Ive worked in the construction industry for over 30 years. A large part of that in the plant hire sector supplying equipment and personnel  to large infrastructure projects throughout the UK and internationally. I have a keen interest in innovation and focus on bringing new products into the sector to improve safety and  productivity and enable us to meet the challenge of achieving net zero. I have had extensive involvement in training and introducing new workers into the construction sector,  which has involved leading two training business and becoming  a Trustee for NOCN Job Cards. 

I am a Digital Construction Leader with a strong background of digital engineering working for Balfour Beatty UKCS. I am responsible for establishing the project digital strategy, execution, mobilisation, and delivery. I have set-up and delivered many digital solutions using the systems integrator approach for large and complex projects. These solutions have contributed towards many of our client’s confidence in Balfour Beatty for delivering projects successfully. My campaign is #DigitalByDesign which brings the people to the forefront of technology, this helps me to clearly define the objectives and benefits to be achieved from the digital solutions. This is bringing a positive difference for digital transformation that I am leading at Balfour Beatty. In my campaign I have many initiatives supporting the construction project functions including sustainability, key ambitions Beyond Net-Zero Carbon & generating Zero-Waste. I like travelling, nature walks, HIT sessions and spending time with my family.

Rosh has been heavily involved in PFI/PPP for over 20 years, working with two investment companies as well as the design, construction, and operational FM side of PFI - mostly in the Defence, Education and Healthcare sectors. Her day-to-day focus is on resolution of PFI commercial/contractual disputes, improving understanding and knowledge within the teams and commencing the handback journey with the Skanska portfolio.

In her wider role as Head of Commercial Services, she is involved in the commercial and contract aspects for Skanska covering MEP, FM, Network Solutions and IT, in terms of negotiations, tendering, drafting, contracting and sub-contracting.

Rosh has a dual role within Skanska with her Defence background and is a key member of the Security team.

She sits on the ECA BPP committee and is committed to mentoring several individuals in their career development.

Sophie joined Mace in 2021 and is the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Operations Director for Mace Consult focusing on supporting clients and Mace colleagues on 'going home safe and well'. Sophie is responsible for delivering the Consult HSW business plan across Europe and working with the other Mace Consult hubs to drive continuous improvement in the industry. 

Sophie's previous experience includes working for a Tier 1 Principal Contractor and as a Client and developer on large urban regenerations schemes through the project lifecycle from project inception through to occupation. Sophie's is skilled in behavioural H&S change, operations and logistics management, crisis management, strategic business planning and, training, learning and development. 

I have over 15 years experience in the construction industry with 10 years being spent in site based roles. I currently lead the L&D function at McLaren, a rapidly growing organisation and am part of the SLT. I have been working with the business to implement a wide range of interventions to enhance performance, embed change, and support the business on the journey of adapting to new legislation. I am passionate about delivering engaging learning with measurable results that have a lasting effect on both individuals and organisations.

Professional Credentials and Certifications:

- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (FCIOB)  

Educational Qualifications:
- Diploma in Management - Henley Management College 2010

- BSc (Hons) in Construction Management  - South Bank University 1996

- Higher National Certificate in Building Studies  - Leeds Collage of Building 1990

- Ordinary National Certificate in Building Studies - Huddersfield Technical Collage 1988 

Professional Development:

- Black CSCS Health and Safety Accredited Card  - Construction Skills Certification Scheme, UK  

Judging and Awards:

- Judge for Construction News- 2024- 

- Judge for the CIOB Construction Manager of the Year Award  - 2010- 2014  

Career History:

Socius Developments Ltd - Project Director
May 2022 - Present
Lead complex office-led and mixed-use development projects from concept through to occupancy, focusing on sustainable practices and innovative design solutions.

Muse Developments Ltd - Construction Project Director
September 2014 - April 2022
Directed multiple high-value regeneration projects, overseeing all phases from feasibility to completion, with a keen focus on financial management, legal compliance, and stakeholder relations.

Tesco Group Plc - Development Project Manager
January 2009 - August 2014
Managed extensive mixed-use developments integrating retail, residential, and leisure components, emphasizing energy-efficient strategies.

Rider Levett Bucknall - Associate Project Manager
January 2004 - December 2008
Handled diverse projects including high-spec office buildings and complex refurbishments, ensuring all projects adhered to stringent quality and budget specifications.

Bryant Construction Ltd - Senior Site Manager
September 1998 - January 2001
Supervised site operations and project milestones for various construction projects, enhancing operational workflows and team productivity.

