IMPORTANT DATES...

The 2026 judging panel

Stephen Andrew

Group Technical Director,
Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd

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Stephen Andrew

Group Technical Director, Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd

Stephen Andrew is Group Technical Director for Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd, based at the Company’s Head office. Appointed to his current role in 2019, Stephen has responsibility for all technical matters across Taylor Wimpey UK including regulatory compliance, management of the Group’s house type portfolios, civil engineering, innovation and R&D, project management, and the Company’s building safety and cladding remediation portfolio.

Stephen has a wealth of experience including previous employment at a construction firm, architectural practices specialising in residential, healthcare and defence projects, and another UK housebuilder prior to joining Taylor Wimpey. He joined the Company in 2004 as a Design and Planning Executive, and during his 21 years with Taylor Wimpey, Stephen has held a number of senior roles. These include seven years as Technical Director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland and the roles of Special Projects Director and Land Director. He has also led the Company’s Design and Placemaking and Sustainability functions.

As the senior technical representative for Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd, Stephen supports and regularly leads engagement with a range of external organisations including NHBC, the Home Builders Federation, Homes for Scotland and the Future Homes Hub.

Colin Bell

Digital Construction Director,
Kier
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Colin Bell

Digital Construction Director, Kier

Colin is Digital and Data Director at Kier Construction (>4yrs), where he is responsible for operational delivery across digital and data services whilst ensuring compliance and governance and championing the responsible use of AI. With more than 25 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry, he has built a career focused on delivering practical digital transformation that enhances operational performance and business outcomes.

Throughout his career, Colin has held senior roles within Arup, Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) and Robertson, developing extensive expertise in digital strategy, information management and technology-enabled change across complex projects and organisations.

A passionate advocate for people development, Colin is committed to building high-performing teams, nurturing future talent and creating environments where individuals can thrive.

ANDREW CARPENTER

Chief Executive, CE Midlands

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Andrew Carpenter

Chief Executive, Constructing Excellence, Construction Leadership Council, Midlands

Andrew joined the UK construction industry in 1977 with the manufacturing giant CRH and held a series of sales and business development roles in his early years. It was the groundbreaking Rethinking Construction Report of 1998 that was to change Andrew’s career path as he became involved in change management and best practice, first within CRH and then later as a Board Member and Director of Constructing Excellence.

During this time he was the inaugural chair of the national ‘Best Practice’ Club network and the public face of Constructing Excellence being responsible for marketing, events, communications and membership.

From 2008 – 2010 he worked as a consultant in ‘lean’ measures, which included Andrew helping to set up and then become one of the first fifteen students of the CWA (Collaborative Working Academy).

Andrew was delighted to be asked to become Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (then the UKTFA) in January 2011.

Andrew is now helping to spearhead the drive for Sustainable Construction by the use of more structural timber in building with a ‘Fabric First’ approach.

Andrew was appointed Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence South West in September 2013, stepping down in 2022, and Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence Midlands in May 2018.

In 2011 Andrew was rewarded for his services to best practice within the UK construction industry by being awarded the ‘Achiever Award’ in the 2011 CIOB/CESW South West Built Environment Awards.

Andrew is currently a member of the Construction Leadership Council Construct Zero Board and sits on the Government’s Timber in Construction Working Group.

Melanie Dawson

Managing Director, Origin7

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Melanie Dawson

Managing Director, Origin7

 

Melanie Dawson, has significantly advanced digital construction practices in the UK and further. Melanie's innovative leadership has facilitated the development of new technology use, digital strategy and workflows to enable organisations to maximise the value of digital construction data and improve delivery, efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Melanie is a construction industry design professional with 13 years of experience specialising in information management, BIM, digital transformation, and process improvement within the built environment.

As Director at Origin7 Digital, she helps organisations improve efficiency, productivity, and compliance through streamlined processes and the implementation of industry standards. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, Melanie works with multidisciplinary teams to deliver practical, sustainable solutions that drive better project outcomes across the construction sector.

