Global Construction Summit 2023
The Global Construction Summit, the key annual event for built environment professionals seeking to understand the latest trends, learn best practice and uncover innovations from across the world, took place on 21-23 February 2023.
Delivered by the Chartered Institute of Building and Global Construction Review, the Summit featured high-quality speakers drawn from across the global built environment sector. The speakers addressed the common issues that the sector’s professionals face no matter where they are, including environmental sustainability, digital construction and productivity.
The speakers were drawn from the likes of Aecom, Ferrovial Construction, the Get It Right Initiative, Gleeds, Hickok Cole, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the World Green Building Council.
The Summit comprises webinars, all of which include presentations from industry leaders, panel discussions and Q&As. The Summit webinars are free to watch and each one qualifies for an hour’s CPD credits for those that complete them within a month of broadcast. The webinars are broadcast live and are subsequently made available to watch on demand.
The Summit attracted more than 1,200 construction professionals.
2023 agenda
21 February 2pm GMT
Wherever you are in the world and whether you’re a client, designer or contractor, sustainability must be at the top of your agenda. This session will focus on the process of sustainability – carbon measurement and its impact, and the need and benefit of carbon skills, for example. Our speakers will draw on their experience of embedding sustainability into the built environment.
Speakers:
- Guilherme Almeida, director of sustainability and high-performance design at architects Hickok Cole. He led design on the net-zero renovation of the American Geophysical Union headquarters in Washington, DC – the first such headquarters renovation in the greater Mid-Atlantic region of the US.
- Porie Saikia FCIOB, head of environment, energy and sustainability at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, which is responsible for moving 8 million people a day. Her task is to develop strategies to meet the Authority’s commitment to the Paris Agreement’s Science Based Target Initiative.
- Matthew Black, programme coordinator, Advancing Net Zero, at the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC). With buildings and construction accounting for 37% of energy-related CO2 emissions, WorldGBC promotes the uptake of sustainable built environments through a network of more than 70 Green Building Councils around the world.
- Richard Steer FCIOB, chairman of Gleeds. Richard supported RIBA to launch climate awareness lectures with the Princes Foundation and King Charles in the early 2000s and now drives sustainable practices throughout the business. Gleeds is currently advising on a vast infrastructure programme that is mitigating the effects of climate change in Peru, and the UK’s largest 100% electric net zero office development.
- Michael Yam, president of the CIOB. He chairs InvestKL, a government investment promotion agency of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Malaysia. Michael has made sustainability a focus of his presidency of the CIOB.
22 February 2pm GMT In association with PlanRadar
In order to achieve the gains that digital construction technology promises, it must be successfully adopted by your team. What’s the best way to do this? What mistakes can you avoid and what quick wins can you make?
Our panel of speakers are well-versed in implementing new technology and will share their experiences.
In particular, representatives from Aecom and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will explore some of the ways in which they are delivering a three-year digital transformation programme with the collective endorsement of people, from senior leadership to early career professionals.
Speakers:
- Wes Beaumont MCIOB, associate vice president, digital transformation leader at Aecom’s US East and Latin America division.
- Sadia Janjua, chief of digital transformation & innovation at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
- Dave Philp, chief value officer at Cohesive and chair of the CIOB’s Digital and Asset Management Advisory Board.
- Simon Phillips, senior consultant at PlanRadar.
23 February 11am GMT In association with Buildots
Poor usage of sites, subcontracted work unfinished and sequence deviations: in this webinar, Buildots will share the lessons from its analysis of 64 construction projects worldwide.
Using data collected via hard hat-mounted 360-degree cameras, Buildots has analysed the performance of 64 different projects between 2018 and 2022. Buildots co-founder and CPO Aviv Leibovici will share the results of its analysis.
Joining him will be Cliff Smith, executive director of the Get It Right Initiative, the not-for-profit membership organisation that has adopted a multi-disciplinary approach to tackling errors in construction. He will discuss the impact of focusing on improving productivity.
And Monika Skirewska, a civil engineer at Ferrovial, will discuss how productivity is monitored and optimised on the central section of the Thames Tideway Tunnel project.
Speakers:
• Aviv Leibovici, CPO & co-founder at Buildots.
• Cliff Smith, executive director of the Get It Right Initiative.
• Monika Skirewska, civil engineer at Ferrovial.
