CIBSE is proud to announce that our President, Fiona Cousins, has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. This prestigious recognition reflects Fiona’s exceptional contributions to the engineering sector and her commitment to the advancement of the built environment. Fiona’s remarkable journey began at Trinity Hall, where
Housing association believe housing has appointed a new chair of its board. The not-for-profit landlord, which manages more than 18,000 homes across County Durham and beyond, has appointed John Marshall as its new chair. A board member since 2019, he takes over the post from Hazel Dale, who came to
Bankfoot APAM, the specialist UK Development Manager, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sam Crusz as Project Director, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in the construction and property industry. With a background in Civil Engineering and Project Management, Sam has worked both in consultancy and client-side
CBRE Southampton has strengthened its regional building consultancy team, expanding its expertise and enhancing its service. James Widdowson, Senior Director, leads the team, working with clients across the corporate and real estate sectors and providing expertise in dilapidations, office repositioning, project management and project monitoring. James has been at CBRE
James Hammond knew he wanted to pursue a career in construction after developing an interest in architecture at 12-years-old. Now, 21 years later, after working his way up within the housebuilding industry, James has been appointed as regional technical manager for Vistry Thames Valley, which has its headquarters in Reading
William Martin has announced the promotion of Derrick Milligan to Director of Consultancy. With over 15 years’ experience in safety consultancy management, he brings a wealth of expertise to the position, as well as in-depth knowledge of technical operations and account management. Derrick’s promotion comes after six successful years at
The FirstPort Group, the UK’s leading provider of residential property management services, has appointed Rocco Archidiacono as its new Head of Business Development to lead the Group’s new business services and bolster client partnerships. Rocco has joined FirstPort from real estate firm Hamptons where he was pivotal in expanding its business
Connect Plus Services today announces the appointment of Louise Haining as Managing Director with responsibility for leading its M25 operations. A Chartered Engineer, Louise has 30 years’ experience within the construction and infrastructure industry. She joined Connect Plus Services (CPS) in 2017 and has since held several roles across the organisation,
Siemens has appointed Susanne Seitz as CEO of the Buildings Business Unit, which is part of Smart Infrastructure. The unit is a newly formed business unit which brings together all Siemens’ buildings-related businesses into one entity, effective October 1, 2024. With a combined portfolio of products, software and services, the
British Land has announced the appointment of Kelly Cleveland to the newly created position of Head of Real Estate and Investment, consolidating her leadership role within the company. Cleveland, who currently serves as Head of Strategy and Investment, will officially take on the expanded role in mid-October. Having joined British
CIBSE is proud to announce that our President, Fiona Cousins, has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. This prestigious recognition reflects Fiona’s exceptional contributions to the engineering sector and her commitment to the advancement of the built environment. Fiona’s remarkable journey began at Trinity Hall, where she graduated in 1989 with a degree in Engineering Science. Since then, she has forged a distinguished career in engineering, currently serving as the Arup Americas Region Chair and as a member of the Arup Group Board. Her impressive portfolio includes high-profile projects such as the US Embassy in London, Fulton Street Station in New York and the Frick Chemistry Building at Princeton University, showcasing her expertise and leadership in the field. Fiona expressed her delight at receiving this honour, stating, “I am delighted to have been made an Honorary Fellow. I loved my time at College – studying, growing, and becoming myself – and have enjoyed alumni events too. It’s a great pleasure to be renewing the connection and I look forward to engaging more.” As CIBSE’s President for 2024-2025, Fiona continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and exemplifies the dedication and passion of our members globally. Her recognition as an Honorary Fellow not only highlights her personal accomplishments but also underscores the collective efforts of CIBSE members in advancing the engineering community. CIBSE celebrates Fiona’s achievements and looks forward to her continued contributions to the profession and the next generation of engineers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing association believe housing has appointed a new chair of its board. The not-for-profit landlord, which manages more than 18,000 homes across County Durham and beyond, has appointed John Marshall as its new chair. A board member since 2019, he takes over the post from Hazel Dale, who came to the end of her term in September after serving nine years as a board member and one as chair. John’s background is as a solicitor, and he holds a broad range of high-profile roles across the northeast of England. They include chairing the North East Chamber of Commerce, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative (NGI), Newcastle United Foundation, as well as being Vice Chair of the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and incoming Chair of Governors at St Chad’s College, Durham. “I first joined believe housing’s board because the importance of housing was very obvious to me, from the other roles I hold and some of the work I’ve done in the charity and health sectors. It is at the root of so much. “If somebody is able to have the right home for them, it gives them the opportunity to start a better life,” he said. “I feel honoured to be the chair of believe housing. “While there are many challenges that face the sector, I’m really encouraged by what I think believe housing can achieve with the people it has, the culture is has developed, and its real customer focus. “The future