Humanscale’s Chief Sustainability Officer to address India’s A&D and commercial real estate community during Bengaluru visit on Regenerative Workplace Design
BENGALURU (India CSR): Humanscale, the New York-headquartered global leader in ergonomic workplace solutions and regenerative design and manufacturing, has announced the first India visit of its Chief Sustainability Officer, Jane Abernethy, who will be in Bengaluru this September to engage with leaders across India’s architecture, design, corporate and commercial real estate sectors.
At a time when India’s rapidly expanding commercial real estate market is placing greater emphasis on sustainability, employee wellbeing and responsible development, Abernethy will bring a global perspective on how organisations can move beyond conventional sustainability goals to create workplaces that deliver measurable benefits for both people and the planet.
A leading voice in sustainable design and manufacturing, Abernethy serves as the first and only Chief Sustainability Officer in the commercial furniture industry. Under her leadership, Humanscale has advanced a net-positive approach to manufacturing -moving beyond simply reducing environmental harm towards designing products and processes that give back more than they take.
Abernethy led Humanscale’s pioneering work with the Living Product Challenge, with the company becoming the first manufacturer to achieve full Living Product Challenge certification and subsequently expanding its portfolio of certified products. Her work has also focused on healthier materials, eliminating chemicals of concern, advancing material transparency and driving greater accountability across the supply chain.
Her contribution to sustainable design has earned international recognition, including the Women in Sustainability Leadership Award (WSLA), alongside recognition for her work in advancing material health, transparency and regenerative manufacturing.
A key highlight of Abernethy’s Bengaluru visit will be her participation as a featured speaker at the RICS India CRE Conference on 23 September 2026 at JW Marriott Bengaluru.
Themed “Global Ambition, India Growth – Shaping the Future of Commercial Real Estate,” the conference will bring together senior leaders from across India’s commercial real estate ecosystem to examine the forces reshaping the sector, from investment and technology to sustainability and the changing expectations of the workplace.
Abernethy’s session, “From Intention to Impact: Creating Workspaces that Care for People and the Planet,” will examine how businesses can translate sustainability commitments into measurable action and lasting positive impact.
Drawing on Humanscale’s “Beyond Sustainability” philosophy, she will explore climate-positive products, healthy materials, circular design, material transparency and science-led innovation, and demonstrate how decisions made in the design and procurement of workplaces can become powerful levers for environmental and human health.
She will also participate in the panel discussion, “Designing for Impact: Workplaces for People, Performance and the Planet.”
With more than 250 senior industry leaders, developers, investors, occupiers, policymakers, consultants and built-environment professionals expected to attend, the RICS India CRE Conference will provide an important platform for Abernethy to exchange ideas with decision-makers shaping the next generation of workplaces in India.
Beyond the conference, Abernethy’s Bengaluru programme will include executive roundtables and interactive sessions with architects, designers, customers and business leaders. The visit comes as Humanscale continues to deepen its presence in India, including through local manufacturing and distribution initiatives.
Alastair Stubbs, Country Director – India, Humanscale, said, “India is one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-evolving corporate and commercial real estate markets, and the decisions being made today will influence the workplaces of tomorrow. We are delighted to welcome Jane Abernethy to Bengaluru. Her experience in sustainability, material health and regenerative design will encourage organisations to look beyond conventional sustainability metrics and consider the measurable impact their workplace choices can have on people and the planet.”
Sathish Nandagopal, Founder and Director, S Cube Ergonomics Pvt Ltd., Humanscale’s authorised manufacturing and distribution partner in India, said, “Jane’s visit is an important opportunity for India’s business, architecture and design community to engage directly with one of the leading global voices in material transparency and regenerative design. As India continues to build at an extraordinary scale, there is a significant opportunity to bring healthier materials, greater transparency and positive environmental impact into the way workplaces are designed and built. Jane’s perspective demonstrates how organisations can use design and purchasing decisions to help accelerate that change.”
Humanscale is the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products that improve the health and comfort of work life. Through new technology and human-centred design, Humanscale transforms office necessities into minimally elegant, ergonomic tools and furnishings that encourage movement wherever work happens. As a certified B Corporation, Humanscale is recognised for its planet positive manufacturing, which means leaving the world better off, one product at a time. With 29 products certified climate positive by the International Living Future Institute’s Living Product Challenge (LPC), Humanscale is committed to making a planet positive impact on the earth as well as our customers, offering award-winning products designed with a focus on function, simplicity and longevity.
