CE West Midlands Award Judges

With over 25 years' experience in the industry and a Chartered Civil Engineer, Mark brings a technical construction background to the forefront of Stepnell's projects, and a clear understanding of risk management.

Mark continues to be involved in a number of advisory committees looking at the industry's direction, and is passionate about bringing young people into construction.

Nicola is a Member of the Chartered Quality Institute and is a Chartered Quality Professional. She also has a doctorate in Lean Construction.

Nicola has over 25 years’ experience in developing business processes, rationalising and streamlining working practices, developing and delivering change management programmes and configuring and developing products to help drive improvement.

Prior to joining Pick Everard, Nicola was employed by a major UK contractor working on a number of high profile projects including Joint Ventures and acquisitions. This provided Nicola with the opportunity to apply her client facing and strategic skills in a range of sectors.

Nicola is also Construction Excellence (Midlands) Board member, and Chairs CE East Midlands Regional Club.

With a proven track record of building relationships and delivering strategic growth across public and private sector clients, Chris is able lead teams through the delivery of strategic, operational and transformational change. Bridging across the public and private sector, he delivers outcomes with a foundation of civic values which enables him to build confidence, trust and long term partnerships with clients.

Having spent the majority of his career in the Construction Services sector, he has made the transition from Contractor to Consultancy and therefore brings a wealth of knowledge working with clients to maximise their outcomes whilst protecting their exposure to commercial risks.

Rudi Klein is CEO of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group representing the UK’s premier trade associations in the specialist engineering sector.

He is a barrister in construction law and President of the NEC Users’ Group.

Rudi is acknowledged as the driving force behind the changes to improve payment performance in the UK construction industry.

These include the Construction Act and project bank accounts. He helped draft the Construction Contracts Act in Ireland which was added to the Irish Statute Book in July 2013.

Rudi is the author of two legal publications and countless legal articles in the construction press and academic journals.

He is Visiting Professor of Construction Law at the University of Northumbria and University of Stuttgart.

In 2015 he was awarded the Clare Edwards Award for his professional excellence and contribution in the field of construction law.

In October 2016 Rudi was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by SELECT the trade body for the electrotechnical industry in Scotland.

SEC Group was awarded the 2018 Gold Award at the H&V News Awards.

Rudi was appointed to the Carillion Task Force chaired by the Secretary of State for Business in January 2018.

Dr Amrit Sagoo is the Head of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University. He leads a Department of over 40 lecturing staff who in turn are responsible for over 900 undergraduate students; 200 taught postgraduate students, and more than 200 students completing a distance learning on-line Master’s degree. In addition, the Department supervises over 20 PhDs.

The department continues to achieve high student satisfaction (National Student Survey for the undergraduate courses and Postgraduate Taught Experience Surveys for postgraduate courses) and league table rankings as top 10 in for building and town planning education. The department places considerable emphasis on enriching the student learning experience by bringing the industry into the classroom with live projects supported by strategic industry partners and year out placements. The department is particularly noted for delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes with strong industry links.

Dr Sagoo has responsibility for maintaining the department’s learning, teaching, research and commercial activities. Building on the department’s broad church of expertise and longstanding industrial relationships, Dr Sagoo ensures that that the department remains innovative, relevant and future facing in a rapidly changing sector.

Dr Sagoo has extensive experience of international and transnational education. He has set up, coordinated and strategically managed numerous collaborations (both flying faculty and validation models) with significant number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Malaysia, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Nigeria. He has identified markets and developed high quality partnerships with a number of key overseas institutions in India, Oman, Singapore, China, Taiwan, for joint curriculum development, staff /student exchange and research network.

Dr Sagoo is an active RICS Assessment of Professional Competence assessor for both practitioners and academics. Additionally, he sits on numerous external and internal committees.

Dr Sagoo is a Chartered Building Surveyor and is a member of the Quantity Surveying, Valuation and Project Management faculties of the RICS. Additionally, he is a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB). He has over 30 years’ experience in Higher Education and has had the opportunity to work with 3 modern universities (Wolverhampton University, Coventry University and RMIT University) in a range of senior management roles. In particular, Dr Sagoo has had substantial involvement in line management, resource management, curriculum development and quality assurance initiatives, aligning the curriculum structure and content with industry expectations and the improvement of the student experience and employability.

During his academic career Dr Sagoo has developed, taught and managed a range of modules related to Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Construction / Project Management, Real Estate and Development, Civil Engineering and Architecture, leading to both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. He also has extensive experience in initiating, designing, managing and leading numerous undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the home and international markets.

Dr Sagoo has been an External Examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at several universities as well as acting as an External Examiner for PhD’s. He is a member of the editorial team of ‘The International Journal of Modelling in Operations Management’ and a member of a panel of experts for the RICS Education Foundation Trust.