Media Interaction and Public Relations Training:

Media Training Certificate - 2010 and 2015

Luciana helps to ensure that Multiplex leaves a positive and lasting legacy for the client, stakeholders, residents, businesses and the general public alike. She is a passionate corporate responsibility professional with extensive stakeholder and community engagement and client interfacing experience. This experience has been gained by managing programmes which maximise local community benefits and customer satisfaction as a result of multi-million main contractor construction developments, for both public and private sector clients. Luciana has vast experience in the achievement of objectives in line with our social value and community commitments, Section 106 agreements and our other Local Authority employment and skills-related targets, including apprenticeship and work experience placement coordination. She is also skilled at developing and maintaining relationships with appropriate bodies, stakeholders, educational institutes and community organisations. She is used to generating and publicising volunteering opportunities, and production of marketing materials to share best practice successes and achievements.

Founder and Chief Executive of The Scaffolding Association, Rob is responsible for leading a dedicated team of individuals who are committed to raising industry profile and standards, solving key industry challenges such as labour shortages and skills provision, providing guidance on a wide range of industry-related topics and developing an unrivalled offering of member benefits and services which are suitable for businesses of all sizes.

Tim Carey is Director for Mace’s Construct engine, responsible for leading their approach to design management and construction to production (C2P).

C2P builds upon Mace’s experience in prefabrication and off-site assembly that, for over 20 years, has delivered speed and scale benefits to clients and communities. Mace’s C2P approach enables efficient, high quality, right first-time construction by running processes in parallel – manufacturing off-site while building on-site, significantly reducing programmes and carbon footprint.

Tim has extensive experience across Tier 1 contracting in the fields of design, innovation, quality, offsite and digital construction and is a previous contributor to CLC working groups and House of Lords select committees. A Fellow of the CIOB, Tim studied at the University of Greenwich before being subsequently awarded both an MBA and a RICS Post-Graduate Diploma from the University of Reading. Outside of work he is a keen guitarist, songwriter, and an official Prince of the Nkwen tribe in Cameroon.

Shelley is experienced D&I and HR professional with a long career in the civil engineering and construction industry. Having designed and led a number of people and culture programmes, Shelley brings a broad perspective on how human capital can drive business success.

Passionate about reducing inequalities in the workplace, Shelley works hard to educate and challenge perspectives that hinder this and is an ambassador to promoting D&I as a key strategic focus for businesses and also to create a more equal and opportunistic society for all.

Michael is a Fellow and Chartered Engineer of the Institute of Civil Engineers, a UK registered ground engineering specialist in the geotechnical and structural design of complex foundation schemes.

An experienced engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. Considerable experience in the piling industry, being design geotechnical lead for complex solutions in London and more recently in the wider UK market. Strong engineering professional skills in Geotechnical Engineering, Value Engineering, Highways, Earthworks, and Bridge construction.

Design Director and member of the Wates Construction Senior Leadership Team focussed on delivering high quality, technically challenging projects within the London region. Gathering insight and experience over 30 years in the Construction and Engineering industry, Paula values a Client facing approach and is committed to forging positive partnerships with an emphasis on added value, risk management, sustainable solutions, innovation and digital technology. Heading up a diverse team of impactful design management professionals to drive best practice and exemplar results for our Customers. Member of Wates Women and Allies, a network offering support and mentoring to our female colleagues and D&I Champion encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion within our business and beyond. Past winner of the European Women in Construction and Engineering (WICE) awards for Best Woman Project Manager and passionate Construction/STEM Ambassador promoting careers for our next generation of talent.

As the Head of Operations at Compliance Chain, Adam oversees the strategic development of the business to support the needs of contractors, subcontractors and clients nationally. Adam's leadership is characterized by a commitment to driving growth and efficiency, ensuring that Compliance Chain remains an industry leading all in one solution. Adam's passion lies in comprehending the distinctive needs and challenges of the industry, coupled with his ability to offer solutions which aid in their success.

Rob is a solicitor and mediator with an M&E background. He has experience from private practice law firms and in-house teams. Rob has risen through the ranks to director level leading teams in policy, business and law for over two decades.

Rob has dealt with over 4000 designers, suppliers, installers or service and maintenance (FM) operators in the engineering services sector and regularly advised consultants.

·        CN Talent 2019 Mentor of the Year, EDI Leader of the Year and Role Model 2018/19 UKCW.

·        Founder of the LHON Society charity and the Process Innovation Factory.

·        Chairs the Payment Group of the SME advisory panel to Crown Commercial Services/Cabinet Office

·        CLC Business Models on digital/smart contracts, retentions, payment and contractual fair practice

Steve is one of the founding directors and shareholder of mixed-use developer Socius.