Speakers’ biographies
Guilherme Almeida
Guilherme Almeida is director of sustainability and high-performance design at architects Hickok Cole. He led design on the net-zero renovation of the American Geophysical Union headquarters in Washington, DC – the first such headquarters renovation in the greater Mid-Atlantic region of the US. He’s been with Hickok Cole since 2009, starting as a senior associate before being promoted to his current role in 2021.
Porie Saikia FCIOB
Porie Saikia FCIOB is head of environment, energy and sustainability at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, responsible for moving 8 million people a day. Her task is to develop strategies to meet its commitment to the Paris Agreement’s Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi).
She was awarded the Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller Excelsior Award, given once a year to a public architect.
Matthew Black
Matthew Black is programme coordinator for World Green Building Council’s global Advancing Net Zero programme.
In this role, he works across the programme’s various global and regional activities and leads on the recruitment and delivery of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.
He started his career in communications, previously working in Brussels for both the UN and a media company focused on sustainability, where his clients included: the UN, the EU Commission, Horizon 2020 research programmes, and a number of other international initiatives such as Cities4Forests.
Richard Steer FCIOB
Richard Steer FCIOB is the chairman of Gleeds Worldwide. He has held the position since 1999 and is senior partner. He first joined the board of Gleeds in 1981 with a mission to develop the business into a leading global brand, representing and promoting best practice in the management of the construction of buildings worldwide.
Under his stewardship, Gleeds has grown from a £31m turnover UK-based business with 480 staff under 10 wholly-owned overseas offices, to a £200m turnover business with almost 2,000 people based in 71 offices across the world.
Michael Yam FCIOB
Datuk Seri Michael Yam is the president of the Chartered Institute of Building and a veteran developer with more than 35 years of experience in real estate development and investments in residential, commercial, retail, hotels and mixed use assets.
He chairs InvestKL, a government investment promotion agency of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Malaysia.
Wes Beaumont MCIOB
Wes Beaumont is associate vice president, digital transformation leader at Aecom’s US East and Latin America division. He is a certified construction manager, speaker, author, coach and manager of people and business change. He is experienced in construction delivery, program management and business transformation consulting.
Prior to joining Aecom, he spent six years with a global design, engineering, and management consulting company, where he managed large-scale infrastructure programs, advised on business change strategies, and led the digital transformation of the firm’s global program management. He began his career as a construction and project manager in the UK, later focusing on change management and process improvement projects.
Sadia Janjua
As the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chief of digital transformation & innovation, Sadia has over 18 years of executive experience in project delivery, design and construction. She has executive experience in strategy and innovation, driving cost reductions with the utilisation of change management initiatives and business performance improvements.
She has led the research, development, and deployment of cutting-edge solutions that improve and transform the built environment with a philosophy of purposeful innovation that is customer-centric and human-orientated. She has led numerous enterprise-wide organisational change initiatives that have allowed her to enjoy a career of continuous learning that has led to the accumulation of a diverse and wide-ranging set of expertise that offer insights into the future and the ability to position the Port Authority to capitalise on it.
Cliff Smith
Cliff Smith is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and has more than 40 years’ experience in the construction industry working for contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and subsequently as a consultant offering specialist engineering and technical support, project and design management and strategic quality leadership.
He has been a director of the Get it Right Initiative since 2017 and was involved in the development of the GIRI Design Guide and a number of research reports on the use of technology in the construction industry – all of which are available to download from the GIRI website. He leads an agile GIRI delivery team covering administration, communications, finance and research.
Aviv Leibovici
Aviv Leibovici is one of the co-Founders and the chief of product at Buildots, a company that solves one of the biggest challenges in construction management using an AI-based approach.
Aviv comes from a background of data-heavy cyber security systems and leads the company’s product development and the relationship with the British construction industry.
Monika Skirewska
Monika Skirewska is a civil engineer working on the central section of the UK’s largest water project, the Thames Tideway Tunnel. She first joined the project and Ferrovial Construction in 2020 to contribute to the construction of the Connection Tunnel and Combined Sewer Outfall Drop Shaft at the Chelsea Embankment Foreshore site.
She has swiftly progressed her career, and is now in charge of all above ground structures and coordination between disciplines.
Sponsorship
To become a Global Construction Summit 2023 partner, please contact:
- Dave Smith on 07703 532 605 or at [email protected]
- Tom Peardon on 07393 315250 or at [email protected]
Contact
For more information, please contact Justin Stanton at [email protected]
The Global Construction Summit is organised by Atom Media Partners Limited, publisher of Global Construction Review, Construction Management, and BIMplus.
