Karim Elnabawy Balbaa

Karim Elnabawy Balbaa is a seasoned Sustainability and Climate Change Professional, adept at leading and advising on sustainable initiatives for major developments in the Middle East. As a Licensed Instructor (USGBC Faculty) and a holder of multiple LEED AP accreditations, Karim brings a wealth of expertise to his role.

Awards

- Engineer of the Year 2024 (Winner) - Construction Week

- Outstanding Sustainability Individual Contributions 2025 (Gold Winner) - Stevie MENA & NA Global Impact awards

- Sustainability Leader of the Year 2024 (Finalist) - Big 5 impact awards

- Mentor of the Year 2025 (Winner) - Big Projects Awards

- Project Manager of the Year 2024 (Finalist) - Construction Week

- Rising Star of the Year 2017 (Finalist) - Construction Week

With over 15 years of industry experience, Karim has established a strong foundation in Sustainable building design, Architecture, Master Planning, Sustainable Technical Engineering, Net Zero Energy, and climate change actions, as well as sustainability and strategy advisory. He has successfully spearheaded sustainable development initiatives across numerous high-profile developments in the Middle East.

With a strong presence as a public speaker at conferences and events, Karim has garnered international recognition for his contributions to sustainability practices, receiving prestigious awards from esteemed organizations in the USA, Italy, Greece, Emirates, India, and Egypt.

In 2017, Karim was shortlisted as a rising star by ME magazine, acknowledging his significant impact on raising sustainability awareness in the region, having trained over 5000 professionals, academics, and students. Furthermore, his instructional courses on the LEED rating system and sustainability have achieved best-selling status on platforms such as Udemy, Skillshare, and various other websites.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

- Stakeholder engagement, fostering strong client relationships, and exceptional communication and presentation skills, including engagement with executive leaders.

- Developing comprehensive Sustainability, decarbonization, and ESG strategies for corporate organizations.

- Development of dashboards and compliance reporting mechanisms.

- Expertise in sustainable design, construction, and operations.

- Profound knowledge and experience with LEED, WELL, Estidama rating system, Mostadam, Living Building Challenge, SITES, and EDGE Green Building rating systems.

- Successful delivery of over 40 LEED Silver, Gold and Platinum projects in the Middle East, encompassing LEED V3, V4, and V4.1.

- Extensive experience in sustainability documentation, Management, Reviews, and administration.

CERTIFICATIONS AND ACCREDITATION

+ USGBC Faculty™ - A global network of credible, qualified instructors, teachers and facilitators with deep expertise in and passion for sustainability that cuts across sectors, cultures and geographies. 

+ Intl. Assoc. AIA - Membership in American Institute of Architects.

+ LEED® AP BD+C - Accredited professional in building design and construction from USGBC.
+ LEED® AP O+M - Accredited professional in operations and maintenance from USGBC
+ LEED® AP ID+C - Accredited professional in interior design and construction from USGBC.
+ PMP® - Project management professional from PMI.
+ WELL AP™ - Accredited professional in wellness in the built environment from IWBI.
+ C2C Catalyst Certified™ - Cradle to Cradle Certification program.
+ Estidama PQP-PBRS - Pearl Qualified Professional in pearl Building rating system from UPC Abo Dhabi.
+ SSYB™ - Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt™.

+ BSc Architecture | Alexandria university, Egypt

+ MSc Sustainability and Building Services Engineering | Heriot Watt University, UK - 2024

HONORS + AWARDS