will include finding new ways to deliver our services to customers, continuing to develop a really high standard of new homes, and continuing to invest in existing homes particularly making them more energy efficient for our customers. “believe housing is a really important business in County Durham’s economy. “And I want customers to know that when we make decisions, we always have the impact on them and how they will feel in our minds.” Chief Executive of believe housing, Alan Smith, said: “John brings a wealth of experience from various sectors and is very knowledgeable about our business, with a clear understanding of the housing crisis regionally and nationally. “The role of chair is vital, helping to drive the direction of believe housing and the role we play in the business community and housing sector. “John is incredibly well-connected, he cares about customers and colleagues, and above all else he is a passionate and caring individual who makes a meaningful difference.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bankfoot APAM, the specialist UK Development Manager, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sam Crusz as Project Director, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in the construction and property industry. With a background in Civil Engineering and Project Management, Sam has worked both in consultancy and client-side roles, successfully delivering development projects across multiple regions including the UK, New Zealand and the US. Sam has spent the last eight years based in London, where she has taken on senior roles such as Development Manager at Old Park Lane Management, and previously, Director at Gardiner & Theobald. Her portfolio includes large-scale residential developments, hotel and office schemes, with notable projects such as the regeneration of Elephant & Castle and major masterplan developments in New Zealand. In her new role at Bankfoot APAM, Sam will oversee the delivery of several key development schemes, including the prominent transformation of Salford’s Soapworks which is set to deliver 143,000 sq. ft. of office space and 450 new homes. She will leverage her expertise to provide strategic oversight, ensuring the smooth delivery of these developments while contributing to the growth and success of the business. On joining Bankfoot APAM, Sam expressed her enthusiasm: “I’m excited to join the growing team at such an exciting time of expansion. I look forward to working closely with Chris, Andy and the team to successfully deliver the diverse range of projects. My goal is to use my skills, knowledge, and experience to positively contribute to project success, value creation, and overall business growth.” Chris Moore, Managing Director of Bankfoot APAM, commented: “We are hugely excited about Sam’s arrival, which is a milestone moment for the business. Sam’s leadership, knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to the team as we drive our next phase of growth and deliver the significant pipeline of development projects and we look forward to the positive impact she will bring to Bankfoot APAM’s continued success.” Sam’s appointment reflects Bankfoot APAM’s commitment to expanding its capabilities and delivering high-quality projects across the portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE Southampton has strengthened its regional building consultancy team, expanding its expertise and enhancing its service. James Widdowson, Senior Director, leads the team, working with clients across the corporate and real estate sectors and providing expertise in dilapidations, office repositioning, project management and project monitoring. James has been at CBRE for 15 years, 12 of which were leading the Building Consultancy team in Bristol. George Miller joins CBRE as an Associate Director, bringing expertise in dilapidations and technical due diligence surveys and Lauren Smith has joined the team as a Graduate Building Surveyor after completing her degree at the University of Portsmouth. Kritika Gambhir is providing the team with vital admin and finance support. James Widdowson said: “As someone who grew up on the South Coast, I am delighted to lead the talented team, which has a diverse range of experience. We are looking forward to capitalising on the opportunities in the region and continuing to provide our specialist expertise to our clients across the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
James Hammond knew he wanted to pursue a career in construction after developing an interest in architecture at 12-years-old. Now, 21 years later, after working his way up within the housebuilding industry, James has been appointed as regional technical manager for Vistry Thames Valley, which has its headquarters in Reading and is part of Vistry Group, Britain’s biggest housebuilder. ‘The 33-year-old, who lives in Puttenham, near Guildford, said: “I’ve always been inspired by Architecture and buildings and with Salisbury Cathedral adjacent to my school, there was inspiration to be taken from at an early age. This fed through to the subjects I learned in school and ultimately, I knew that I wanted to work in the building industry.’ Following on from his early inspiration, James completed school, gained a degree in construction management from university and then joined the building industry as a graduate trainee in the technical department at a housebuilding company. He worked his way up to senior technical co-ordinator before joining Bovis Homes – now part of Vistry Group – in that role in 2018, then gaining promotion to technical manager and senior technical manager in quick succession. As regional technical manager, the father-of-two now manages a team of seven in the technical department at Vistry Thames Valley, which is building new homes across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Buckinghamshire across its Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes brands. He said: “My role is to look after the operational side of the technical team. Basically, we aim to keep things going on site by co-ordinating all the information from our architects, civil and structural engineers, landscape architects and other third parties. This ensures a smooth handover of information to other departments which, in turn, enables them to carry out their roles in working towards completing great homes for our customers.” James is also directly