Kate North

I believe in the “power of place” and know how the workplace can be an incredible strategic asset when aligned with business objectives, culture and the people of an organization. I have spent my entire career exploring the “future of work” globally and understanding the implications of emerging disruptors stemming from new technologies and workforce. The workplace landscape continues to rapidly change as we strive to create environments that support “how we work best.” Successful companies now think about the workplace as an integrated set of actions and designs that together create a productive and engaging employee experience. I combine my passion – workplace strategy – and 25 years’ global experience to help leading organizations understand the impact the workplace can have on their overall business strategy. My expertise lies in workplace strategy, research, design and transformational change. By aligning workplace and business strategy, I have seen first-hand companies realize a workplace that fosters collaboration, innovation and sparks creativity.

The profession of a Workplace Strategist is emerging, and for more than a decade, I have been actively involved (globally) in creating two Workplace Communities of Practices. In 2012, I co-founded “Workplace Evolutionaries (WE),” a vibrant community within the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Today, I serve as Global Chair of WE, comprised of 1,500+ members globally and growing. I frequently speak at industry events across the world and have co-authored the IFMA Foundation best-selling book “Work on the Move” in 2011, which is used extensively by IFMA members and associated academic institutions. In 2016, we co-authored a new version, “Work on the Move 2.” In 2014, I was honored to receive the prestigious International Associate Award for my contributions within IFMA. In 2017, I was awarded the IFMA Global Chair Citation from the Chairman of the Board for the impact the Workplace Evolutionaries has had on IFMA and the profession.

I was a founding leader of the CoreNet Workplace Community of Practice, the CoreNet Chapter Chair for New Zealand, and served as an Advisory Board Member for New Ways of Working and the New Zealand Green Building Council. 

I am also an active member of the Executive Women in Corporate Real Estate and speak at numerous workplace and human capital conferences globally.

Prior to joining Colliers International, I led global development for e-Work.com, helping organizations prepare their workforces for “new ways of working” using highly interactive e-learning. I was also the director of Ideation, a workplace consultancy and research group within Haworth Inc.; and vice president of the Strategic Business Group within Herman Miller Inc., supporting organizational workplace transformation.

• BS, Design, Utah State University (ASID accredidated)
• Numerous ongoing educational courses specific to Organizational Design, Change Management, Positive Psychology and Well-Being

• Global Chair, Workplace Evolutionaries, IFMA
• Chicago Workplace Evolutionaries Hub
• CoreNet Global
• DisruptHR
• WorkTech
• Future Workplace
• WorkShift
• Work Design Magazine
• World@Work
• Society of Human Resources