Steve has led a number of high-profile mixed-use development projects across London and the South East, and most recently oversaw the development of the £110m Edward Street Quarter Development in Brighton. Steve is currently leading the £190m MK Gateway scheme in Milton Keynes; both projects will deliver in excess of 400,000 sq ft of workspace and over 400 new homes.

Sam Eden has over eight years working in the Construction industry, from Architecture regulation to leading the London region of the Federation of Master Builders. Sam now heads up the launch of HazardCo in the UK - A simple, guided health and system which helps you focus on what matters – getting the job done and making sure everyone makes it home safely at the end of the day

I have nearly 20 years of experience across infrastructure projects primarily rail projects of various scales, highways and airports. I am responsible for the technical aspects of projects including design, engineering, quality, digital and geospatial information.

Ken Erskine, CEO and Consultant at Big Bamboo Bids, has over 36 years’ experience leading bids on major strategic programmes of work and frameworks across the UK. He has particular expertise in the construction and civil engineering sectors, previously holding senior roles at Careys, Balfour Beatty, John Sisk & Son and Carillion (formerly Mowlem). He has also previously held voluntary leadership roles for ten years at the APMP (Professional Body promoting best practice in Bid & Proposal Management) including two tenures as the UK Chapter's CEO (2010 and 2014) and two years as a Director on the APMP’s International Board (2015 and 2016). His work winning focus ensures he understands what good looks like and has excellent insight into what it takes for an organisation to be truly differentiating in its field.

Ifan Glyn is the Director of Regions & Home Nations at the Federation of Master Builders, the UKs largest trade association in the construction industry, representing the interest of small and medium-sized building companies.

With over 37 years of experience within the construction industry, Corin joined BAM in 2023 as the dedicated lead for health. Corin supports BAM’s key clients including the Department of Health and the New Hospital Programme and manages the Procure 23 framework. Corin is an advocate of sector innovation, incorporating digital tools, sustainable solutions, and social value. He is also a champion of the importance of client relationships.

Ray is a distinguished engineer, esteemed for his expertise and leadership in the field of temporary works, civil and structural engineering. Since becoming chartered in 1980, Ray has made significant contributions to his field, pushing forward the notion that temporary works engineering is a specialised profession. Ray founded RDG Engineering in 2004. The consultancy has been involved in a variety of prestigious and award-winning projects. Ray has a passion for innovation and problem-solving and is known for overcoming the toughest engineering challenges and for his ability to identify and nurture talent. Ray promotes excellence in engineering principles as the foundation for developing leading and innovative engineering solutions.

Kane Greenough is a dedicated and forward-thinking professional with a passion for sustainability in the construction industry. As the UK Supply Chain Sustainability Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, Kane plays a pivotal role in driving the company's commitment to environmental responsibility, social impact, and ethical business practices. With a background in supply chain management and a deep understanding of sustainability principles, Kane has successfully integrated eco-friendly practices into Morgan Sindall Construction's supply chain processes. He collaborates closely with suppliers, subcontractors, and other stakeholders to implement sustainable sourcing strategies, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance overall environmental performance. In addition to his professional endeavors, Kane actively participates in industry conferences, contributing his insights to discussions on sustainable construction practices. Kane Greenough embodies Morgan Sindall Construction's vision of building a better and more sustainable future for communities, clients, and the planet.

Helen Gregory started her career as a setting out engineer and ‘cube girl’ with a local building firm during her summer holidays. Upon completing her Masters in Civil Engineering at Surrey University, Helen has worked across the Building, Infrastructure, Residential and Commercial sectors across the UK to design, price and deliver piling schemes with leading piling contractors. Just shy of 20 years of working on challenging sites across the UK has fostered a particular enthusiasm in cast in-situ piling and in the challenges in delivering projects in this field. Working as Head of Proposals for Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering, Helen has recently re-joined the business to focus on intelligent ground engineering solutions for some of the UKs largest engineering projects.

Principal Sustainability Consultant with 15 years’ experience in resource management, sustainable procurement, environmental auditing and the design of sustainability and circular economy strategies. with a Sarah has a passion for affecting change and guiding supply chains through circular transition. Specialising in assisting businesses to embed circular economy interventions at an organisational, project and product level.

Michael has worked on some of the most iconic projects across London within the construction industry. He has experience at both sub-contractors and main contractor level as a health and safety professional, with a wide-ranging experience in the access and scaffolding specialism. He has carried out risk management in a high-rise environment on some of the highest buildings under construction within London.

Outside of work Michael is an avid supporter of health and safety within the construction industry in his volunteering role as a committee member of the IOSH Construction Group. 

