Construction

“As Chair of the Professional Group Panel at RICS, I am delighted to lead a community dedicated to excellence in the built environment. Our diverse membership spans many roles, across construction and infrastructure. With support from our RICS colleagues, we want to foster collaboration and continuous learning, and aim to address the evolving challenges of our industry and contribute to sustainable development globally and our individual role in delivering this. We need your input, so get in touch with us by email at pgp@rics.org.”

Roger Esson MRICS

Director, Esson Energy

The Purpose of the Construction PGP is to provide market insight and advise RICS on programmes of work covering technical standards, CPD, conferences and training, journals, policy, research, and relevant competences for APC pathways.

The key market insights that the PGP have been discussing are:

Whole Life Carbon and asset lifecycle issues are increasingly important and pervasive.
Sustainability issues are increasingly front and centre in construction practice and strategy.
There is a need to expand and diversify the RICS
membership base.
Fields of new technologies are being developed and released that impact on surveying businesses and projects.
Projects types and markets are changing substantially and rapidly.
There is a need for updated global construction standards.

The current work in which the Construction PGP is engaged:

Participating in the update of the Global Construction Standards (‘Black Book’)
Professional Standards backlist review
Developing an Early Engagement project using Minecraft
Planning local engagement work
Consulting on entry and assessments and CPD reviews
Work on major projects insights (upcoming)
Work on understanding AI in the surveying professions (upcoming)

This PGP covers a range of areas of expertise in construction, including but not limited to property life cycle costs, property measurement, project management, BIM, data, digital systems/technology, infrastructure and cost prediction.

The RICS Podcast

Listen to the PGP Construction podcast featuring members of the PGP: James Garner FRICS, Natasha Orange MRICS, Jeevan Subasinghe MRICS and RICS Senior Specialist Construction Seven Thompson.

This episode features a discussion around the Construction PGP, which covers all-important areas like sustainability, digitisation and the growth of technology in the sector, and the the necessity of strong transport infrastructure.

Also available on Apple Music and Spotify.

Chair

Roger Esson MRICS

Head of Sales – UK, Europe & Caspian Centurion Group, Centurian Group

Roger has over 28 years of industry experience in the engineering construction sector, having held several high-profile leadership positions in commercial companies, not for profit and member led organisations. At the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), he was responsible for the relationships with 57 partner companies and over 200 project participants, actively working with industry to collaboratively develop and deploy new technology aligned to the changing requirements of our future workforce. Over the past 5 years he has also worked closely with academia in the formation of the National Decommissioning Centre and the National Subsea Centre, working on industry led and academia delivered projects. He is also the previous Chief Executive of Decom North Sea, a trade member organisation created to connect capability with opportunity in the growing offshore decommissioning sector, which at peak totalled 400 member companies. Having also worked on industry panels, forums and working groups, he’s keen to make sure that the surveying profession is recognised more widely in engineering construction and are able to maximise the opportunities that energy transition brings as well as preparing the profession for the future. As well as being an RICS member, he’s also a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Vice Chair

Tom Bell FRICS

Partner, Quantem Consulting

Tom leads the Quantity Surveying team, specialising in multiple sectors across the West Midlands and UK. Having been a board member for over 5 years, Tom took over as Chair of the West Midlands Regional Board in 2022. In addition to the Regional Board, Tom is an RICS APC assessor and was recently awarded ‘Alumni of the Year’ by Birmingham City University. This is a testament to the hard work Tom puts back into the local market. “The West Midlands is a really exciting region, with continuing development and investment expected. ‘Our board consists of passionate members who are all committed to promoting the profession. We acknowledge that the RICS and our board still have work to do but are confident that with the support of the wider membership, we can ensure that the West Midlands obtains the best out of the RICS”. If you would like to know more about the West Midlands Regional Board, or simply have a question or query, please do drop me a line westmidlandschair@rics.org.