Ian has experience in utilities and energy infrastructure, engineering and major construction projects both in senior in-house positions and in private practice.

Ian has advised on a range of energy projects including nuclear new build, nuclear decommissioning, and gasification, advanced gasification, solar, wind and biofuel. Ian has advised nuclear new build developers, plant contractors, energy generators, technology providers, manufacturers, bio-fuel producers, specialist sub-contractors and designers.

Additionally, Ian has advised on infrastructure maintenance frameworks, numerous water treatment plants, facilities maintenance agreements for defence facilities, road and bridge contracts, flood remediation contracts and many thermal treatment and recycling plants.

Ian has an MSc from King’s College London in Construction Law and Arbitration. He is an advisory panel member to the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Legal Consultant to the New Engineering Contract. Ian is also a member of the International Nuclear Law Association.

Julie has over 30 year’s experience in the construction project delivery service, working initially in a consultancy (Architect/PM) and then later moving into a number of client side project commissioning roles.
She is currently Head of Capital Projects and Compliance & Maintenance at the City of Wolverhampton Council. She also sit on the Quality & Compliance Forum that is delivered through CE Midlands together with sitting on the CE Midland Board.
Her experience at being exposed to a cross diversity of construction project challenges has led me to focus and embed quality mechanisms into the project life cycle stages, extending through into the building occupation period. Understanding the challenges in construction projects together with the project opportunities is important in managing the risks that impact on quality, particular once the building moves into occupation.

Peter leads the Programme, Cost and Consultancy team in the Midlands.

Peter has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of cost and project management within the construction industry. His experience covers many forms of procurement including traditional, design and build and management contracts via two stage, negotiated and competitively tendered procurement routes.
 
Peter is a team player who strives to deliver projects whilst minimizing risk and will always focus on adding certainty to the delivery process

Sean has been Managing Director of Morgan Sindall’s central region since 2016. With both operational and commercial experience, he is responsible for business activities across central England and Wales with offices in Solihull, Nottingham, Cardiff and Slough. Sean places emphasis on employee growth to establish strong, high performing teams that deliver value for customers. He is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Professional Member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and Chair of the Constructing Excellence Midlands Leadership Council.

Sean is also passionate about ensuring the construction sector attracts the next generation of construction workers. He was instrumental in creating a partnership between Morgan Sindall and Nottingham Trent University that focuses on developing the region’s workforce, supporting teaching and learning, and encouraging innovation in the sector.

BRE BREEAM Professional Champions 2019

I am a qualified Electrical & Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years experience .
A practical Director, I am responsible for the strategy and development of a growing multi disciplined Engineering Consultancy offering full M&E Design, Low Carbon Consultancy , and Building Physics services.
As a practice we are driven by our visions & values. Flexibility, communication and collaboration are amongst the traits that ensure we delight our clients

Stephen Barker. MSc MBA MEI C.Eng FAPM

Stephen is a Fellow of the Association for Project Managers, qualified Chartered Engineer, Member of the Energy Institute and experienced Director skilled in Programme Management leading the delivery of complex Programmes in the nuclear, aviation, industrial and construction sectors.

Stephen is a IPA High Risk Reviewer and currently the Birmingham Airport Executive Director responsible for Development & Construction. Most recently Stephen oversaw the Birmingham Airport Covid-19 response to capital works having previously delivered the first phase of the £600m London Stansted Airport Transformation Programme between April 2017 and April 2019. Previously Stephen led the Gatwick Airport Development team and from 2012 to 2016 he was a Partner with Arcadis, formally EC Harris where he led the team which delivered the Heathrow Q6 investment proposal, subsequently approved by the CAA. Stephen is the owner of his own management consultancy and in 2019 he was appointed to act as special advisor to Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL) focusing on the strategic Portfolio, Programme and Project management challenges associated with the GoCo arrangements with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). CNL are responsible for the operation of all Canadian Nuclear assets including decommissioning and environmental remediation.

For 6 years (2006 – 2012) Stephen worked for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which has provided an invaluable insight into the intricate workings of First-Generation Nuclear Power Plants and stakeholder management involving local communities. He is experienced in the principles and preparation of business cases following HMG Treasury Five Case Model, utilizing SMART objectives in the evaluation of programme and project delivery leading the development of the London Heathrow Q6 submission to the CAA in 2013 which was approved (£3billion, 5-year plan). With extensive stakeholder management exposure, Stephen works successfully with Executive Directors, Senior managers, Engineers, local authorities and local communities to create a collaborative working environment to successfully deliver complex programmes and projects. Stephens skill set extends overseas where with this same can-do approach he led an international ORAT and Programme Integration team to successfully deliver the first privatized airport expansion in Sao Paulo Brazil in readiness for the 2014 FIFA world Cup.