Elizabeth is the Group People & Culture Director at Pick Everard. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Leadership & Management. She is also a Qualified Executive Coach and a Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner. Her current role is a culmination of a progressive career spanning STEM industries internationally. Elizabeth has firm passions for fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture, driving change through strategic transformational HR, and talent development. She has worked within the construction industry for several years, raising standards in workplace practice. She believes in continuous development and lifelong learning and providing the right platform for early careers talent to get off to a bright start within the industry. Elizabeth presently works with Senior Leaders to shape and deliver a successful people and culture strategy, transforming the HR landscape through a commercial and creative approach.

Dan Harmer is a Senior Project Manager, and on the Tilbury Douglas growing talent programme. Dan has delivered a range of challenging projects for Tilbury Douglas in recent years; including successfully completing a new SEN education facility in Hereford on behalf of the Department for Education. The Birmingham Nightingale Hospital that successfully delivered 1300 emergency beds in just 6 weeks during the first UK Lockdown. Dan has also played a key role on two major pre-cast residential developments in the Midlands; Battery Park Student Accommodation, a scheme for Unite Students, and The Lansdowne, a luxury PRS schemes in Birmingham. Dan is proud to have been accepted by the CIOB on their pilot PCCC Scheme (Principal Contractor Competency Certification Scheme). He is currently working on a Refurbishment and new extension for the DfE at Shrewsbury Academy.

Jon is a construction lawyer in international law firm Pinsent Masons LLP. He has over thirty years' experience of advising construction contractors and industry stakeholders on projects small, large and in between, from schools, to streetlights and roads to metros through out the UK and overseas. He splits his time between Pinsent Masons' offices in London, Dublin and home in the West Country.

A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Sean Hebden has over 28 years’ experience in construction working for both Tier 1’s and SME’s alike, across sectors such as Rail, Water and Marine. Sean is the Construction Director at ISC, a £50m national contractor specialising in Enabling Works, Earthworks and Civil Engineering. ISC is the contracting arm of GRS, Britain’s leading independent supply-chain partner for sourcing, handling & transport of aggregates, building products, waste & recycled materials.

David Hendy is Mace's Communications Director and is responsible for all of Mace's external and internal communications. He has spent over seven years at Mace, and before that worked both in-house at FTSE100 firms and at agencies.

Francis Ho is a Partner at international law firm, Charles Russell Speechlys. He has substantial experience on ground-breaking schemes both in the UK and internationally and regularly advises on datacentres, Build to Rent, student accommodation, luxury and boutique hotels, sports stadia, universities, skyscrapers, power projects and other infrastructure using a wide range of procurement strategies. He has particular expertise in BIM, sustainable development and renewable energy and sits on the Construction Industry Council's Green Construction Panel. He chairs the Chartered Institute of Building’s Contract & Procurement Special Interest Group and is Vice-Chair of the City of London Law Society's Construction Committee and edits a leading construction law text published by Sweet & Maxwell. He co-authored the Time and Cost Management Contract 2015. He is ranked in the leading legal directories and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director of Seddon Nicola Hodkinson is owner and director of family managed contracting business, Seddon, where her role is all about ‘people’ – people Seddon employ and people Seddon work for. Her role encompasses everything from overseeing employee wellbeing to company culture and upholding the Seddon values, making sure the right resources for productivity are available to everyone in the business. People development, especially apprenticeships is her passion and the bedrock of any sustainable business. Nicola is an advocate for mental health awareness in the workplace and more specifically, the construction industry. Due to her advocacy, Nicola is a trustee board member for leading UK mental health charity Mates in Mind. She believes her greatest achievement in her present role is providing the necessary ways to work to support and grow a family business. Developing from a small local business to a regional business whilst retaining a family ethos. Nicola is the first female to be appointed to the Seddon board and helps to steer the family business alongside her brothers Jonathan and Jamie Seddon. As a custodian of the Seddon family business and as fourth generation Nicola wants to ensure she is looking after and developing the business for the future, assuring longevity and a sustainable future for the next generation of the Seddon family and the families it employs. From planning and procurement, through to construction, fit-out and refurbishment, and onto property services, the company works across multiple industries including housing, care, education and retail, with a loyal customer base in both the public and private sectors. Built on family values, Seddon has a group turnover of circa £250 million and a direct workforce of more than 250 professionals, craftspeople, technical staff and trainees/apprentices. Founded in 1897, Seddon celebrated 125 years in 2022 with a year of events and charitable fund-raising projects.

A senior leader that is CIPS fellow, who has experience of working across multiple constructions sectors and disciplines including but not exclusive to Procurement, Construction Plant & Fleet Management, Facilities Management and Carbon Management.