Members

Karen Ching

Regional Director, Atkins Realis

Karen is a Regional Director within AtkinsRealis Programme Management and Advisory business. She is an accomplished and highly driven technical advisor and programme director with more than 24 years’ experience. She has a strong and proven track record in advising and leading multi-disciplinary and cross functional teams in the delivery of major programmes including complex business transformation, change management, major capital programmes, transport infrastructure, real estate development, urban masterplan and regeneration, capital projects and investment delivery from inception through to completion. She is entrepreneurial, forward -thinking, dynamic, versatile, resilient and able to work under extreme pressure in a fast-paced environment. She has a can-do attitude, able to think outside the box, an expert in brining clarity, capable of solving complex problems and driving things rapidly. She is passionate about promoting diversity and fostering inclusion. She was shortlisted for Asian Women of Achievement Award 2021 for Real Estate & Infrastructure and awarded Honorary Fellowship by University College of Estate Management in 2022.

Ayodele Faleye MRICS

Head of Projects, Samprec Consultants Ltd.

QS Faleye is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, UK, Corporate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and a certified Project Management Professional with Project Management Institute, and is presently the Managing Partner of Samprec Consultants Ltd, a Project Management firm based in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. He currently serves as Senior Quantity Surveyor Retainer, with the United Nations Organization for Project Services (UNOPS) in Ghana Multi-Country Office. He became the first Young QS in Africa to receive African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) Africa’s Young QS Achiever Award in October 2020. He currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) Region 3 (Africa). QS Faleye obtained his first degree in Quantity Surveying from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife Nigeria and in 2012 and graduated with a Second Class Honour, Upper Division. He has his Master’s Degree in Project Management at Ahmadu Bello University in 2021. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Young Quantity Surveyors Forum in Nigeria. Currently, He provides strategic support to professional organizations in Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique to build young professionals fora. He equally has experience in procurement and anti-corruption project design and implementation with a contract background and the use of standards like FIDIC, ICE, JCT, NRM, BESMM4, and ICMS3 to aid transparency on projects. He has served as Procurement Audit Consultant for the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on more than 250 public sector projects towards taming corruption and increasing transparency and accountability on projects. He is versatile in urban development in conflict and post-conflict periods, currently providing procurement, project, and cost management services in Nigeria and other Anglophone West African countries for UNOPS.

Neil Forte FRICS

Director – Claims, Disputes & Expert Services – TSA Riley; Adjudicator, Expert Witness – Quantum

Neil is a leading Adjudicator and Expert Witness specialising in Dispute Resolution. He is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, a Chartered Builder, a Chartered Building Engineer, an Arbitrator and Mediator.

James Garner FRICS

Senior Director at Gleeds | Global Head of Data, Insights & Analytics | Data IQ 100 2023 | BSc (Hons), FRICS, RITTECH, AMBCS

Chair of Project Data Analytics Taskforce (https://www.projectdataanalytics.co.uk/) James, an accomplished data leader in the construction industry, began his journey as a Quantity Surveyor in 2000. After earning a first-class honours degree, he wrote his university dissertation on data and digitalisation in the construction sector. James quickly built a strong portfolio, becoming a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 2002. In 2012, he was elected as a Fellow of RICS for his significant writing contributions to the RICS Black Book technical standards. Throughout his career, James has worked on prestigious projects, including buildings for Imperial College and various Oxford University Colleges. Whilst employed at Gleeds as a Quantity Surveyor, he became head of the Education sector for London. In 2020, James took on a new challenge as Head of Insights and Analytics at Gleeds. This opportunity allowed him to further his skillset and qualify as a data analyst in 2022, launching the company's data analytics and research capabilities. Today, James leads Gleeds' Global Data, Insights, and Analytics department. With a focus on business intelligence, project intelligence, data literacy, and data maturity, he utilises his expertise in both Quantity Surveying and data analytics to drive the industry's digital transformation. As a Fellow of the RICS, a qualified Data Analyst, and an influential data leader, James recognises the crucial role data and analytics play in informing strategies and decision-making processes within the profession. Recently, James has been elected as chair of the Project Data Analytics Taskforce, further solidifying his position as a leading figure in the construction industry's digital transformation. James was nominated as one of the Top 100 People in Data 2023 by Data IQ, showcasing his dedication and impact in the field of Project Data Analytics James also publishes a weekly newsletter and podcast called ProjectFlux to help people keep up to date https://linktr.ee/projectflux

Dr. Dave Hull MRICS

Commercial Director, COWI UK Ltd.