Karen is a Chartered Project Professional, with more than 17 years of diverse rail

experience spanning both public and private sectors. She started her career at

Network Rail, working as a Project Sponsor in both the LNE and Sussex routes.

After a short spell at WYCA, Karen joined Transport Planning and Engineering

Consultancy WSP, where she spent 6 years growing a nationally recognised rail

strategy and appraisal team. In April 2021 Karen joined Midlands Connect as

Head of Rail.

During her career, Karen’s experience ranges across all stages of the project

lifecycle and a diverse range of infrastructure and operational projects. Her

constant is ownership of business cases for rail investment with a razor-sharp

focus on delivering outcomes for the end-user.

Karen is passionate about sustainable travel with rail at its core, and the benefits sustainable travel can offer to

the environment, health and wellbeing, as well as driving the Levelling Up agenda.

Bio coming soon.....

Mark Lyddon is Turner & Townsend’s Infrastructure Lead for the Midlands region, managing a large, diverse, high performing and ambitious team, delivering better outcomes that have a positive impact on the world around us. Mark has 25 years industry experience, with both Main Contractors and Consultants. His experience has been gained whilst working across a broad range of infrastructure assets in many sectors including utilities, rail, aviation, road, power and defence.

Paul is a chartered building surveyor and a fellow member of various professional bodies. During 2012-2015 Paul was the first academic to be elected as RICS West Midlands Chairman and prior to this was previously the youngest West Midland Chairman of the ICWCI.

Paul holds a wealth of managerial and practical experience within the built environment spanning over 30 years and has worked with a host of high profiled practitioners. Originally working within the City of Birmingham Architects department, Paul has held various titles from Architectural technician, Senior Clerk of Works, Building surveyor, line manager and later Chartered Building Surveyor running a team of ten litigation surveyors.

Educated at the University of Wolverhampton to degree level and later at Sheffield Hallam (MSc) Paul was invited back in 2007 in the capacity of visiting lecturer to contribute to the delivery of building surveying and construction management. Paul is currently completing his professional Doctorate award at Middlesex University. Paul is extremely research active and Paul has published over ten academic papers and attended over ten conferences.

In 2008 Paul moved away from industry to take up a role as senior academic within the built environment and now contributes to a host of UK and transnational courses accredited by the RICS, CIOB, ICWCI and Qsi. This extends to delivery of courses in Qatar, Hong Kong and includes delivering external in-company courses and supporting the University with pioneering initiatives.

Paul was also one of the early pioneers of on-line distance learning courses at the University and contributed to the development of curriculum and delivery of the courses.

Paul is a highly motivated individual who is student focused practitioner, and consistently works with international students towards achieving their own academic success. This work has been recently commended and recognised by external practitioners, and external examiners.

Keith is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Chartered Construction Manager, Chartered Arbitrator, Panel Adjudicator, Commercial Mediator, Accredited Dispute Board Member, Forensic Surveyor and Visiting Lecturer.

He is a non-solicitor Partner in the Construction & Engineering Team working with other Quantity Surveyor and Solicitor colleagues to provide a complete one stop shop of integrated services in a combined team of experienced construction professionals and specialist construction lawyers advising a wide range of Public and Private Sector Clients and Contractors to manage construction risks and to avoid or resolve both contract and non-contract construction issues.

Amongst other appointments, Keith is a Director and Company Secretary of CE Midlands.

Nitesh is a new generation business leader with experience of leading multiple teams in the utilities, construction, civil engineering and professional services industry across operational and corporate domains. Skilled in delivering large scale improvement projects, influencing positive behavioural change and creating generative safety culture, Nitesh currently heads the Performance, Business Improvement and Innovation functions at Galliford Try’s Water business.

With a background in Electronics Engineering and a NEBOSH Diploma, Nitesh has successfully leveraged the advancements in AI and Machine Learning to implement innovative solutions to improve health, safety, environment, quality and wellbeing outcomes.

Skills gap in the construction industry, ED&I, ESG and Climate Tech are high on Nitesh’s agenda and he hopes to improve collaboration amongst clients, supply chain partners, industry bodies, educators and policy makers to address these challenges and opportunities.

Malcolm is Director for WSP’s UK business leading a team of Civil and Structural Engineers in our Birmingham Office. He is a Chartered Civil and Structural Engineer and has 31 years of experience in delivering civil and structural engineering building design and analysis solutions for small and major projects across many sectors including rail, retail, residential, commercial and healthcare having joined WSP in 1988.
He has technically delivered projects both in the UK Egypt and in the Middle East with internationally renowned architects. As a major projects’ specialist, Malcolm’s strong management skills are key to his ability to effectively engage with clients, global design teams and project stakeholders.

Malcolm is also Location Director for WSP UK’s 700+ strong Birmingham office and Vice Chair of the Association of Consulting and Engineering Midlands Branch.