Ciaran Garrick

Head of Digital Design - Director,
10N Collective

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Ciaran Garrick

Head of Digital Design - Director, 10N Collective

Ciaran Garrick is an architect, lecturer and Director & Head of Design Technology at 10N Collective. He has over 14 years of experience implementing BIM and design technology workflows on large-scale projects in the UK and internationally.

Ciaran also leads a number of practice research in the area of sustainable design processes and digital technologies, including circular economy principles in the design process and building energy performance transparency.

Owen Hollingbery

Director, Construction,
M&G Real Estate

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Owen Hollingbery

Director, Construction, M&G Real Estate

Owen joined M&G Real Estate in 2025 and is part of the Development & Capital Projects team, responsible for the procurement of external development management services on all M&G Real Estate developments, in addition to the management of construction technical due diligence for property transactions, the monitoring and appraisal of forward funded developments and the procurement and overview of construction related framework agreements.

Before joining M&G Real Estate, Owen spent over a decade as a cost consultant at a leading consultancy based in London, gaining deep expertise in procurement, contract management, and dispute resolution. With an architectural background, he brings a highly technical mindset to every project, combining commercial acumen with a strong grasp of design and construction detail.

Jackie Maginnis

CEO, Modular & Portable
Building Association (MPBA)

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Jackie Maginnis

CEO of the Modular & Portable Building Association (MPBA)

Jackie is CEO of the Modular & Portable Building Association (MPBA) – a great ambassador for MMC with 35 years experience in the volumetric/modular industry.

Prior to her role with MPBA she worked for a manufacturing and hire company.

With her passion for the industry sector and the help of the committees from within the member companies, part of her role is to promote the features and benefits of the use of offsite volumetric buildings.

Henrietta Nowne

Development Director,
Landsec

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Henrietta Nowne

Development Director, Landsec

Henrietta Nowne is Development Director at Landsec, one of the UK’s leading real estate developers. She is spearheading the creation of Mayfield, Manchester’s new green city district.

With over 15 years of experience, including the transformation of Deptford Market Yard, Henrietta is passionate about designing places that put people first, boost biodiversity, and celebrate community spirit.

All of this is central to delivering one of the country’s most ambitious urban regeneration projects.

Cristina Sánchez

Senior Data & AI Manager,
Bovis Construction

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Cristina Sánchez

Senior Data & AI Manager, Bovis Construction

Cristina's vision is a built environment that better responds to the user’s needs, and her mission is to enable that through a more efficient construction industry empowered by digital and data strategy.

From a junction between architecture, construction, BIM, and data analytics, Cristina advocates for a culture change in the way we design and build, learning from tech disruption in other industries - while acknowledging the uniqueness of ours.

Mike Tofton

BIM and Digital Construction Lead,
BRE Academy

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Mike Tofton

BIM and Digital Construction Lead, BRE Academy

As the BIM and Digital Lead at BRE Academy, Mike brings 12 years of expertise in implementing BIM processes and authoring BIM tools, complemented by 19 years of collaboration with architects and expert digital consultants.

With a deep understanding of digital design technologies and international BIM standards, Mike’s responsibilities include creating and delivering training, developing accompanying documentation, and providing consultancy and advisory services to ensure compliance with ISO 19650 standards.

Mike also oversees various additional areas of expertise, including the Building Safety Act and Golden Thread, Digital Twins, and improving BRE products through the application of BIM.

William Baker-Jones

Digital Construction Lead, Kier

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William Baker-Jones

Digital Construction Lead, Kier

William has been recently appointed to Digital Construction Lead at Kier, in the Natural Resources, Nuclear and Networks sector. where he leads the digital engineering and information management team for major infrastructure projects, and previously was at Babcock International, as Digital BIM Lead for 4 Years, as well as being the IT Lead representative for NIMA.