Robert is a RICS chartered Project Manager with extensive experience delivering complex, high-quality projects for private clients across a wide range of sectors, including super-prime residential, mixed use developments, education and high-profile leisure schemes. He is Co-Director of Egan Lucocq, a a bespoke Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Property Management firm who specialise in delivering for UHNW and HNW private clients.

Daniel is Senior Business Development Manager at Farrans Construction. He is a Fellow of CIHT and is educated with a BSc (Hons) Construction Management. He has 23 years’ civil engineering experience. Chair of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Water Group. He is the Chair of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Water and Transport Groups and current Chair of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, London Region.

Claire Jackson is education sector strategy lead at Galliford Try and is a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience in construction, working client side, in a consultant role and now for a main contractor. For the last 15 years Claire has specialised in education, delivering new and refurbished schools through Building Schools for the Future (BSF), Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP) and Free schools programmes and now School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). At Galliford Try, Claire leads the national education team who are responsible for driving innovation and collaboration across the company, ensuring the delivery of high-quality education buildings while promoting our offsite and sustainability strategies.

Edward is a Chartered Surveyor with a background in real estate equity investment and finance. During the last 7 years at Homes England, he has been involved with the financing of innovative MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) housing projects and Manufacturers. Homes England supports the Government's MMC housing innovation strategy, which seeks to improve construction productivity, quality, sustainability and safety through MMC and industrialised construction.

After a number of years working within sales and working as a recruitment consultant Katie Kelleher had a change of career in 2014 and started on the Lifting Technician Apprenticeship as a crane operator. Katie is working hard using a strong social media presence to change the face of construction by openly encouraging more apprentices and diversity into the field and to challenge the industry to make necessary inclusive changes. Katie has won various awards, started a construction podcast (Tales from the Hook) and appeared on the TV show Impossible Engineering. Katie previously worked as a crane operator and appointed person on large London infrastructure projects such a Crossrail, Tideway and currently works for the CPA Construction Plant Hire Association as Technical & Development officer

With over 20 years’ experience in the construction sector, Peter leads on sustainability for ISG, a global construction, fit out and engineering company. He is responsible for the delivery the Environment aspect of ISG’s Right Thing First business strategy.

Neave is in house counsel at Ghelamco and a consultant at Systech Law. She is a full-service construction lawyer based in London. Neave advises on and negotiates both standard form and bespoke contracts and also provides guidance on a wide range of issues, including construction disputes and insurance coverage. She has experience of the full range of dispute resolution processes in the construction sector including adjudication, arbitration, and civil litigation, as well as mediation. Acting for and against large multi-disciplinary consultancies, engineers, architects, project managers, developers and employers, and tier 1 and 2 contractors, she has developed a strong commercial awareness and a comprehensive understanding of industry issues. She has been a frequent speaker for HQN.

With over 20 years experience in the construction industry, designing and delivering large capital projects for both public and private sectors, I focus on creating strategic initiatives for organisations wanting to improve the performance of their business through the adoption of technology. I have enjoyed many roles throughout my career, namely in engineering, business development, operations management, digital transformation, and strategy. My goal is to help organisations exploit the opportunities that technology brings to the table by designing and delivering business transformation.

Matt, a chartered civil & structural engineer by background, joined Derwent London in 2014 and became Head of Project Management in January 2023. He has over 20 years' experience in central London offices and is responsible for maintaining the project management group’s focus on project delivery, construction innovation, productivity and risk management.

As the Director of Setting Out For Construction, a leading organisation in site engineering and plant operating training, I have unique blend of expertise and experience. I also I serve as the Chair of the Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) Women in Plant group, advocating for diversity and inclusion within the industry. Additionally, I am an active member of the BE-ST Digital Accord working group, collaborating on initiates to help drive digital innovation within construction. With a career spanning over 15 years in the construction industry, I have worked in various roles including, Labourer, Plant Operator, Site Engineer and Project Manager, which has enabled me to understand the sectors demands and challenges. Currently pursing my Ph.D in Digital Transformation of the UK Construction sector, I remain dedicated to advancing the industry through innovation and mentorship. My involvement in judging the Construction News Award for 'Apprentice of the Year' is an opportunity to nurture talent and to recognise outstanding achievements across the broad spectrum of trades.