I have over 20 years’ experience working in commercial and procurement, having started life as an engineer. I have been involved and led the end-to-end commercial management of significant national infrastructure projects. Such as A14, A303 Stonehenge and Lower Thames Crossing whilst I was at National Highways and am now advising on multiple green fuels projects, such as the largest pumped hydro schemes in the UK and the development of Power to X green fuels infrastructure. Throughout my commercial career, I have driven strong collaboration and have realised that it takes time and effort to drive the right behaviours to get the best outcomes. I strongly believe that you must help young people and the professional organisations develop as the world is developing at an ever-faster pace. As such, I am passionate about helping RICS become an even better professional organisation that is recognised as been at the forefront of the infrastructure and built environment.

Colin McCarthy FRICS

Principal, McCarthy Lilburn Partners

Colin McCarthy, Bsc.,FRICS, FSCSI, MAPM Principal of McCarthy, Lilburn & Partners, established in 1905 by his grandfather, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has spent 50 years in the construction industry as a Chartered Quantity surveyor and project manager. As a private practice quantity surveyor He has worked on a wide variety of project types, directly involved in providing consultancy services in the USA and UK, including multimillion city developments, major regional hospital and healthcare projects, schools, housing developments, offices, factories, recreational buildings, security establishments and infrastructure projects. He has a wide knowledge of traditional procurement contracts, Design & Build, PFI and Measured Term Contracts. In his role as a project manager, Colin has been responsible for delivering a number varied project types for both the public and private sectors. He has also held a number of positions within the RCIS, including RICS Northern Ireland Chairman in 2000 and for 10 years was a member of RICS International Governing Council. He is currently the Honorary Secretary of the Construction Professionals’ Council for Northern Ireland and was its Chairman from 2008 to 2010.

Natasha Orange MRICS

Project Director, Turner and Townsend

Natasha is a competent professional with extensive experience in construction, infrastructure, and business project management. She is renowned for her integrated approach, agility and adaptable leadership, resulting in the delivery of success outcomes. Having attained a Bachelor of Business Administration, Natasha went on to specialize through a Masters in Construction Management, leading on to her becoming a chartered surveyor and RICS Member. She further focused on risk management and NEC contract management. Her sector experience is broad and transferable, with previous or ongoing exposure to water, rail, healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, regeneration and technology. Natasha is committed to sharing and developing her industry knowledge through her strong commitment to excellence and innovative process improvement. Her broad and versatile skill set extends beyond her core professional domain, built on involvement with multiple business models and cultures. She has been of service to the profession, not only through delivery and encouragement of best practice, but also through training in project management, risk management and NEC contract management. Natasha is enthused by the promising future of Construction at this time of rapid change and exciting innovation. Through her involvement on this panel, she promises to contribute her expertise and insights across different facets of the industry.

Lindsay Richards MRICS

Managing Director, Richards Partnership Ltd.

Lindsay is managing director of the Richards Partnership Ltd and has worked within the Construction Industry for over 35 years, as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. Due to her work as the managing director of an engineering and surveying company and also as a former University Head of School of Architecture, Built & Natural Environments, she has a great understanding of the academic needs of the Construction Industry. Through the Construction Wales Innovation Centre, she was appointed as Project director, Wales on the MMC future training ,CITB funded Offsite ready project and collaborated with the establishment of the Higher Apprenticeship scheme in Wales . Lindsay has always kept a strong connection with academia and the current and future needs of professionals within their education and professional training. She is an academic accreditor and has sat on a range of professional panels and working groups. She has previously served on a regional RICS committee and taken the role of examination officer at local branch level. Lindsay sits on the Construction Industry Council Education and future skills committee and also the CIC Wales committee. She is passionate about Construction and the promotion of the industry to address issues of diversity and the gender in balance. Lindsay is also a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineering, a CABE board director and chair of the CABE for women group.

Jeevani Subasinghe MRICS

Programme Lead, Transport for London

Jeevani is a built environment leader with an in-depth knowledge of large and complex programmes as a client and contractor. She has a track record of leading and delivering strategic change for people and organisations. She is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, as well as being a Chartered Surveyor, as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. As a highly skilled and adaptable leader she has extensive expertise achieved by working across the public, private and third sector and in a number of countries, through Europe and Asia. Whist her roles define her as a business leader responsible for strategic direction of business units, often leading flagship projects for her clients, her real passion is being able to use these roles to enable an inclusive culture within her organisation and enable others to thrive within their careers. She has a long track record of making positive change.