overseeing the technical operations at two sites – Buckler’s Park in Crowthorne, in Berkshire, and at Beckley Place in Barton Park, Oxford. He said: “I have to ensure that all the relevant drawings and technical information is provided so that the commercial department can price accurately and the build team can get on and build the properties to meet Vistry’s exacting standards. What I like about this part of the job is that it gives me the opportunity to be in the office and also get out on site to see the projects come to life.” “My personal professional ambition is to become a technical director and head up the whole team. The reason I love this job so much is that it is not only challenging but also that two days are never the same. That variety keeps things fresh and exciting. I feel lucky that I love my job and that Vistry has a positive promotion pathway.” Trevor Wicks, managing director of Vistry Thames Valley, said: “In the six years that James has been with us, his enthusiasm and positive can-do attitude has rightly seen him go from promotion to promotion within the technical department and now sees him occupy a senior role in that team. “James is a great leader within a great team. His proven ability to problem solve and create an environment where operations run incredibly smoothly means that he has very bright future with us here at Vistry.” For more information about careers with Vistry Group, visit vistrygroup.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
William Martin has announced the promotion of Derrick Milligan to Director of Consultancy. With over 15 years’ experience in safety consultancy management, he brings a wealth of expertise to the position, as well as in-depth knowledge of technical operations and account management. Derrick’s promotion comes after six successful years at William Martin, during which he has been instrumental in delivering outstanding safety consultancy services. In his new role, he will manage operations across multiple teams, leading the delivery of innovative, reliable solutions in a rapidly evolving market. Derrick Milligan said: “I will be working with our talented team to deliver tangible change for clients. Our priority is providing trustworthy knowledge and advice to keep businesses safe and help them thrive.” “I look forward to bringing a fresh outlook to the table to expand our capabilities, whilst helping clients create a positive and meaningful impact.” William Martin’s Managing Director, Phil Jones, added: “Derrick’s dedication to our clients and colleagues is unmatched, and his extensive technical knowledge and leadership skills make him the ideal candidate as we continue to expand. His appointment underscores our commitment to maintaining our leading position in the health and safety consultancy sector.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The FirstPort Group, the UK’s leading provider of residential property management services, has appointed Rocco Archidiacono as its new Head of Business Development to lead the Group’s new business services and bolster client partnerships. Rocco has joined FirstPort from real estate firm Hamptons where he was pivotal in expanding its business development team across its network, playing a key role in aligning the company’s residential and commercial arms. In his new role, Rocco joins the Business Development team to improve its new business services, ensuring FirstPort is a partner that is approachable and responsive. Commenting on his appointment, Rocco said: “This is an exciting time to be in property management, and I’m looking forward to being part of this journey with FirstPort. “I believe my experience across the different aspects of the property sector will bring a fresh perspective and enable us to develop a more integrated approach for our clients” “I think there’s a huge opportunity to push into new sectors and to really tap into areas that haven’t been fully explored yet. I am looking to regionalise the company’s business development efforts, expanding into areas where we have a strong client base and can offer tailored services.” With over 20 years of experience in residential real estate, Rocco’s extensive understanding of the full build lifecycle – from planning to delivery – will prove valuable as The FirstPort Group looks to forge partnerships with its new and current clients across the UK. Martin King, Managing Director at The FirstPort Group, said: “Rocco’s ability to build strong relationships with our clients and drive growth will be invaluable as we continue to expand our business and explore new opportunities across the UK. Rocco has a deep understanding of this industry but he’s coming at property management as a sector with a fresh perspective, which I welcome. “I look forward to Rocco working closely with FirstPort’s existing teams to align the company’s offerings with the evolving needs of its developer, freeholder and resident director clients.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Connect Plus Services today announces the appointment of Louise Haining as Managing Director with responsibility for leading its M25 operations. A Chartered Engineer, Louise has 30 years’ experience within the construction and infrastructure industry. She joined Connect Plus Services (CPS) in 2017 and has since held several roles across the organisation, including Asset and Project Delivery Director, where she was responsible for the adoption of digital asset management and driving further innovation across the business. Most recently, Louise has held the role of Interim Managing Director at CPS focusing on further digital transformation, predictable delivery and long term maintenance decision making across the business. Louise was instrumental in introducing the digital twin of the M25 in 2020 – a ground-breaking technology which produces highly accurate geo-referenced 2D and 3D outputs, providing over 23 billion data points in the process. The digital mapping of 120 miles of road provides Connect Plus Services with more detailed information to aid planning and decision-making, ultimately reducing the need for physical surveys to be carried out in a live highways environment; therefore improving safety too. Prior to joining Connect Plus Services she enjoyed a successful career at Costain, the Environment Agency and National Highways, working on schemes including The Hungerford Bridge in London and the