His true passion lies in transforming construction through open data standards that ensure seamless information flow. A strong believer in data interoperability, he sees automation and data-driven decisions as the key to revolutionize the industry. This approach, he argues, fosters collaboration, streamlines processes, and promotes sustainable practices. William actively champions these methods, hosting events to explore data's potential for empowered decision-making.

Matt Beveridge

Head of Innovation & Partnerships (Estates Offices),
University of Birmingham
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Matt Beveridge

Head of Innovation & Partnerships (Estates office),
University Of Birmingham

Matt is honoured to be an Innovation Thought Leader Finalist (2024).
He is passionate about the crucial role universities play in generating and applying knowledge to enhance our world.

At the University of Birmingham, Matt is responsible for shaping the strategy, vision, and ongoing development of Estates Innovation. With six years of experience as a Non-Executive Director at Sustainability West Midlands, his expertise spans business, strategy, innovation, and people.

Matt believes in thinking outside the box, creating inspiring and exciting spaces, driving impact, helping others, and making the world a better place.

Robert Claridge

Europe Learning Solutions Owner,
Laing O'Rourke
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Robert Claridge

Europe Learning Solutions Owner, Laing O'Rourke

Robert Claridge is Laing O’Rourke’s European Learning Solutions Owner, overseeing the transform ation of its learning and development strategy. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and his passion for solving problems by combining the new and the old, his time in the financial sector was marked with several awards, including the 20th Banking Technology Awards’ Rising Technology Star.

Now back in construction, Robert oversees the L&D of several new innovative products and projects including immersive learning and augmented and virtual reality. His work to date on the reimagining of the “Working at Heights” course saw the project honoured at the Building Construction Awards in late 2022 in the field of Virtual Reality. Since then Robert has held talks on The Metaverse, VR and AI – to showcase the innovations that Laing O’Rourke are working with right now.

Henry Fenby-Taylor

CEO & Founder,
Athenophilia Ltd

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Henry Fenby-Taylor

CEO & Founder, Athenophilia

Henry Fenby-Taylor is a digital transformation leader with a focus on research and development in the built environment. With over twenty years of experience across government, consultancy and industry, he combines strategic insight with deep sector knowledge to help organisations innovate and deliver lasting value.

As founder of Athenophilia, Henry leads work that supports clients in harnessing technology to improve performance, sustainability and decision-making. Prior to this, he served as Head of Information Management at the Centre for Digital Built Britain, where he helped shape national policy and provided technical leadership on digital construction.

Under Henry’s direction, Athenophilia has delivered research into the construction skills gap, with findings now informing policy conversations at the highest levels of government. The organisation also led the Fenby-Taylor Review into the effective spending of public funds on research and development, further reinforcing its role in shaping evidence-based policy and sector strategy. Across both areas, the work reflects a commitment to strengthening the construction sector’s long-term resilience and attractiveness as a career.

Athenophilia also provides event hosting and moderation services, with Henry acting as lead MC across industry forums, summits and roundtables. His ability to convene, challenge and communicate across audiences makes him a trusted figure for those looking to influence the sector, explore complex challenges or connect innovation with opportunity.

Karen Heaney

Director of People, Property & Platform, Legal & General Affordable Homes

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Karen Heaney

Director of People, Property & Platform, Legal & General Affordable Homes
 

Karen joined Legal & General Affordable Homes in January 2020 and has a long history of working in affordable housing, predominantly in asset and property management.

Having started initially in Glasgow supporting the transformation of housing standards through the Glasgow stock transfer, Karen then became Director of Asset Management and, latterly, Director of Regeneration with Home Group.

Andrew Johnson

Associate
Okana UK

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Andrew Johnson

Associate, Okana UK

 

Andrew is the Learning & Development Lead for BIM Academy, authoring and delivering training to high-profile global businesses. He is also responsible for delivering BIM implementation projects alongside designing and developing digital transformation programmes for construction industry clients. Andrew specialises in digital strategy development through information management on live projects and through research.

