ABN AMRO looks ahead during Digital Building of the Future

June 11, 2025, the Digital Building of the Future conference will take place in the Sustainability Factory in Dordrecht. One of the speakers is Leontien de Waal, Sector Banker Construction at ABN AMRO. She will give the visitors of the conference a look behind the scenes.

Banks have traditionally played a crucial role in the distribution of financial resources. What is one of the largest banks in the Netherlands aiming for? What criteria does ABN AMRO use and how much weight do sustainability requirements carry in financing applications?

The FHI Building Automation sector is convinced that sustainable construction and renovation is the future. Major construction companies are already setting a good example by setting maximum sustainability requirements for new construction projects. This has an enthusiastic effect and sets the entire sector in motion.

At ABN AMRO they work with two sectors: the Construction sector and the Real Estate sector. The Construction group includes many different parties: from developing builders to engineering firms, architects and technical service providers. As soon as you make the switch to developers and investors, you fall under the Real Estate sector at ABN AMRO. "Of course there is a grey area", says Leontien. In the real estate sector it is all about buildings in their daily use, while she focuses on the design and construction phase. Or as she puts it herself: "More in the making and thinking side". In addition, she is a source of information and advisor for construction-related issues within ABN AMRO and is involved in the business development of business relations.

Sustainability & Digitalization

Sustainability and Digitalization are two important themes for Leontien that she embraces with enthusiasm. She is particularly interested in the interaction between these two subjects.

In 2023, she was already on stage at Digital Building of the Future. This year, she focuses on the further development of sustainability with a clear focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI). In her presentation, she discusses the role of AI in business operations and its impact on entrepreneurs. In addition to intrinsic motivation, sustainability has a clear link with legislation and regulations. In order to comply with the rules, companies need reliable data as a basis for their decisions and sustainability investments. According to Leontien, monitoring data, such as electricity consumption, is becoming increasingly important. “When building owners can clearly substantiate their energy consumption with figures, this can be directly linked to CO2 emissions.” And it is precisely the reduction of CO2 that is central to sustainability legislation.

The construction, maintenance and installation process is becoming increasingly smart. Buildings are evolving, partly thanks to AI and other smart technology. “This makes life easier and more complex,” Leontien emphasizes. “The enormous flow of data and information that we continuously exchange deserves our attention.” Cybersecurity is already a well-known theme within the banking sector, but due to the digitalization of buildings, this is also becoming crucial for real estate. This requires a switch that not everyone is aware of yet.

Leontien speaks passionately about her profession. Come to the Duurzaamheidsfabriek in Dordrecht on 11 June 2025 and be inspired by her. Using practical examples and concrete tips, she talks about the bank, AI and building automation.