Facilities Management sits at the intersection of operations, people, and the built environment. This session explores how a people-centered leadership approach can transform facilities operations, strengthen teams, and drive organizational success. Drawing from real-world experiences across global portfolios, the session introduces the “Make It Personal” framework and how it helps FM leaders build resilient teams, navigate operational uncertainty, and elevate the role of facilities from service provider to strategic partner. Through examples in team building, crisis response, and change management, participants will gain practical strategies to align people, spaces, and organizational performance.

2026 Global Facility Management Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

Wayne Whitzell, Christa Dodoo, and Maria Gonzalez-Burgos explore key global facility management trends, challenges and opportunities influencing regions such as Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe in 2026.

What will facility management look like in 2026, and how does that future differ across regions?'

Human-centered leadership is a decisive factor not only in Facility Management, but across every professional domain. In this panel, we’ll explore how to build high-performing teams, successfully integrate emerging technologies, and foster intergenerational growth through mentorship and continuous learning. Drawing from real-world experiences, our panelists will share strategies and insights that apply both to industry advancement and personal career development—promoting innovation, belonging, and evolution within organizations.

This session equips FM professionals with actionable strategies for team building, crisis response, and adaptive leadership. Through six key focus areas—including personal growth, operational uncertainty, strategic team development, ethical leadership, and the Make It methodology—participants will gain tools to lead resilient, people-centered facilities that thrive in complexity and change.