Panel Discussion: What’s stopping Passivhaus becoming mainstream?

In celebration of the UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference 2025, the Women in Property Northern Ireland Hub is delighted to host a dynamic panel discussion on “What’s Stopping Passive House Becoming Mainstream?” Join us for breakfast and networking as we explore the challenges holding back wider adoption of this gold standard in energy-efficient building.

Despite its proven benefits - dramatically reduced energy use, improved indoor air quality, and long-term cost savings - passive house remains a niche approach in NI construction.  This fascinating event is set to explore and challenge common perceptions and evidence real-life examples of low- carbon construction. Our esteemed panel of speakers will discuss benefits and barriers, describing real outcomes for clients, customers and occupants.

We will hear from our panellists Sam McCabe, Ann-Marie Fallon and Andrew Cunningham:

Sam McCabe is Passive House Lead UK and Sustainable Buildings Lead, Scotland at WSP

Sam has a passion for delivering buildings that promote wellness for their inhabitants and their environment. As an architect and passive house designer she embraces the techniques and skills of Passive House Construction to deliver better quality, more efficient Low Energy, Passive House and Zero Carbon buildings. She thinks it's important that as an industry we start to build smarter and better, making our buildings work for us and reducing the amount of energy we are wasting.

She has a wide range of experience across a range of sectors in both the UK and Australia. Sam enjoys engaging with the client from the start of a project and developing the design and energy or decarbonisation strategy with them ensuring a unique, tailored design to their requirements.

Ann-Marie Fallon is a technical advisor with the Passivhaus Trust and an Associate Director at Architype for the past 5 years.

She has been responsible in overseeing and delivering many of the UKs Passivhaus building firsts: including multi residential, education buildings and more recently a unique methodology on de-carbonising large estates for several significant clients. She led and developed the Architype Scotland studio growing from 3 in 2019 to over 30 in 2025. She has regularly contributed to national and local guidance in building standards and quality initiatives.

A research led practitioner, she also delivers low carbon training with Coaction CIC and been external examiner of architecture at several universities (UCL, TU Dublin, Robert Gordon University), as well as environmental design convener University of Baths Architecture undergraduate degree since 2013.

The Architects Journal awarded her the once in a generation 40 under 40 award in 2020, as well as the AJs Sustainability Champion of the Year award in 2023, recognising her role in building delivery. Evidence based building performance is a key interest area in the journey towards a ‘truly’ net zero emissions economy, with energy consumption reduction, not just generation, at the heart of the agenda.

Andrew Cunningham

Having qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in a busy Construction Consultancy, within the private sector, Andrew diversified into Project Management and gained a broad range of experience across the Education, Healthcare, Commercial, Judicial and Residential Sectors of the Construction Industry.

In his current role as Head of Estates Development Services for the Southern Health & Social Care Trust, he has responsibility for the delivery of Construction Projects, Minor Works, Term Service Contracts, and Energy, Sustainability & Waste. Andrew is a member of the RICS NI Regional Board and a keen promoter of the Construction Healthcare Division, and champion our Professional Disciplines which provide so much expertise in this sector. His current workload has a huge focus on Sustainability in Construction, Measurement of Carbon and the Passivhaus Initiative.

Members and Non-members of all genders are welcome to attend.

The booking deadline for this event has now passed.
Please contact booking@womeninproperty.org.uk with any enquiries

Event Contact: Events Team