2021 CE South West Judges

Alan is a Solicitor and is Partner at the law firm, Michelmores LLP based in both the Bristol and Exeter offices. Alan is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. Before retraining as a solicitor, Alan worked in the construction industry for 16 years as a quantity surveyor working for a number of national construction companies and developers. Alan specialises in the construction and projects in both the public and private sector. He focuses on projects which are either wholly or partly funded by public money.

Therefore, Alan works for sectors such as, social housing, health, education and local government where ‘value for money’ and life time costs are key considerations in the procurement, construction and maintenance of the project.

Alan specialises in providing advice to those in the construction sector who wish to work collaboratively. This approach allows early involvement of the construction team and the integration of the supply chain. He is conversant with the collaborative contracts such as the NEC 4 Alliancing Contract, Project Partnering Contract, Term Alliancing Contract, and he Framework Alliancing Contract. The ACA’s recent publication of 10 years of Partnering Contracts provides a number of exemplar projects which benefited from collaborative working.

Alan has been involved in a number of these types of projects and has incorporated processes within these projects which encourages ‘best value’ and continuous improvement as well as addressing the social agenda. Alan is a regular public speaker on a wide range of construction related topics including energy funding, BIM, EU Procurement and the initiatives stated in the Cabinet Office’s Government Construction Strategy.

Lisa is a Chartered Construction Manager, with a strong background in construction site management and design management, having worked on a vast array of projects, across all sectors of construction, in a career spanning both private and public sectors.

Lisa joined Homes England as a Design Manager, providing guidance and technical advice to colleagues and external partners, on all matters concerning design, quality, build cost and compliance, in support of the achievement of sustainable development, procurement efficiencies, value for money and place-making.

Now a Senior Development Manager within Homes England’s Development Directorate, Lisa has a focus on land disposal and the delivery of new homes, and is a keen proponent of off-site manufacturing and modern methods of construction, to accelerate the delivery of well-designed homes and quality places.

Most recently, Lisa has been recognised for her positive promotion of LGBT inclusion within the workplace. Through her work with the wider construction industry, Lisa actively seeks to influence change and improve LGBT inclusion within construction, to make construction an industry of choice and opportunity for all.

Having acted as Chair of the Constructing Excellence Cornwall Hub since October 2018, I have been closely involved with CE activities in Cornwall and the South West, including having previously contributed to the judging process and being well aware of ongoing projects and best practice in the region. My landscape architecture background allows me to take a holistic view of projects, with an emphasis on sustainability including climate change resilience, healthy living, biodiversity and landscape context of developments.

I have worked in the construction and development sectors for over 20 years in Germany and various locations in the UK, and I am a Chartered Member of the LI (Landscape Institute) as well as a member of the BDLA (Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekten). I am actively involved in the Landscape Institute Cornwall Group, representing them at the LISW Branch.

After many years in the private sector, I am now working in the public sector for Cornwall Council, acting as client lead for the Local Authority on the West Carclaze Garden Village, a flagship scheme for sustainable development in Cornwall.

Bill is a registered architect (ARB/RIBA) with a wide experience and has been a director at NVB Architects for 14 years.

He specialises in providing architectural solutions for the education sector which are both dynamic and realistic.

Bill is passionate about collusive working and believes that all projects are better for being developed in a team environment where the whole is better than the sum of all of the individual parts. We work in a complex and challenging industry and the more we work together helping to understand each other the more successful we will become.

Carol has worked in the construction for over 25 years from designing drainage systems and managing building product portfolios in the 90’s; moving to the regeneration sector working with both the public and private sector to attract developers and investors to one of the regions major towns; and now for the last 10 years working with contractors working in marketing, business development and business transformation.

Having worked with a major public sector client to achieve ISO 44001 the Collaborative working accreditation Carol believe that collaboration, good leadership, innovation and strong environmental and social credentials will ensure greater success in the industry.

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As Managing Director at Bamboo Technology Group, Kevin has a clear understanding of the importance of good communications and IT infrastructure in construction.

He has worked with numerous clients and design teams from concept design through to project completion and brings a unique perspective and understanding to each project he works on. His varied roles have given him a wide range of skills which are proving invaluable for his work in the sector

Robin joined the Taylor Lewis team from Trowers & Hamlins solicitors where he worked as a Property Lawyer for 8 years advising Registered Providers, private individuals and companies on all aspects of residential and commercial development and construction projects as well as property and land acquisitions and disposals. Robin’s legal background provides for an enhanced level of support for all Taylor Lewis clients. Robin has exceptional knowledge of all types of Building Contracts, Development Agreements and Statutory Agreements and has a vast experience of working with Registered Providers. His transferrable skills from his legal background allow him to maintain these relationships and deliver an excellent service as a Senior Surveyor at Taylor Lewis. Robin is currently undertaking the RICS APC and intends to achieve Chartered status in 2018.

Andrew is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager with over 25 years experience. Andrew has been responsible for the development of Airports for the last 18 years, prior to this Andrew managed projects in the telecoms, commercial, development and public utilities sectors.