Folkestone to Cliff Edge Coastal Protection Scheme in Kent. Today’s announcement is testament to Connect Plus Services commitment to attracting, training, and retaining its employees to harness the creativity and innovation of a diverse range of people. Louise Haining, Managing Director of Connect Plus Services, said: “I am delighted to take the helm as Managing Director of Connect Plus Services, leading an incredibly talented team on the M25 – one the UK’s busiest motorways. “My focus will remain on data as a strategic imperative to prioritise decision making so that we keep the M25 safe and fit for purpose, whilst also continuing to identify ways of reducing delays and improving journey time reliability for the travelling public.” Phil Clifton, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business said: “Louise has worked with us for many years and has demonstrated time and again, the leadership qualities she possesses. “I look forward to seeing her flourish in her new role as Managing Director and seeing her wealth of knowledge and expertise drive our asset management capability to deliver value through more predictable and safer journeys.” Connect Plus Services brings together the collective expertise from Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis, with responsibility for operating and maintaining the 250-mile M25 motorway network, including routine maintenance, winter maintenance, and managing the whole-life requirement of the network including five tunnels and 2,500 structures such as bridges, culverts, and overhead gantries. Connect Plus Services operates and maintains the network on behalf of Connect Plus – a consortium including Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investments Partners – which has a 30-year contract with National Highways through a private finance initiative. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Siemens has appointed Susanne Seitz as CEO of the Buildings Business Unit, which is part of Smart Infrastructure. The unit is a newly formed business unit which brings together all Siemens’ buildings-related businesses into one entity, effective October 1, 2024. With a combined portfolio of products, software and services, the Buildings Business Unit is a technology partner for digital transformation, focused on reliable and cost-efficient building operations, decarbonization and energy efficiency, as well as successful business operations for customers across wide-ranging industries. “Making existing and new buildings more sustainable has never been more urgent. After all, buildings generate more than 40 percent of annual global CO2 emissions and we have a responsibility to drive their decarbonization,” said Matthias Rebellius, managing board member and CEO of Smart Infrastructure. “Smarter buildings bring value to their owners, users, operators and to the world around them. I am confident in the newly-formed leadership team. Together with the combined expertise of almost 30,000 people globally, we can take our leadership position in the buildings market to the next level and pave the way to smart buildings of the future.” The Buildings Business Unit works with customers and with an expanding ecosystem of partners across more than 60 countries and in key industries, including healthcare, data centers, higher education, commercial real estate, pharmaceutical and life science, and food and beverage. The business unit’s portfolio includes products for building control, fire safety and security, automation and operation, data-driven services, decarbonization programs and software, including Building X, Siemens’ scalable digital building platform to digitalize, manage and optimize building operations. “I am excited to have the opportunity to grow this dynamic business. With innovative technology we can accelerate the transformation of buildings to make them smarter, self-adaptive and more autonomous, harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence, IT/OT convergence and digital services. This supports our customers in reducing their emissions and costs while improving user experience in buildings,” said Seitz. Based in Zug, Switzerland, Seitz previously served as the Head of Sales and Marketing at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, leading the transformation towards digital sales and marketing globally. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President EMEA at Landis+ Gyr and Member of the Group Executive Management. For some 16 years preceding this, Seitz held different positions at Siemens, including Head of Strategy and M&A, Head of Security, Vice President for the global buildings systems and solutions business. She is a Swiss native and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from ETH Zurich and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
British Land has announced the appointment of Kelly Cleveland to the newly created position of Head of Real Estate and Investment, consolidating her leadership role within the company. Cleveland, who currently serves as Head of Strategy and Investment, will officially take on the expanded role in mid-October. Having joined British Land in 2011, Cleveland has steadily risen through the ranks, gaining experience across investment, strategy, and treasury. She became a member of the executive committee in 2020 and took on her current role in 2022. Her promotion follows the departure of Darren Richards, British Land’s current Head of Real Estate, who has resigned to join LondonMetric Property as Chief Investment Officer. Simon Carter, Chief Executive of British Land, commented:“Aligning our asset management, leasing, and investment activities is more critical than ever as we actively recycle capital and seize emerging opportunities in the market. Kelly brings a wealth of real estate expertise, having led major transactions such as the sale of our stake in Meadowhall earlier this year and forming joint venture partnerships with Allianz and AustralianSuper. She has also been instrumental in expanding our presence in the retail park sector, which we’ve doubled down on as an attractive sub-sector.” Carter also expressed gratitude to Richards for his two decades of service:“I’d like to thank Darren for his unwavering support and significant contribution to British Land over nearly 20 years. We wish him all the best in his new role.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