He has exceptional commercial acumen and a good working knowledge of resourcing, benchmarking and providing value for money to clients. His attention to detail and focus on clients leads to a high level of repeat business.

With more than 8,200 talented people in the UK and approximately 49,000 globally, WSP is one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consulting firms. WSP are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. WSP are technical experts and strategic advisors including engineers, technicians, scientists, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. WSP design lasting solutions in the Property & Buildings, Transportation & Infrastructure, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Power & Energy sectors as well as project delivery and strategic consulting services.

My role is to work with Architects, Technical Managers and Energy assessors to help them achieve Building Regulations Compliance in terms of thermal performance.

I have worked in the Insulation Industry for almost 30 years.

And I am a qualified Energy assessor.

I am a mechanical engineer with 20+ years Senior Management experience working within Higher Education, Engineering and Manufacturing sectors including Automotive, Aerospace, Civil Engineering and Rail

My work and career history to-date has involved responsibility for implementation of Organisational Learning & Development, Operational Productivity and Efficiency, Change Management, and introduction of World Class Manufacturing methodologies within a multi-site complex matrix industrial environemnt.

Operations Director (2005-2015) for the development of the embryonic West Midlands Manufacturing Club SME Network which attracted £5million European and UK regional development funding to support implementation of digitization and innovation focused change management activities including consultancy and delivery of learning programmes to a network of over 500+ businesses in the Black Country and West Midlands.

As Head of Industrial Partnerships & Engagement for the University of Wolverhampton I was responsible for the interpretation of the UK government Industrial white paper and the alignment of the teaching, research and knowledge transfer provision for the Faculty of Science & Engineering to support regional development objectives in areas including Advanced Transportation, HVM Smart City, Automotive, Aerospace , Defence & Cyber Security.

Noel is a Chartered Architect with over 30 years of experience in the construction industry with an international mind-set providing an in-depth knowledge of complex developments operating in a highly regulated and commercially fluid environment.

A familiar presence within the Midlands property industry, Noel currently Chairs both the Sustainability & Innovation Forum for Constructing Excellence – Midlands and also Construction focus group for Innovation Alliance. He formerly Chaired the Construction Industry Council – West Midlands and Birmingham Best Practice Club – Constructing Excellence.

Noel is a Director of 3DREID Architects where he has the responsibility for the Birmingham Studio working on award winning Urban design and Regeneration projects across the UK and Internationally in the sectors of: Residential, Retail & Leisure, Hospitality, Offices and Industrial & Logistics.

Richard worked on landmark projects including the iconic Fort Dunlop conversion of a six-storey industrial building into offices, the 60,000m2 Body in White building at JLR Castle Bromwich, the relocation of Birmingham City University, the National College for High Speed Rail, and led on the Building Schools for the Future programme in Birmingham.

He graduated from Birmingham City University with a BSc in Building Surveying, before embarking on a 20-year role as a principal consultant with Birmingham City Council. Richard left the council in April 2012, joining Acivico as a principal consultant before progressing through the ranks to head of building consultancy. He remained in the role until November 2019, when he joined Ball & Berry as regional director

Dhiran is a chartered architect, and is a director of Vagdia and Holmes, Chartered Architects, Coventry.

He schooled in Coventry, and read architecture at the University of Nottingham. He became a Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in February 2003, and is now a practising architect, running an architectural practice based in Coventry.

The Practice client and project portfolio include ecclesiastical buildings, conservation work, private one-off residential projects, retail and commercial projects, and developer-led initiatives.

Dhiran has contributed significantly to the profession and to the industry, through roles such as chairing the RIBA West Midlands, chairing the local Constructing Excellence Group FORCE, and a Past Chair of the Coventry Branch of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Ruth Griffin is a partner who has over 17 years' experience of construction and engineering transactional work, acting for all parties involved in such transactions including employers, contractors, consultants, sub-contractors, funders, purchasers and tenants. She advises clients on how to most effectively manage the varied risks arising from the carrying out of construction and engineering projects by reviewing, drafting and negotiating the multitude of documents involved in such projects in order to reflect her clients' interests and objectives, be they carrying out the works or services in relation to a project or procuring, financing or utilising the project.

As part of the firm's appointment as Official Legal Advisers for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ruth is a member of the firm's executive team for B2022, taking on the role of Operational Lead for Legal Services, working closely with Birmingham 2022's Chief Legal Officer, Caroline McGrory, and her team, to help deliver a successful Games 'on time, and on budget'.

One of Ruth's key strengths is her ability to collaborate with clients, colleagues and other advisers, which is key to the success of any C&E transactional work, for example, as part of a client's project team for a long term expansion projects; quickly constructively engaging with in-house lawyers unfamiliar with construction and engineering law in order to guide them through one-off capital expenditure projects; and building long term relationships with contractors to ensure that they can most effectively manage risk within its business.