Darrell Matthews has been appointed to the new role of Director of Membership at the Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE), the business association for the UK’s professional consultancies and engineering companies operating in the built environment.    Darrell, who has a background of working with trade and member-led organisations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Manufacturers Association EEF (now Make UK), and the Institute of Directors, joins ACE at an important time for the consultancy and engineering industries. The increased devolution of decision making and our focus on supporting ACE members right across the UK means that Darrell will be based in Manchester.      Darrell said, “I am pleased to be joining ACE at this exciting time for the sector, and am looking forward to working with our members – both current, and those who haven’t yet joined us – to establish their priorities and help drive the organisation forward to support a sustainable consultancy industry.”    Hannah Vickers, CEO of ACE added, “We are delighted to welcome Darrell to the ACE team. His experience with member-led bodies will be vital to the work that we are undertaking, and I’m excited to be working with him.    “Our members are front and centre of everything we do, and with the creation of this new post dedicated to our member’s needs, we feel that we are moving forward into a new phase for the organisation.”    With this focus on members and increasing collaboration across the industry, ACE has also appointed Tam Simmons to the new role of Director of Campaigns. Tam, who was previously Head of Marketing & Communications at the organisation, has stepped into the role to coincide with the launch of ACE’s ‘Future of Consultancy’ campaign, which aims to help the entire consultancy and engineering sector not only adapt to, but welcome, a new era of design and delivery in the built environment.    Over the coming months ACE will lead on a number of activities to bring together members, industry stakeholders and clients from the private and public sectors to examine this area and work in collaboration to achieve the common goal.