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Julie Kjestrup has dedicated her career to influencing policy and sustainability in the built environment. Not only is Kjestrup the head of policy and thought leadership at Velux, she is also the president of Efficient 黑洞社区s Europe.

Based in Brussels, she leads external relations and sustainability strategies, ensuring that key stakeholders are engaged in discussions about the future of buildings. 鈥淢y job isn鈥檛 to know everything; it鈥檚 to know who knows everything,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e need to work very closely together to ensure buildings are fit for the future.鈥�

With over a decade of experience in the built environment sector, Kjestrup has played a pivotal role in advocating for policies that drive sustainability. 鈥淚 studied in the UK before moving to Washington, DC, and later settled in Brussels,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚 originally considered working in healthcare or biotech but made a conscious decision to move towards sustainability and the green economy. At the time, these topics were seen as niche, but now they are mainstream.鈥�

Kjestrup鈥檚 work ensures that buildings are not only energy-efficient but also prioritise human wellbeing. She highlights the importance of projects such as the Healthy 黑洞社区s Barometer, which evaluates the impact of buildings on mental and physical health. 鈥満诙瓷缜鴖 influence every aspect of our lives, from our wellbeing to our productivity,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e need to move away from seeing sustainability as a nice-to-have and recognise it as a fundamental part of building design.鈥�

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Her career has been shaped by the network she has built in Brussels. 鈥淏russels is a small place in many ways, and the connections you build are everything,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 have always been conscious of giving people time, just as others gave time to me.鈥� She emphasises that professional success often comes from keeping doors open and being prepared for new opportunities.

However, one of her biggest career challenges has been ensuring that sustainability and efficiency are properly reflected in policy. 鈥淲e still have a long way to go in embedding these principles at the highest levels,鈥� she notes. 鈥淲e must continue pushing to make sustainability a central part of building regulations and standards.鈥�

I originally considered working in healthcare or biotech but made a conscious decision to move towards sustainability and the green economy. At the time, these topics were seen as niche, but now they are mainstream 

Julie Kjestrup, head of policy and thought leadership, Velux

She says that while this has been a challenge, the conversation has definitely moved forward 鈥� with topics like renovation rates for innovation now in the mainstream.

One of her proudest achievements was seeing her work featured on the front page of the Danish equivalent of the Financial Times. 鈥淭hat moment underlined that I had arrived as an expert,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was particularly meaningful because it came after a personally difficult period. It reinforced that my knowledge and opinions are valued in the industry.鈥�

Kjestrup is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the sector. 鈥淲e need to take diversity seriously, not just talk about it,鈥� she asserts. 鈥淚n Denmark, for example, some still don鈥檛 see it as a priority. But diversity targets matter, and we need to meet them. Companies should be held accountable for making real progress.鈥�

She also highlights the importance of creating attractive career pathways for women. 鈥淲e need to ensure that women not only enter the field but also stay in it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat means offering flexible work arrangements and ensuring that leadership roles are accessible to women. We should not be afraid to set clear goals for female representation in senior positions.鈥�

Asked whether she sees herself as a role model, Kjestrup responds thoughtfully. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to be a role model, but not just because of my gender,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am a woman, a partner and LGBT+. We like to put people into boxes, but companies need to rethink how they structure workplaces. The construction sector is not known for being a first mover, but we are now looking for different profiles, including IT professionals. The industry is changing, and we need to embrace that change.鈥�

For women looking to enter the built environment, Kjestrup has clear advice: 鈥淣etwork. Women tend to hesitate before asking for help, whereas men don鈥檛. Most people are happy to offer advice and guidance, so don鈥檛 be afraid to reach out.鈥� She also encourages women to own their place in the industry. 鈥淒on鈥檛 apologise for your gender or your agenda,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f you are given an opportunity, take it. You deserve to be there.鈥