Meet the team

Kevin is CEO of Constructing Excellence South West, and brings over 40 years of operational board experience. With a strong track record in achieving business success, he is a highly respected leader in the industry.

Kevin’s previous roles as Chairman of CE Gloucestershire Club and Chair of CESW Leadership Council highlight his commitment to Constructing Excellence.

He is also Business Mentor and Board Advisor at Tandem Consultancy, where he supports businesses to drive operational excellence, challenge perceptions, and empower their executives. With expertise in people development, business change, and simplifying challenges, Kevin is helping to shape a brighter future for Constructing Excellence South West.

Kingsley joined the SCF team in February 2018, based out of the Exeter office Kingsley has responsibility for heading up the South west region. Previously Kingsley held senior roles within the Estates team at Devon County Council and was responsible for overseeing a large capital and revenue programme.

Kingsley is a big believer in collaborative working and 2 stage open book procurement and joined the SCF team with a wealth of experience in managing contractor relationships.

Dan has worked in the insulation and cladding industry since 2008, however, has been involved in the construction industry since the age of 17 giving him a wealth of experience and knowledge in both new build and refurbishment sectors.

Dan has recently set up Holistic Housing Solutions Ltd to specialise in modern methods of construction and offsite technologies offering a variety of solutions through his collaboration with supply chain partners attributing to the rapid delivery and efficiency of much-needed homes without compromise.

Used individually or collectively these concepts have a positive impact on improving the quality, enhancing the performance and reducing the overall build programme when compared to traditional methods.

The use of MMC and Offsite technologies aid to positively disrupt the housing sector to bridge the gap between traditional developments and the Government demand for more homes. Without embracing the use of these rigorously tested innovative solutions, this demand grows further out of reach.

Dan is passionate about collaborative working which will be a driving force behind the growth of Holistic Housing Solutions Ltd.

He takes a very personal approach to exhaust all avenues that will improve build times and methods whilst maintaining high-quality standards of both materials and supply.

Anna is a Partner specialising in construction law at Michelmores. Having lived in Cheltenham for over 30 years and specialised in construction law for over a decade, Anna knows the local market extremely well.

Anna works on both contentious and non-contentious matters, acting for employers, main contractors, specialist sub-contractors, professionals and funders, giving her a wide knowledge of the different interests of the sectors’ stakeholders.

Anna is passionate about reducing the time spent in the pre-construction phase by encouraging reasonable and pragmatic contract drafting and negotiating. She is known for helping clients manage risk in projects, particularly in the education, leisure and health are sectors. Her clients and project sites are spread across the whole of England.

Anna first became involved in Constructing Excellence when she joined the Gloucestershire Club in 2016 and was immediately elected to the role of Club Secretary. After 5 years’ working with the local club, Anna joined the Board of CESW in 2021 as Company Secretary.

Details coming soon…

James Beckly is a highly experienced and innovative construction professional with over 20 years’ property development and industry experience. He has worked for developers, consultants, and construction managers across a broad range of market sectors and geographical locations in the UK and overseas.

James leads the WWA Project Management Team and since becoming Managing Partner of Ward Williams Associates in 2020 his primary focus has been on the operational delivery of the business. This is in addition to supporting the continued growth of the business’ national presence.

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.

Carol has worked in construction for over 20 years, with posts ranging from designing water management and drainage systems and working in the regeneration and main contracting sectors prior to joining Bouygues UK in September.

Her role will see her build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and professional teams to support the successful delivery of projects, that provide positive and lasting impacts for the local community, as well as those using the buildings.

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.”

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.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Robyn has been in her profession for 30+ years in various sectors including Investment Banking, Legal, Real Estate and Housing Development companies.  Robyn is the Director/Owner of Secretary Bird Ltd.

Philip builds brands. His agency, Walker/Jansseune, provides marketing communications using in-house copywriting and graphic design to promote products and services in print, on screen and in three dimensions. He has been involved with CE since 2007 and his flyers, websites, brochures and logos have supported hundreds of CE events and initiatives across the entire South West region.

Outside of the built environment, Walker/Jansseune has clients in the corporate, arts, charity, publishing, travel, finance and education sectors. Former and current clients include English Heritage, Guinness, Cancer Research UK, British Energy, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Botswana Tourism Organisation and the Lighting Industry Association. An offshoot of the company also runs public art events such as the Lions of Bath and Swans of Wells animal sculpture trails.

Running a small agency with big ideas, Philip knows that a strong concept is fundamental to all creative thinking. Relevant, communicative, professional and fun ideas can be found at the heart of all his work. He believes words and pictures go hand in hand and is happy to demonstrate how he has combined the two across a wide range of projects for clients who want to be noticed.

Em has a passion for forming great business connections based on loyalty, professionalism and a ‘can do’ attitude. She takes pride in understanding current and future needs of the customer so that the correct solution is achieved, and is always prepared to go the extra mile. Em understands that the client must see ‘value for money’ and trust for long-lasting working relationships.