Andrew is the Infrastructure Director at Bristol Airport where he is responsible for the strategic planning, delivery, efficiency and maintenance of all aspects of the Bristol Airport Estate. This key piece of infrastructure in the South West has grown incrementally over the last 10 years to become the 8th Largest Airport in the UK and is continuing to grow towards 10 million passengers per annum.

Andrew has also designed and implemented a construction framework for the development of Bristol Airport for the future to ensure continuity of approach, enhanced safety, continuous learning / development and long-term construction cost management.

Jamie is a chartered civil and structural engineer with 20 years’ experience in the construction industry.

Jamie has a unique mix of skills, with experience in every stage and method of procurement. He has expertise in all sectors, on both new-build and refurbishment projects of £1000 to £125 million in value.

Jamie has a keen interest in heritage conservation, he has been involved in a number of challenging projects and recently completed a week-long “Repair of Old Buildings” course at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Building.

He applied his new skills for the renovation of his own mid-19th century, four-storey, mid-terrace Victorian townhouse in Cliftonwood, Bristol.

Jamie is the Chair of the Great Western Branch of the Forum for the Built Environment (for the 2019-2020 period) and he is also Chair of the Constructing Excellence Bristol Club.

After a disastrous few years attempting to play golf, Jamie now keeps his leisure pursuits to the water, chiefly sailing and surfing, when he is not exploring the delights of Cornwall and Suffolk with his wife and daughter.

Rob is passionate about our transformation as we move forward in a rapidly changing world, encouraging us to take a more digitised approach to work.
Since becoming marketing director in 2017, Rob has brought a fresh take to our image, a strategy that reflects the principles of our founding fathers, Ray Stride and Gerry Treglown. Keen to embrace the brave new world, he works to find a balance between real people and a thirst for design with the use of smart processes and the latest systems.

Rob, where does your interest in technology stem from?
After many beers at university, I discovered my interest in tech, and wrote a very serious dissertation based in 25 years’ time, proposing the digital world would take over our lives until one day society kicked back and architecture would save the day.

What are the key challenges that affect your industry, or are likely to in the next five years?
Keeping up with change. With the advancement of technology, robotics and smart materials, we are at the beginning of an industry wide shift in how we design and deliver buildings. I am determined to keep Stride Treglown agile, relevant and at the fore front of this change.

I am particularly excited about offsite processes and techniques. Not only will this lead to higher quality buildings, but to a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Apart from digital innovation, are there any other big trends in your industry?
I strongly believe that buildings become architecture only when people use them, and there is currently a focus on how people are engaging with places.

How we ask for client and user feedback is changing. We are researching how social media can unearth how people are using our buildings. I’m interested in how our Inhabitant series can channel user feedback into improving our design.

With the rise of technology, is the role of the architect changing?
Yes, but we are still the master glue of the whole design process. As we move forward with technology, our role is about bringing the team together and continuing to communicate the importance of good design.

Do you have a favourite book?
Shackleton’s Boat Journey by Frank Worsley. It’s a book that explores Shackleton’s ill-fated expedition to the Antarctica, and his leadership in the face of diversity. I’ve learnt a lot from his approach.

Clarity of roles is really important in any team, but so is contribution from everyone – that’s something I apply to my role as leader. It also taught me that by always looking forward, and never back, you can achieve your dreams. Anything is possible.

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Paul has worked in the ‘supply link’ of the construction industry chain since 1986, having worked for the UK’s largest brick and timber distributor for over 20 years.

Starting by counting bricks and timber for stock-checking and elevating to become director based at head office was an invaluable education, helping him understand how to respond to people at every professional level.
Good communication and people skills are the foundation of how he now runs his business, Aquarian Cladding Systems, based in North Somerset and founded in 2007. Ensuring he has a solid understanding of their place in the marketplace, he is absolutely committed to ensuring he and his team provide excellent technical, commercial and logistical advice to their clients up the supply chain.

Paul is an advocate of modern methods of construction and has a burning desire to change the adversarial culture of the UK Construction Industry through collaborative working.

Gemma has been working for Willmott Dixon for 10 years and was recently promoted to pre-construction manager, overseeing all tender and bid work for our Wales and the West office. Managing a team of 15, Gemma thrives on the diversity and variety in her role but didn’t always plan on a career in construction.

Gemma says:

“At school I was actually really interested in art and English, but I was lucky to be made aware of the opportunities within the construction industry as my Dad was a lecturer in Construction in the built Environment.”

She continues “Through that course I got a real taste of all the possible roles in the construction industry, from bricklaying to management and surveying we got to experience the lot, which is where a lot of people miss out I think, as they are just not aware of the diversity of roles available to them”.

Although originally intending on a degree with Loughborough University, Gemma was given the opportunity to become a management trainee in quantity surveying for a construction firm, “that was something I would never have predicted, when quantity surveying was suggested my response was – ‘but I am no good at maths!’ it’s these preconceptions that we need to break down as I have honestly never looked back.”