In 2019 Andrew left the Corps of Royal Engineers after a full 24 years’ service leaving as a senior soldier. Prior to leaving the military Andrew completed his postgraduate MSc in engineering management, with a thesis that investigated the cultural impact of implementing BIM in the UK construction industry.

Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni

Consultant - Defence and Security,
PA Consulting

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Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni

Consultant, Defence and Security, PA Consulting

Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni is a Systems Insights and Solutions Consultant at PA Consulting and an experienced Systems Engineer with over a decade of experience supporting complex programmes across the defence, transport, government, infrastructure and international development sectors. Her expertise spans strategy, stakeholder engagement, organisational transformation and governance. Mara is passionate about recognising excellence, innovation and leadership. Drawing on her experience working with diverse organisations and senior stakeholders, she brings a thoughtful, balanced and impact-focused perspective to judging.

Fran Parkins

Digital Service Lead
- Built Asset Consultancy,
Rider Levett Bucknall

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Fran Parkins

Digital Service Lead
- Built Asset Consultancy,
Rider Levett Bucknall

Fran is Digital Lead for the Built Asset Consultancy service at RLB UK. She is responsible for digital and data transformation within the team and owns the service’s digital strategy.

After graduating from UCL with a Masters in Geospatial Surveying, Fran achieved Chartered status with the RICS in 2009 and focussed her early career on an expertise in measured building surveying and ‘scan-to-BIM’ services.

Over the years, she transitioned into roles focussed on BIM, information management and digital technologies and to become the accomplished leader in digital transformation that she is today. She loves collaboration and creating connections to deliver value-driven outcomes through a requirements-led approach and structured, interoperable data.

Fran is a member and mentor for Women in BIM, part of nima’s network of volunteers, and is an APC Assessor for the Geospatial Chartership pathway at the RICS.

David Shepherd

Project BIM Lead,
Estate Information Management,
UK Parliament

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David Shepherd

Project BIM Lead, Estate Information Management

Dave Shepherd is a Product Manager in the Houses of Parliament.

In this role, he is responsible to UK Parliament for assuring that supply chains deliver improved and more sustainable asset outcomes through innovation and the collaborative use of BIM.

In conjunction with AECOM, he wrote the BIM implementation strategy for the Restoration and Renewal of the UK Houses of Parliament.

Dave is also the RIBA-commissioned author of the widely acclaimed BIM Management Handbook

Rachel Witcherley

Technical Manager - Sustainability,
Homes England
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Rachel Witcherley

Technical Manager - Sustainability, Homes England
 
Rachel is a Chartered Engineer with a background in built environment consultancy and modular homes design and manufacturing.
Rachel joined the Homes England’s Sustainability and Design Team to promote innovative practices within the Agency’s programmes.
 
Homes England supports the UK Governments MMC housing innovation strategy, which seeks to improve construction productivity, quality, sustainability, and safety through offsite and industrialised construction.

Peter ball

Director, Global Design,
Greystar
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Peter Ball

Director, Global Design, Greystar

Peter is the Design Director for Greystar's Global Design team and is a qualified interior architect with over 15 years industry experience.

He is responsible for the production and management of Greystar’s global design standards, supporting local teams across the UK, Continental Europe, Asia Pacific, South America and the United States in delivering successful development projects through design, strategy and product innovation.

Prior to joining Greystar, Peter held a senior position as an interior architect working closely with developers and project design teams to deliver successful high-end residential developments, specialising in apartment and amenity design.

Peter holds a First-Class BA(Hons) Degree in Interior and Spatial Design from the Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London.

Marco Bonelli

Head of Digital & Innovation,
Galliford Try

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Marco Bonelli

Head of Digital & Innovation, Galliford Try

Marco is a passionate Tech and Digital Expert with over ten years of experience in construction and engineering firms who wants to improve the construction industry's efficiency and productivity through innovation and digitalisation.

His desire to do things differently, putting the user at the centre of the digital transformation process, is what drives him to innovate and digitalise the industry.