2022 Agenda
Hear the first-hand experience of construction business leaders pioneering efforts to open their organisations to all, including:
- structural change to make room for under-represented groups;
- cultural change to prepare a welcoming workforce; and
- organisational change to drive continuous improvement.
Speakers:
- Alison Mirams, CEO, Roberts Co; a respected contractor in Sydney, Roberts Co is breaking the mould in giving staff weekends off in an industry traditionally wedded to a six-day week, which makes it unviable as a career choice for many women.
- Stacée Barkley, diversity & inclusion lead, DPR Construction; DPR is a long-established national contractor, headquartered in California and recognised as a successful pioneer in adopting measures to diversify its workforce.
- Caroline Gumble, the first female chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building, the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership.
In association with PlanRadar
Building safety: no matter what the legislative regime, improving site safety is a priority for clients and contractors alike – and the understanding of standards and the development and deployment of technology are both key. Our speakers from Laing O’Rourke, the Chartered Institute of Building and PlanRadar will address both.
Speakers:
- Steve Coppin, chair of the Chartered Institute of Building health, safety and wellbeing group and member of the Health & Safety Executive’s BIM4 working group, will talk about the clients’ guidance for integrating health and safety within the Project Information Requirements as the industry transitions from PAS 1192-6:2018 to ISO 19650-6.
- Robert Norton, UK senior account manager – fire, health and safety at PlanRadar, will detail how digitalising safety management and performance can pay dividends.
- George Mosey, head of health and safety, Europe, at Laing O’Rourke, will talk about the major contractor’s approach to health and safety.
Find out what matters most to clients with big plans amid covid-19 and supply chain pressures, including:
- treating workers humanely;
- streamlining the construction process; and
- designing for safety in the age of pandemic.
Speakers:
- Michael Yam FCIOB, veteran real estate developer, chairman of Invest KL and vice president of the Chartered Institute of Building.
- Luis Lugo Jnr, senior vice president, business development Americas at Hill International. With Hill International advising numerous state and federal clients in the US, he will share his unique insights on the coming roll-out of the unprecedented Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
- Stephen E Browning, senior vice president, program manager for DOE Nevada test sites at Navarro Inc.
- Ian Williamson, chief project delivery officer for The Red Sea Project, a mega tourism scheme to develop Saudi Arabia’s virgin Red Sea coast.
In association with Trimble Viewpoint
Every country is at a different point of the BIM curve, so what lessons can the swiftest and most successful adopters pass on to the rest of the international community?
Our expert speakers will debate the challenges to adopting building information management, how can they be overcome, and exactly where and when the benefits of investing in BIM accrue.
Speakers:
- David Throssell, head of digital construction, Skanska
- Ben Wallbank, BIM strategy & partnerships manager EMEA, Trimble Viewpoint
- Dave Peacock, technical director at TÜV SÜD Building Advisory Service
In association with Glodon
Moving BIM beyond 3D into 4D and 5D can deliver significant benefits in both time and cost. This session will present case studies of both: how 4D was implemented on a UK project, and how 5D helped deliver the Beijing Winter Olympic Village.
The speakers from Glodon, JN Bentley and Freeform will highlight how 4D and 5D can:
• create more secure project schedules;
• improve safety planning and communication;
• identify and mitigate risks; and
• enable more informed, collaborative decisions to be made.
Speakers:
• Pierpaolo Franco, vice president – international business development at Glodon
• James Bowles, founder of 4D specialist Freeform
• Declan Mawson, operations manager at JN Bentley
2022 Speakers’ biographies
Stacée Barkley
Stacée Barkley is the global diversity, equity, and inclusion leader at DPR Construction. DPR Construction is a privately held, employee-owned commercial general contractor and construction management firm, specialising in highly complex and technical building. In her role, Stacée leads the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy for the organisation, working to embed the principles and practices of DEI into business strategies, with an emphasis on the employee experience and lifecycle.
Stacée is an accomplished leader with more than 30 years of senior management and executive experience. She has been a staunch advocate and vocal supporter of the employee experience and the importance of DEI as an imperative in the value proposition of companies.