Iain McIlwee, CEO, Finishes and Interiors Sector Iain McIlwee is a Materials Engineer whose journey in construction started in a scaffolding yard in Hanwell in 1995. He has worked in around construction since in a number of roles including CEO of the British Woodworking Federation, Director of the Fire Door Inspection Scheme and serving as a non-Exec Director of FENSA and Vice Chair of the Construction Products Association. Iain is currently CEO of Finishes and Interiors Sector, the trade body for the £10 billion fit-out, interiors and finishing sector where he recently authored the FIS WHITE PAPER INTRODUCTION TO THE GOLDEN THREAD AND DIGITAL INFORMATION PLANS. In addition to his role at FIS, Iain sits on various Construction Leadership Council Working Groups, the Steering Board of the City of London Corporation’s Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce and is a Director of SKArating, the environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit-outs. Iain has been a Construction Fairness, Inclusivity and Respect Ambassador since 2021.

I have been working for Kier since July 23 as the Group Procurement Director. i am new to the construction industry but not the procurement process. i spent 23 years in the Plastics Industry in starting in Finance and the last 10 years in procurement . i am always open to learn new things and help add value to our growth strategy. i am interested in the best ways to improve our processes and be the partner of choice for innovation and an ethical, sustainable supply chain.

I started my career as a Gunner in the British Army, serving in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan. After leaving the Army I operated plant for a short time before moving into the world of Health and Safety. I have worked for subcontractors, Principal Contractors and clients across a variety of sectors, from city center high rise, to urban regeneration, sports stadia, life sciences, heritage buildings and civil engineering. I currently work for Mace Consult, leading Health, Safety and Wellbeing for the Central Government Business Unit on and managing and supporting a number of HS&W Managers and Consultants working with various clients. I am a Chartered Member of IOSH, a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers and a Chartered Member of the CMI.

Ben Moss is a Structural Engineer and a Director at WSP. His experience includes projects in Hong Kong, Qatar and France, as well as the UK. He considers himself a well-rounded engineer, with experience in most sectors and with most building types and materials. However, through a secondment to Watson Steel early in his career, he has developed in-depth knowledge of the steel industry, as well as the 2-star hotels of Bolton. More recently, Ben has been part of the industry’s drive to increase the use of reclaimed steelwork in order to reduce the carbon impact of our society. He leads WSP’s team of structural engineers in the Southern region.

A health and safety professional for over 30 years with a prime focus and passion on supporting Boards of Directors, Directors, Senior Management in the development of health, safety and wellbeing strategies across diverse industry sectors.

Widely experienced with Board and Director appointments across multiple sectors and industries.

Vast experience in helping to define and agree strategy with Boards to deliver standards of excellence in HSWQ – health, safety and wellbeing within International and UK businesses. 

Seasoned construction professional with 20+ years of experience across diverse building projects. Extensive expertise in MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) systems, particularly for high-value developments. Adept at collaborating with stakeholders to ensure successful project execution

Matthew is a Board Director of William Hare, responsible for client relationship management and the strategic direction of the business, having previously worked for 15 years in the Fund Management industry. He is a Board member of Build UK, sits on the Steel for Life Advisory Board and is a member of the City Architecture Forum, as well as an Executive Vice President of the Story of Christmas Appeal.

Sean has worked in the construction industry for over 30 years with international experience in construction delivery, project management and programme management (pmo). He graduated in 1994 in Durban, with a HND in civil engineering. His vast experience spans a diverse range of complex projects and programmes. These include; listed buildings (UK), pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities (UK & Switzerland), data centres (UK & France), renewable energy plants (UK), cement plants (Nigeria & Kazakhstan), oil & gas facilities (South Africa), airport terminal (UK), leisure water park (Cyprus), water purification and sewage treatment plants (South Africa). Sean was a co-owner of a project and construction management company in South Africa before moving to the UK. Since joining Mace in 2003, he has worked across the business and has been a senior leadership team member for the following business units; heavy Industrial (international division 2005-08), technology & renewable energy (construction division 2008-16), pharmaceutical & technology (2016-19 consultancy division). In 2019 he joined Mace’s central government business unit and has been seconded into a client’s organisation since, as construction director, on a 10-year reservicing and operational improvement programme.

As the Head of Learning and Development for McGee, Martina is a seasoned professional with over twenty years of experience in fostering skills crucial for the present and future of the industry.

She is passionate about supporting employees' success by providing support for ongoing professional development, upskilling and increasing diversity, while also helping organisations build skills for the future. Through role modelling and speaking engagements, she strives to empower women and girls to pursue and excel in STEM careers, ensuring diversity and innovation thrive in the industry.

I have been working within the construction industry at Dodd Group for 34 years. I specialise in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and have seen many innovative products whether digitalised or mechanically driven enter our industry over the years.

