obtained through the township managers, this index is a reliable tool for evaluating the sustainability of Malaysian townships. It is also well aligned with the requirements set out by the Construction Industry Development Board. Although the GTI has been developed to evaluate the sustainability of built townships, it can also be used to guide the design and planning stage of a township.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2015.09.010
Abstract: Sustainability reporting has been increasingly adopted by corporations worldwide given the demand of stakeholders for greater transparency on both environmental and social issues. The popularity of such reporting is evidenced by the development of a range of tools in the last two decades - Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), AA1000 and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) inter alia. These tools, referred to collectively as corporate sustainability reporting tools (SRTs) are important as they serve to inform the progress of corporations towards achieving sustainability goals. However, the rapid growth of corporate SRTs, with different criteria and methodology has created major complications for stakeholders. This paper makes a genuine contribution by providing a review of some of these major tools, spanning across a wide spectrum - framework, standards, ratings and indices. A critique of SRTs is also given. Institutional investors, governments, practitioners and in iduals may find this review useful in terms of understanding the nature of different corporate SRTs. As well, it can serve as a useful reference for the development of the next generation of corporate SRTs.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 21-03-2016
Publisher: University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
Date: 23-06-2017
Abstract: There is an increasing demand from stakeholders for higher transparency on environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures. Yet not much is known about the state of sustainability reporting in Malaysia especially in the property and construction industry. This paper aims to fill this gap accordingly. Content analysis of corporate websites, sustainability and annual reports was adopted as the main methodology in this study. Findings show that corporate governance indicators are most reported by Malaysian construction companies compared to other environmental or social indicators. It was also found that details on actual health and safety performance of these companies and the initiatives implemented were largely absent from their reporting. Given the increasing number of rating tools in the capital markets which serve to rank and file companies based on their sustainability disclosures and performance such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4Good Index, it is questionable as to how reliable this can be done for the Malaysian property and construction market. The paper will be useful to construction management practitioners and ESG analysts with a focus on Asian markets.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 08-2016
DOI: 10.1108/JFMPC-03-2015-0011
Abstract: Population ageing is expected to have an increasing impact on the economy and society. In particular, it creates a myriad of challenges for stakeholders in the construction and property sectors. The design of the built environment would now need to consider the requirements of the older population in the community. This paper aims to provide a study on the readiness of mainstream sustainability reporting tools (SRTs) in helping to create an age-friendly built environment. First, a list of criteria representing the needs of the older community in the built environment is developed based on a rigorous literature survey and is validated with five focus groups. Then, using this list, SRTs are assessed for their age-friendly readiness. The findings from this study show that not only are there variations across different SRTs but also a majority do not emphasize enough on age-friendly criteria. It is suggested that mainstream SRTs should consider allocating mandatory credits for age-friendly criteria. This would definitely encourage property developers and town planners to consider and plan for the needs of the older population. This paper is original as none of the prior studies have considered assessing the readiness of SRTs in creating an age-friendly built environment.
Publisher: Thomas Telford Ltd.
Date: 02-2015
Abstract: The integrated reporting (IR) framework provides guidance to consider actively the relationships between a company's operating, functional units and the different capitals it uses or affects. It can help the construction industry achieve sustainability goals through integrated decision-making and actions that consider the creation of value over the short, medium and long term. This briefing discusses the structure of IR and the challenges of adopting IR in the context of the construction industry.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-04-2015
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 2017
Publisher: Thomas Telford Ltd.
Date: 06-2020
Abstract: The property and construction sector is known to be a laggard in the adoption of sustainability practices, possibly due to its fragmented nature. Yet there is an increasing demand from key stakeholders, such as institutional investors, as well as civil society, for greater transparency on sustainability disclosures. This paper highlights a case study conducted in a publicly listed Malaysian property and construction company on their journey towards establishing sustainability measures, in particular: the strategy adopted, the processes put in place in terms of data monitoring, challenges faced and proposed solutions. This company has developed an in-house sustainable development index (SDI) which covers a range of sustainability-related issues. The findings from this study seem to suggest as well that lower SDI scores are associated with lower take-up rates however, high SDI scores do not necessarily lead to higher take-up rates. The approach taken by this company is comprehensive, and the metrics used, such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index or FTSE4Good Index, could be adopted by third-party rating agencies in evaluating the sustainability performance of property and construction companies. It is expected that the insights from this paper would also be useful to both construction and facility-management practitioners who are interested in benchmarking and improving their own practices.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 2020
Abstract: The property and construction industry are known to be a main contributor to climate change contributing more than 40% of the world's emissions. In direct response to this, there has been a call for corporations to be more transparent and align themselves to the requirements of the task force for climate financial disclosures (TCFD). This paper seeks to provide a briefing on the requirements of the TCFD. It highlights common challenges faced by the property and construction industry in implementing TCFD such as the difficulty in integrating climate related risks and translating them into quantitative measures, lack of capability within the industry to understand the complexities of climate risks and data collection issues among others. Recommendations are proposed to address these issues including setting up an industry specific network to share best practices in TCFD, harmonisation of existing frameworks to include TCFD requirements and exploring opportunities for incentivisation and rewards for early movers. This paper will be useful to property and construction industry practitioners who are looking at aligning to the requirements of the TCFD.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 16-09-2013
DOI: 10.1108/SASBE-03-2013-0010
Abstract: – Buildings/infrastructure are recognised to have a significant impact on the environment and the community, and hence there is pressure on industry practitioners to incorporate environmental and social considerations in addition to the traditional cost, time and quality. The development of sustainability reporting tools (SRTs) to assist in the management of “green” building/infrastructure projects is pivotal in informing on progress in sustainability practices. However, the rapid growth of SRTs in the last decade, with different criteria and methodology, has created complications for stakeholders. – The paper provides a comprehensive review of tools to guide practitioners, property investors, policy makers and developers towards making informed choices in “green” building/infrastructure projects. Comparative analyses, benefits and limitations of these tools are discussed in the paper. – Some of the findings from the analysis of SRTs include: an emphasis on environmental issues scoring which does not account for uncertainty or variability in assessors’ perceptions lack of published reasoning behind the allocation of scores inadequate definition of scales to permit differentiation among projects and the existence of non-scientific benchmarks. – The paper departs from earlier reviews to include a discussion on infrastructure SRTs, life cycle tools, and issues broader than the environment. Changes and additions, subsequent to earlier reviews, have been made to SRTs, making the updated review provided here useful.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 02-11-2015
DOI: 10.1108/JFMPC-03-2015-0009
Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to present the use of Markov chain to predict the behaviour of Australian real estate investment trusts (REITs) that are more highly valued in the areas of environmental, social and governance (ESG). – For the empirical analysis, states is defined as the price interval between 10-day moving averages and daily closing prices. A total of 18 Australian ESG REITs were analysed. – The results show that there is inconsistency in the probabilities obtained for REIT prices across all four states: 1 (= −$0.05), 2 ( −$0.05 to $0.05], 3 ($0.05 to = $0.1] and 4 ( $0.1). The findings suggest that price movements are occurring in a random fashion and that ESG REITs do not necessarily have more superior performance. – The scope of analysis is only from 2008 to 2014. This is attributed to the availability of the Experts in Responsible Investment Services dataset, which is used to determine the “greenness” of Australian REITs. – This research is original, not just in terms of the scope of analysis but also the methodology presented has not been applied to analyse REITs data.
No related grants have been discovered for Renard Siew.