Stacée has worked globally to advance cultural literacy and fluency, DEI and social justice. Prior to joining DPR, Stacée spent 12 years in the medical device industry; championing employee resource groups, integrating DEI in talent management processes and accelerating access to therapies in underrepresented and marginalised communities.
Stacée holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice & Criminology, and an MBA.
Alison Mirams
Alison Mirams is the founding CEO of boutique tier one construction company, Roberts Pizzarotti. The company was founded in January 2017 and within the first three years had a workbook of more than $1bn. Alison is deeply passionate about addressing the systemic issues that exist in the construction industry and attracting and retaining more women in the industry
Alison has worked in the construction industry for 25 years. Prior to establishing Roberts Pizzarotti, she led the NSW/ACT regional business unit for Lendlease’s Building business for nearly three years. Prior to joining Lendlease, Alison enjoyed a successful 16-year career at Multiplex, rising from contracts administrator to regional director.
Alison is a director of the UNSW Foundation Board, a member of the TAFE Commission Board and is on the Advisory Board for Aero PM. Alison was previously a director of the Australian Steel Institute and a member of the Board of Advisors for the Property Industry Foundation.
Alison received the Laing O’Rourke Business Woman of the Year award at the 2018 NAWIC NSW Awards for Excellence.
Alison holds a Bachelor of Building (Construction Economics) and a Graduate Diploma Urban Estate Management from UTS.
Caroline Gumble
Caroline Gumble is chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). She is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the Institute, and is responsible to the Trustees for overseeing all operations of the Institute. She has extensive business leadership experience in the UK and overseas, within the automotive and capital goods sectors gained with Lucas Industries, Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, Textron Inc and membership organisation leadership within EEF Ltd / Make UK. She is also a Director of the Board of Trustees for the Institute of Export & International Trade.
Creating diverse, high-performing business environments is a passion for Caroline with a focus on skills development and lifelong learning.
Luis Lugo Jr.
Luis Lugo Jr. is senior vice president, business development Americas at Hill International. He has more than 30 years of experience in program, project, and construction management as well as operations and maintenance.
He works with Hill’s regional leaders and sales teams to expand Hill’s customer base, identify and secure opportunities, and develop the company’s business development goals and strategy for Hill’s work in the US and Latin America.
Prior to his current role, Lugo served as Hill’s senior vice president and regional manager for the Southeast US & Latin America, as senior vice president responsible for managing Hill’s Claims Consulting Services practice in the Northeastern US, and as president/COO of PACO Group, Inc., an engineering consulting firm headquartered in New York City with offices in Florida and Colombia.
His experience also includes positions as vice president of business development for Hill’s Northeast Region. Before joining the construction consulting industry, Luis spent 20 years with the US Army as an infantry officer with assignments worldwide.
He holds a Master of Arts in Business and Organisational Development from the University of Phoenix in Arizona and a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Albany.
In addition to serving on the DRCA Board, he is an active member of several industry organisations, including the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, the National Transportation Diversity Council, the American Public Transportation Association, and the Construction Management Association of America.
Stephen E Browning
Stephen E Browning is senior vice president, program manager for DOE Nevada test sites at Navarro Inc. He has more than 30 years of experience in federal project management, including serving as senior vice president, national federal market lead with Michael Baker, program executive, DOE legacy management program with Navarro Research and Engineering, and chief of military programs and senior executive service for USACE.
Highlights of his career include leading the reconstruction of national infrastructure across Iraq under the Coalition Provisional Authority of Iraq’s $12.6bn reconstruction program. Browning’s leadership of the program was recognised by the “Service To America Award for National Security and International Affairs.”
Browning has worked with Hill International’s US regional leaders to capture and execute program and project management assignments for US federal government agencies, including long-term Hill clients such as the General Services Administration, Department of Energy, and US Army Corps of Engineers, among others, as well as cultivate relationships with new federal clients.
His responsibilities included partnering with agencies and owners, identifying market trends, assessing staff and teaming capabilities, and overseeing Hill’s services for federal clients.
Browning holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. He is also a graduate of Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program and Johns Hopkins University’s National Security Studies Program. He is a Senior Executive Fellow of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a registered Professional Engineer in Minnesota.
Ian Williamson
Ian Williamson joined the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) as chief development officer in October 2017 and he is responsible for leading development and delivery of the planning, design and construction of the project.
As an executive and board director for more than 25 years, Ian has undertaken both strategic and operational roles, developing a leadership style that enables his colleagues to reach their potential.