Vanessa Quansah is Head of Construction Engineering at Lendlease, where she leads a team of engineers specialising in temporary works and building methods. She has more than 12 years' experience securing and delivering a major portfolio of work across the UK.

 Vanessa began her career at Swanton Consulting designing temporary works for renovations at the Imperial War Museum, National Theatre, and Tate Modern. She designed the innovative concrete basement propping scheme for Rathbone Place and the façade retention system at Mayfair Park Residencies. The façade retention design was a finalist for the British Construction Industry Awards: Temporary Works Award.

 In 2016, Vanessa joined Lendlease to deliver efficient solutions to temporary works designs. Three years later, Vanessa pivoted her career on a secondment to become a Lendlease Project Manager. In this role, she delivered £50m concrete package for the £300m, 50-storey tower at 8 Bishopsgate, and utilised her experience to continue delivering best temporary works practice. This was demonstrated in the £1Bn Google KGX1 project where Vanessa was accountable for the extensive jacking and load transfer works of the roof trusses. 

 Vanessa is currently active in driving ESG goals by targeting carbon zero in construction. She developed a pioneering vetting procedure for emerging green technologies with the ConcreteZero initiative. She is also very active in encouraging women and minorities into the industry.

Vanessa is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has mentored five engineers to achieve this goal. She was the 2017 finalist for the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards: Young Woman Engineer of the Year. She was also a member of the Demolition Engineers between 2018-2022.

Bhavika has strong academic, technical and innovation proven background, having worked in Costain Limited for 15 years and in Construction industry for last 25 years. Within Costain Limited, I have worked at various levels such as Head of programme (Materials ), Project/Contracts Manager and so on. Currently, I am leading Materials Team within Costain Limited as Head of Engineering Materials alongside being Costain Limited’s Material Innovation lead and undertaking PhD (PT ) with Cambridge University. She represents Costain on several cross-industry forums such as Concrete Society, ICT, AGS and Ciria. Additionally, She oversees and provides support to PhD students including acting as their industrial supervisor on various research Projects. Bhavika is Industrial lead for Costain Limited on “Smart materials” within Digital Roads Partnership Programme Bhavika leads Materials Team within Costain Limited and manages UKAS accredited 6 Materials Lab Testing facilities for Costain Limited across UK. These are facilities with regular and advanced Material testing services for huge infrastructure projects ( incl HS2, Thames Tideway, National Highways ) across UK. It gives the opportunity to undertake range of tests to enable independent Quality assurance and Material Compliance. The research projects at the laboratory’s focus on the Materials Trial applications and analysis of unstructured and semi-structured data including Barcelona and Inductive Testing. Prior to Costain Limited, I have worked in other parts of the world in various roles, having worked on major Construction Projects and have worked in various roles as Technical Manager and so on. Early in my career, I have also worked in Academia as Part Time Lecturer for a brief period.

Founder of SR Supply Chain Consultants Limited, a renowned training provider specialising in CIPS qualifications and Procurement and Supply Chain Apprenticeships.  Susan has led her organisation to deliver over 400 successful apprentices in recent years, many from the construction industry making her an ideal candidate for this years judging panel.  Her steadfast dedication to quality and continuous improvement has earned her recognition in the form of prestigious awards and certifications. With an MBA and Fellowship and Chartered Procurement Professional status under her belt, Susan continues to spearhead innovations in education, making significant contributions to the development of apprenticeship standards and closing industry skill gaps.

Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence in education, developing Leaders of the future through driving skills and education pathways Susan Rashid embodies the values of integrity, innovation, and dedication.

Andrew is a Chartered Civil Engineer, and since joining Multiplex in 2015 has been instrumental in leading and delivering the engineering and structural elements of several of its most technically challenging and successful London projects, including Principal Tower, The Broadway, 30 Grosvenor Square and more recently Elephant & Castle Town Centre redevelopment. Andrew’s work on projects across the sectors of residential, commercial, education, hospitality and infrastructure with Network Rail and London Underground interfaces have given him excellent experience of construction methodologies and allowed him to amass a great breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise. He has a proven and enviable track record of finding innovative solutions that challenge the norm – particularly in high pressure situations, that often resolve programme and commercial challenges. He understands the key drivers to successfully deliver projects of exceptional quality and without compromise.

Giulia is an Associate in the Net Zero Strategic Advisory team, where she expertly guides clients from infrastructure, real estate, and energy sectors towards a more sustainable approach. She develops Net Zero and sustainability strategies, ensuring environmentally conscious planning. Furthermore, Giulia is proficient in quantifying whole-life approaches and offering pragmatic advice on decarbonization. She consistently advises clients on integrating carbon metrics into business cases, setting benchmarks for carbon, and designing methodologies for comprehensive whole-life carbon assessments. Additionally, Giulia played a key role in supporting WSP during their internal PAS 2080 formal accreditation assessment and in assisting clients on their PAS 2080 journey. Complementing her rich experience, she has a versatile skill set that spans from program and project management to commercial services.