Gemma then worked on several high profile projects before joining Willmott Dixon as commercial manager; “I really enjoyed working for here from the start, my roles have been interesting and challenging and what I really love is that every day is different. One of the most satisfying parts of working in construction is the team work aspect, everyone pulls together to build something amazing. I often drive past buildings and say ‘I built that!’ to my kids, not that I laid a brick of it, but that’s the point – there is so much more to creating a building than just laying the bricks.”

s so much more to creating a building than just laying the bricks.”

Giles is the current Chair of the Hub, an experienced Architect with a wide range of key skills and knowledge across a broad spectrum of sectors from healthcare, research facilities, housing, education – schools to higher education, extending to city centre regeneration and has worked on schemes with values ranging from £1 million to £45 million.

Giles qualified in London and worked for BDP for over a decade before relocating to the Southwest in 2011. He was elevated to Partner of Bailey Partnership in 2017. Giles has led on the Cornwall Council Basic Need Programmes since 2015, delivering over 3,500 pupil places, as well as the Property Programme Projects such as the successful Aerohub Enterprise Zone, Plot 2, pilot scheme and housing schemes at Mitchell, Penventon and St Buryan.

Giles’ experience and excellent communication skills enables him to engage well with clients and stakeholders to develop briefs, identify design solutions and to convey and present them in a succinct manner assisted by his growing local team.

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Paul Read works as the Assistant Director of Development at Magna Housing; a social landlord that owns 8,500 homes to rent and 350 shared ownership homes. Working primarily in house building, Paul has held roles within national PLCs, family-run house builder and local charitable organisations, working in business development, sales and change management roles. Paul has more than 25 years’ experience in the South West, attracting funds into the region to deliver significant levels of new housing in both urban and rural settings, building affordable homes for social rent, shared ownership, key worker intermediate and affordable rent, as well as private sector schemes for market rent and sale. In his current role he is leading on work with a factory based in the South West producing volumetric homes that has been prototyped for proof of concept and now progressing the client cluster to scale up production from a current capacity of 200 homes per annum to 1,000 homes.

Liz is passionate about empowering others by simplifying the complex and signposting to answers that will help practical delivery of effective health and safety.

In her professional career Liz is most proud of the following:

Being the first Group Safety Manager for Atkins through rapid expansion and flotation where she developed safety management systems and training across the businesses and supported acquisition due diligence and project delivery across the Group;
Leading on the establishment, with AA, RAC, the Police and the then Highways Agency, of www.survivegroup.co.uk which achieved a change in public behaviour on the fast road network within three years of initiation, making these roads safer and helping to reduce congestion; · Establishing with senior colleagues from industry www.safetyindesign.org.uk and taking responsibility for maintenance of the free Design Guides, produced by industry leaders from an HSE led initiative to help small design practices;
Being Interim Head of Health and safety for LOCOG, London 2012 organising committee to facilitate building the necessary capability across the Games and Paralympic Games and devising means of training a highly diverse community of staff and volunteers from nations across the globe. Working with Regulators and delivery teams to enable and empower a successful series of high-profile events and associated transport solutions across the country;
Leading the Design for Health Task Group. A current pan industry group working on effective interventions by clients and designers to improve health outcomes for all affected by construction work for the lifetime of any asset;
Development and delivery of a range of training courses in the UK and overseas on CDM 2015 for IStructE, ICE, APS, Synergie Training and for Safety in Design;
Conducting or supporting various pieces of research for HSE, EPSRC, B&CE Trust

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I joined the construction industry following two weeks voluntary work experience at Kier. This ignited my passion for the built environment, and it has grown ever since. I started at Kier in 2012 as a Management Trainee, which involved for three years going on rotation to understand the different roles within the business, including Site Management, Design & Build and Quantity Surveying, whilst attending Sheffield Hallam University to gain my BSc (Hons) in Construction in the Built Environment.

I am now a Site Manager, working on Project Quayside House in Gloucester. Over the last 10 years I have had some brilliant opportunities to work on some amazing projects including Cheltenham Racecourse and Shire Hall Refurbishment.I am passionate about promoting the endless opportunities the construction industry has to offer, and G4C is best possible campaign to do this. I hope that the SWG4C Team and I, can reach out to the next generation to encourage them to join this ever changing and thriving industry.

In my spare time I enjoy playing netball, skiing and socialising with family and friends.

Martyn has been associated with construction for over fifty years. In the early years of his career he held engineering and management roles in the nuclear and commercial sectors of the industry.

For the following thirty years he lectured at the University of the West of England in the specialisms of construction technology, and project and supply chain management. During this period, he was the Director of Studies for the School of Construction Management and held the post of Principal Lecturer in Construction Management.

During the past thirty years Martyn has taught, consulted, researched and published extensively on construction’s response to post-Fordism and now the emerging Digital techno-economic paradigm. For over twenty years he has been associated with the Construction Reform Movement having been one of the founding members of the Bristol Constructing Excellence Club and for a time the Regional Manager/Interim Director for Constructing Excellence in the South West and is now a member of CESW’s Management Team and Board.

He is also the Chair of CESW’s Procurement and Productivity Theme Group whose Vision is to be an informed and proactive community of interest, sharing ideas and learning, and supporting the adoption of best practice in the procurement of construction products and services from highly effective supply systems in the SW region.