Earlier in his career, he worked with Sainsbury’s for a decade, as a senior member of the development team, responsible for marketing, finance, store planning, and project management.
He later acted as senior vice president between Aecom Europe and Aecom Middle East, where he directed projects on both continents for more than 15 years.
Prior to joining TRSDC, Williamson served as MD at Arcadis Middle East.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from Cass Business School, London, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with Mathematics from the University of Reading, UK.
Michael Yam
Michael Yam is the senior vice president of the Chartered Institute of Building. He is a veteran developer with more than 35 years of experience in real estate development and investments in residential, commercial, retail, hotels and mixed use assets.
He took early retirement in 2008 and now serves as an independent director of several listed companies and until recently a global bank in Malaysia. He is also the chairman of InvestKL, a government investment promotion agency of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Malaysia.
Dave Peacock
Dave has worked in the UK construction and property sector for 25 years, with a focus on BIM & digital services for the last 14 years. He joined TÜV SÜD in 2021 from Royal HaskoningDHV, an international engineering consultancy, where he was BIM & digital lead for Europe.
Starting his career in 1997, Dave subsequently led the 3D modelling and BIM processes for the 2012 London Olympic Broadcast Centre project. He has also previously led successful corporate accreditation to BIM Level 2 – Tier 1.
He is a member of the UK BIM Alliance’s ISO 19650 Guidance Review Committee, which supports individuals and organisations to understand the standard’s principles and follow best practice. He is also chair of the East Midlands UK BIM Alliance and co-chair of its Midlands group. In 2017, Peacock achieved BRE certification as a BIM Informed Professional, enabling him to lead BIM Level 2 projects.
David Throssell
David Throssell is the head of digital construction for Skanska UK with responsibility for the implementation of BIM across operations in the UK. David is a chartered civil engineer with broad experience of civil and structural permanent works design.
He has managed single and multiple discipline design teams and Government funded R&D data management projects. He has particular expertise in BIM standards, methods and procedures.
Ben Wallbank
With more than 30 years experience in the construction industry, Ben brings a wealth of knowledge to Trimble Viewpoint where he works as BIM strategy & partnerships manager.
He has advised contractors, consultants and client bodies on management, organisation, workflow, and business process associated with BIM deployment.
Steve Coppin
Steve Coppin MSc, BEng (Hons), FCIOB, CFIOSH, FIIRSM, FaPS, CIWFM, PIEMA, MInstRE is an experienced and qualified mechanical engineer, construction manager, design risk advisor with a Master’s in General Engineering.
He is currently chair of the Chartered Institute of Building’s health, safety and wellbeing special interest group, and active on the Health & Safety Executive’s BIM4 working group, on which is focus includes 4D planning, Construction (Design & Management) regulations, temporary works and new the building safety legislation.
His career includes stints at Arcadis, Rider Levett Bucknall, Vinci and Lend Lease.
He is the author of HSE BIM4 working group’s Clients’ Guidance for EIRs and currently for PIRs.
Robert Norton
Robert is UK senior account manager – fire, health and safety at PlanRadar. He is responsible for new business and existing client relationships at PlanRadar, leading the UK’s focus on health and safety, and in particular fire safety.
He has more than ten years’ experience in the construction industry, having worked as an engineer before joining PlanRadar three years ago.
Pierpaolo Franco
Pierpaolo Franco is vice president – international business development at Glodon. Under his leadership, Glodon is accelerating its entrance into global markets and growing global recognition.
With his knowledge of the built environment, Glodon is developing more business intelligence assets and contributing to the digital transformation of the construction industry.
Franco also endeavours to break the silo approach of the building industry and emphasises connection and cooperation with other key players in the field.
Before Glodon, he was the MD of Greater China at the RICS. He also has extensive global working experience in heavy industry, advisory services as well as universities. He is also a special advisor to the CBD Beijing Special Administration.
James Bowles
James Bowles is a specialist in 4D modelling and planning. He is the founder and projects lead at Freeform, building 4D models and working with project teams to improve performance.
He has worked on more than 600 projects in various sectors of the built environment, with a total value of over £150bn.
He currently chairs a cross-industry 4D modelling group that he co-founded in 2012 – the 4D Construction Group. The group runs technical workstreams related to 4D, publishes articles, podcasts and runs an annual conference.