Currently Digital Lead for the Building Division at VINCI Construction UK. He joined the company in 2019 with the goal of creating, implementing, and leading the division's digital initiatives.

Working across four digital pillars: culture, ways of working, business model, and data & technology to drive digital transformation and innovation across the organisation.

From 2019 to 2020, Marco worked as an Associate Lecturer at London Metropolitan University, focusing on technology and innovation.

He began his career as a structural engineer with experience in designing steel and concrete residential and educational schemes. Marco graduated from the University of Catania with an MEng in Construction Engineering (Italy).

Rebecca Crow

Development Director,
Grainger plc

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Rebecca Crow

Development Director, Grainger plc

Rebecca Crow is Development Director at Grainger plc, the UK’s leading listed residential landlord and a pioneer of the build-to-rent sector. With more than a decade of experience in residential development, planning, and project delivery, she has led the delivery of complex, large-scale housing schemes that are helping to shape the future of rented living across the UK. At Grainger, she is responsible for driving development strategy, forging partnerships, and overseeing the successful delivery of high-quality residential communities.

A qualified town planner with a Master’s degree in Town Planning from The University of Manchester, Rebecca combines technical expertise with commercial acumen and a deep understanding of the evolving housing landscape. She is an active contributor to industry policy and best-practice discussions through her involvement with the British Property Federation and other sector forums.

As a judge for the Building Innovation Awards, Rebecca brings extensive experience in evaluating projects that successfully balance design excellence, sustainability, deliverability, resident experience, and long-term value. Her leadership in delivering innovative housing solutions and her commitment to advancing standards across the built environment make her a highly respected voice within the UK property and development sector.

Mairead Gallagher Morgan

Community Lead, Autodesk
& Women in BIM Mentor

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Mairéad Gallagher-Morgan

Community Lead, Autodesk & Women in BIM Mentor

Mairéad is an accomplished architectural professional with a diverse background spanning architecture, digital strategy, information management, digital project delivery, and BIM. She is currently the Community Lead for Autodesk Forma, where she focuses on building and nurturing a global community around data-driven design, AI, and next-generation tools shaping the future of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry.

Previously, Mairéad held the role of BIM Lead Europe and Middle East at Grimshaw, where she provided leadership across the London, Paris, and Dubai studios, working closely with Design Technology teams to drive digital excellence and innovation. With over 20 years in architectural practice, her experience spans a wide range of sectors including major aviation and transportation projects, education, justice, commercial architecture, high-end residential, build-to-rent, retail, culture and interior design.

Prior to Grimshaw, Mairéad acted as the Specialist UK BIM Innovation Lead at Buro Happold where her focus was on leading the Specialist Consulting BIM team, driving digital, computational, and technological innovation across 14 specialist disciplines.

Mairéad is a Women in BIM Mentor since its initial beginning, now in its sixth year. Through her mentoring she continues to contributes to diversity and inclusion within the AEC industry. As an ambitious individual and a mother, she actively participates in ambassador roles, panel discussions, and advocacy for diversity and inclusion. 

Lilian Ho

Associate Director, AECOM & AI Masters Program Director, ZIGURAT Institute of Technology

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Lilian Ho

Associate Director / AI Masters Program Director - AECOM/ ZIGURAT Institute of Technology

Lilian is a global thought leader in digital construction, BIM and AI, shaping how the built environment is designed, delivered and operated. Working at the intersection of data, technology and construction, she currently leads the programme-wide Digital & BIM delivery for a major project on behalf of AECOM.

As AI Master’s Programme Director at the ZIGURAT Institute of Technology in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, Lilian established the world’s first AI master’s programme for the construction industry, developed in collaboration with global AI leaders. A guest professor and mentor, she is dedicated to advancing future ready talent and accelerating digital maturity across the AEC sector.

Her leadership has earned international recognition, including being named a Top 5 Finalist for AI and Data Science Leader of the Year 2025. She is also a regional lead and mentor for Women in BIM and mentor for Women in Tech.

