
A digital soft landings framework can bridge the idealist and pragmatist divide, defining a minimum viable handover to solve the project-operations gap.

A digital soft landings framework can bridge the idealist and pragmatist divide, defining a minimum viable handover to solve the project-operations gap.

My refelection on AI’s seismic shock to the smart buildings market, advocating a forward-looking Sensemaking approach

Challenges traditional use case views, advocating a collaborative shift to defining clear performance indicators for true digital building value.

WELL’s adoption links to JLL’s 3-30-300 Rule, revealing a ‘Trojan horse’ strategy for digital platforms prioritising human-centric ROI

Emerging from a period of reflection, I explore key evolutions in digital buildings, redefining industry roles and pathways as I chart a new course.

Exposing smart building design’s disconnect from operational reality. This article dissects fragmented industry views, advocating a collaborative, holistic approach for true building value.
Welcome to my blog, a record of my active engagement across the smart buildings ecosystem. Here, I focus on bringing diverse stakeholder groups together for common good and share perspectives from my ongoing work and insights. This includes my facilitation of the international Start With Smart Group.
Learn more about my background below, or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Justin Kirby is a leading industry commentator, connector, and facilitator with over two decades of experience in catalysing stakeholder engagement and business transformation. He is a passionate advocate for bridging the persistent gap between the design-and-build phase and the long-term operational life of a building. This is the central mission of Start With Smart Group, a community he recently launched to bring together a global network of forward-thinking professionals.
Justin’s work applies the same strategic and entrepreneurial drive he used as the Executive Director of the Digital Buildings Council (DBC), where he helped to establish a collaborative platform for industry leaders and facilitate key initiatives, including the crucial Review of The RIBA Smart Buildings Overlay.
A respected voice in the field, Justin has been appointed to the Editorial Guidance Panel for Build in Digital magazine, and was nominated to the prestigious Digital Construction Power Players 2025 list by Digital Construction Plus, which he contributes to and helps judge their Digital Construction Awards partnership with Digital Construction Week. He is adept at turning complex industry challenges into clear, actionable conversations and initiatives.
Connect with him on LinkedIn or get in touch there.