Kari joined Mace in June 2021 as Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing for Construct with a remit to provide clear leadership and focus on Safety First – Going home safe and well. To this end, she is responsible for driving the implementation of the HSW Strategy across the engine. Kari has worked as a Health & Safety professional for over 20 years, with experience across a number of industries including Waste, Engineering and Construction. Kari’s experience includes a role as a Construction Principal Inspector for the HSE. As a highly experienced Health and Safety professional, Kari also has extensive experience of project management, business improvement and stakeholder engagement

A highly motivated senior leader, with vast experience across both pre and post contract stages, within sectors including high volume residential, commercial, defence, stadia and education. I have experience working for consultancy firms, with local authorities and large building contractor’s and currently sit on the divisional board as Preconstruction Director, responsible for developing and implementing pipeline strategy, leading the preconstruction team and ensuring all tenders adhere to governance procedures. I lead by example and build up lasting relationships with clients, colleagues, and suppliers.

This will be Nicola’s third year of being a Construction News Specialist Awards judge. She is the Owner & Founding Director of Big Bamboo and Big Bamboo Bids – two specialist agencies that work with clients both in the UK and overseas, across the construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors. She has 24 years’ experience working in marketing, communications and bid & proposal roles.

An experienced leader in the delivery of diverse projects with an inclusive leadership style, believing success is delivered through collaboration and partnership at all levels.  I am a business professional with experience in all aspects of business management, project development delivery, commercial management, strategic business positioning and transformational change management.

As Operational Efficiency Director for Skanska Building Services I have developed a unique skillset supporting project delivery teams within a construction environment, driving innovation and business change resulting in the improved performance of our business and our customers.

After graduating in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Sheffield I have spent 35 years working in the construction industry starting as a site Engineer working up through Project Management, Design Management. This lead me into recent roles in Bid / Framework Management through to my current role as Proposals Manager with Henry Boot Construction where I oversee the compilation of most of our tenders.

Dale is a Procurement and Supply Chain Director for Skanska UK with over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry in Healthcare, Custodial, Education, Commercial, Infrastructure, and Defence sectors. Dale is responsible for sustainable supply chain sourcing and development, leading the UK procurement function (70no.) and its strategic direction. This includes digital transformation for procurement and supply chain management. Within the UK, Skanska buys more than £1billion of products and services each year from 5,000 suppliers and subcontractors. Dale is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and chaired the Construction Senior Leadership group for CIPS from 2017-2019.

Jack Waring is a Sustainability Manager at Balfour Beatty specialising in the strategic delivery of sustainability across the group. With 7 years consultancy experience in Energy and Carbon serving multiple sectors, including manufacturing, construction and real estate Jack has worked on a range of projects and understands the importance and difficulty in collecting and reporting Sustainability Data as well as achieving sustainability ambitions. Jack brought his wealth of experience to Balfour Beatty in November 2022 where he is helping to upskill and support the workforce in managing sustainability. Given his in-depth carbon background Jack also now has the honour of co-leading Balfour Beatty’s Carbon Community of Practice, Chairing the Carbon Steering Committee and representing Balfour Beatty in several industry groups.

Phil is a partner at Buzzacott and leads the firms Construction and Real Estate sector team. He has worked with a wide range of contracting businesses over his career and is experienced and familiar with the commercial and financial reporting challenges faced by those operating in the sector.

Ruth is a Legal Director in the construction team at Hill Dickinson. Ruth qualified as a lawyer in 2006 and provides specialist advice on a wide range of construction and engineering projects. Her job includes drafting and negotiating construction contracts and providing contractual advice and support at all stages of a project. Ruth is keen to promote the construction industry and its opportunities to young people and to help new construction professionals learn about construction law. She was pleased to be part of the second cohort of the Innovative Future Leaders Programme (IFLP) organised by SECBE. She is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Constructors and a Regional Coordinator for Reading for the Society of Construction Law.

James is a construction specialist experienced in both transactional work and advising on disputes in respect of a large range of construction, infrastructure and regeneration projects. James advises developers, housebuilders, contractors and funders on all types of construction documentation, including domestic and international standard forms of construction contracts. He is also experienced in advising on a wide range of disputes in different dispute resolution forums, including mediation, adjudication, expert determination and litigation.