Doug Johnson

Founder & Director,
Mesh

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Doug Johnson

Founder & Director, Mesh

Doug Johnson BEng MEng established Mesh in 2013 to help public sector clients, architects, housebuilders, developers and building owners improve the carbon footprint and energy efficiency of buildings across the built environment.

As a chartered mechanical engineer and building engineer, Doug has more than two decades of experience in low energy building solutions and sustainable technologies.

A graduate in mechanical engineering, he has worked on award-winning construction projects up to £50m across multiple sectors, including the residential, public and commercial sectors.

His aim with Mesh is to provide clarity, impartial advice and practical solutions to enable building owners, architects and housebuilders to make more informed decisions particularly about energy efficiency solutions – whether a project is at initial design or planning stage, under construction or an existing building requiring improvement.

He believes that intelligent, sustainable building design should be applied collaboratively to every project and in line with the client’s specific requirements, objectives and budget.

Doug is also an experienced conference speaker and a published author. His first book, ‘Right First Time: An Architect’s Practical Guide to Planning and Delivering Low-energy Residential Projects’ was written to help forward-thinking architects deliver low-energy homes.

George Mokhtar

Head of Digital Real Estate Division and Board Member,
Turner & Townsend

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George Mokhtar

Head of Digital Real Estate Division and Board Member,
Turner & Townsend

George Mokhtar is Head of Digital for Turner & Townsend's Real Estate division and a member of its board. He leads digital transformation across automation, AI, information management, digital construction, and smart building consultancy. Recognised for delivering complex, large-scale programmes, George helps organisations adopt technology to improve collaboration, accelerate delivery, and drive exceptional business performance.

Parveen Rai

Founder,
Rai Investment Group

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Parveen Rai

Founder,
Rai Investment Group

A Chair and board member with over 20 years of property expertise and governance experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Parveen combines strategic, commercial, and digital experience with a solid understanding of financial oversight, risk management, and culture. Broad developmental and management experience in the real estate industry spanning nationally with a record of delivering growth at the leading edge of innovation and services. Parveen focuses on building customer loyalty and effective and resilient teams.  

Stephen Teagle

Chief Executive of Partnerships and Regeneration, Vistry

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Stephen Teagle

Chief Executive of Partnerships and Regeneration, Vistry

Stephen was appointed as Chief Executive of Partnerships and Regeneration at Vistry on completion of the acquisition of Linden Homes and Vistry Partnerships. Stephen joined Galliford Try in 2006 and was appointed Chief Executive of its Partnerships business in 2016.

He is a Chartered Surveyor and has more than 30 years’ experience in the regeneration and affordable housing sectors, with time spent both commissioning schemes as well as working in the private sector, giving him a unique perspective on joint ventures, regeneration and mixed-tenure delivery.

Stephen leads the Partnerships Division, fusing partner delivery programmes and mixed tenure housing delivery. He provides a unique perspective on joint ventures, regeneration and mixed-tenure delivery.

Jamie Young

Head of Design Management,
Morgan Sindall

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Jamie Young

Head of Design Management, Morgan Sindall

Jamie is Head of Design Management at Morgan Sindall Construction, leading design delivery across the Eastern Counties region on a diverse portfolio of projects.

He is focused on driving Intelligent Solutions, placing digital at the forefront of project delivery while integrating sustainable engineering principles and measurable performance metrics across the design lifecycle. His work centres on improving how information is created, managed and used to support better outcomes for clients and end users.

Jamie leads a programme of innovation within his team, exploring emerging platforms and structuring the adoption of AI to enhance efficiency, quality, and compliance in design management. This includes developing practical use cases that support design assurance, coordination, and decision-making across complex projects.

A key area of focus for Jamie is the Building Safety Act and the implementation of the ‘Golden Thread’ of information. He is committed to ensuring that projects leave a clear, accurate and accessible legacy of information, supporting regulatory compliance, long-term asset management, and improved safety outcomes.

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